Coal Mining Effluent Guidelines

The EPA promulgated the Coal Mining Effluent Guidelines and Standards (40 CFR Part 434) in 1975, and amended the regulation in 1976, 1977, 1979, 1982, 1985 and 2002. The regulation covers wastewater discharges from mine drainage, coal storage facilities, and coal preparation plants. The Coal Mining Effluent Guidelines and Standards are incorporated into NPDES permits.

• What is Coal Mining?
• Pollutants and Subcategories
• Coal Mining Detailed Study - 2008
• Rulemaking History
• Additional Information

What is Coal Mining?

Pollutants and Subcategories

Regulated Pollutants

The regulated parameters vary by subcategory, and include:

• Iron
• Manganese
• TSS
• Settleable Solids
• Acidity
• pH (abnormally high or low)

Regulation Subcategories

The Coal Mining Effluent Guidelines apply to wastewater discharges from facilities in six subcategories:

• Coal Preparation Plants and Associated Areas (Subpart B)
• Acid or Ferruginous Mine Drainage (Subpart C)
• Alkaline Mine Drainage (Subpart D)
• Post-Mining Areas (Subpart E)
• Coal Remining (Subpart G)
• Western Alkaline Coal Mining (Subpart H)

Subparts A and F contain General and Miscellaneous Provisions, respectively.

Coal Mining Detailed Study - 2008

The EPA conducted a review of wastewater discharges from coal mines, including a coal industry profile, mine drainage characteristics, treatment technologies and costs. The report was prepared in consideration of possible revisions to existing Effluent Guidelines regulations.

• Report and appendices

Rulemaking History

2002 Amendment

• Final Rule (January 23, 2002)
• Documents, including:
  • Development Document for the Western Alkaline Coal Mining Subcategory
    Describes industry processes, pollutants generated, available control & treatment technologies, the technical basis for the final rule, and costs of the rule
  • Coal Remining Best Management Practices Guidance Manual
    Describes abandoned mine land conditions and the performance of BMPs that have been implemented at remining operations. The manual is a technical reference document that presents research and data concerning the prediction and prevention of acid mine drainage
• Proposed Rule (April 11, 2000)

1985 Amendment

• Documents, including:
  • Final rule (October 9, 1985)
  • Proposed rule (May 5, 1984)

1982 Amendment

• Documents, including:
  • Final Rule (October 13, 1982)
  • Development Document
    Industry description, wastewater characterization, treatment technologies, regulatory compliance cost estimates and pollutant loadings for the final rule
  • Proposed Rule (revisions & corrections) (May 29, 1981)
  • Proposed Rule (BPT, BAT, BCT, NSPS) (January 13, 1981)

1979 Amendment

• Documents, including:
  • Final Rule (Amended definition of "new source coal mine") (June 27, 1980)
  • Final Rule (Precipitation Exemption) (December 28, 1979)
  • Final Rule (Clarifying amendment–catastrophic rainfall exemption) (April 2, 1979)
  • Original Final Rule (NSPS) and PSES withdrawal (January 12, 1979)
  • Proposed Rule (NSPS) (September 19, 1977)
  • Proposed Rule (PSES) (October 17, 1975)

1977 Amendment

• Documents, including:
  • Final Rule (April 26, 1977)
  • Proposed Rule (BPT and BAT) (May 13, 1976)

1976 Amendment

• Documents, including:
  • Interim Final Rule (May 13, 1976)
  • Development Document
    Industry description, wastewater characterization, treatment technologies, regulatory compliance cost estimates and pollutant loadings for the final rule

1975 Initial Rulemaking

• Documents, including:
  • Interim Final Rule (October 17, 1975)
  • Development Document
    Industry description, wastewater characterization, treatment technologies, regulatory compliance cost estimates and pollutant loadings for the final rule

Additional Information