Mining

Individual NPDES Mining Permits

Mining and Natural Resource Section

Oil Sands NPDES Presentation 

(under construction)
 

General NPDES Mining Permit ALG850000 for Sand & Gravel Operations

Mining and Natural Resource Section

Sand & Gravel Mining Seminar Information
(under construction)
 

General NPDES Permit ALG890000 for Small Mining Operations

Special Services Unit

Sand & Gravel Mining Seminar Information

As of February 1, 2013, small mining operations less than 5 acres in total land disturbance will be permitted under this General Permit, and will no longer be registered under ADEM Admin. Code r. 335-6-12, or 'Chapter 12'. 

Federal and state regulations regarding discharges of stormwater require owners/operators to apply for and obtain NPDES permit coverage prior to conducting initial operation of small noncoal, nonmetallic mining sites, and associated land disturbance activities. This general permit requires that a Best Management Practices (BMP) Plan, prepared by a qualified credentialed professional (QCP), that is designed to minimize pollutant discharges in stormwater runoff to the maximum extent practicable during land disturbance activities, be fully implemented and effectively maintained. A BMP Plan is required to be submitted with the request for permit coverage for proposed discharges to a waterbody which is listed on the most recently EPA approved 303(d) list of impaired waters for a pollutant of concern, a waterbody for which a TMDL has been approved or established by EPA for a pollutant of concern, a waterbody assigned the Outstanding Alabama Water use classification in accordance with ADEM Admin. Code r. 335-6-10-.09, or a waterbody assigned a special designation in accordance with ADEM Admin. Code r. 335-6-10-.10. 

The general permit requires an owner/operator to obtain permit coverage for noncoal, nonmetallic mining or dry processing sites less than five (5) acres in size. Noncoal or nonmetallic mining sites and dry processing sites equal to or greater than 5 acres in size must obtain either an individual NPDES permit or the sand and gravel general permit (ADEM Admin. Code Chapter 335-6-9). Coal or metallic mining sites and wet preparation plant sites regardless of size also must obtain either an individual NPDES permit or the sand and gravel general permit. 

In addition to technical and administrative requirements, the general permit requires that regular inspections be performed by a QCP, a trained person under the direct supervision of a QCP, or a qualified credentialed inspector (QCI) trained through the Qualified Credentialed Inspection Program (QCIP). 

The permittee must retain NPDES permit coverage for all regulated activity until existing disturbance activity and future proposed disturbance activity is complete and final stabilization has been achieved. 

Alabama Small Mining General Permit - February 1, 2023 
 

Small Mining General Permit Forms

• SMGP - Form 498 Notice of Intent
• SMGP - Form 499 Notice of Termination
• SMGP - Form 500 Inspection Report
• SMGP - Form 501 Noncompliance Notification

AEPACS
The Alabama Environmental Permitting and Compliance System (AEPACS) is an electronic system that allows operators to apply for permits as well as submit other required applications, registrations, and certifications. In addition, the system allows operators to submit required compliance reports or other information to the Department. The development of the system is being done in phases.

The NPDES programs that are currently supported in AEPACS:
 

• Mining <5 Acres [Small Noncoal/Nonmetallic Mining] Permit (ALG890000)
• Construction Stormwater Permit (ALR100000)

Pesticide Application (ALG870000) Permit 

• MS4 Individual and General (ALR040000) Permits

The remainder of the NPDES Programs are scheduled to be available in the early fall of 2021. 

ADEM's small mining general permit requires the permittee to post and maintain facility identification (Part IV.T). The permittee is required to post a sign at the entrance or other easily accessible location(s) to adequately identify the site. The permittee may use this example sign or create and use a sign with equivalent identifying information.

Example Facility ID Sign 

Permit Fee Schedule D 

ADEM BMP Plan Template 

ADEM BMP Plan Template Instructions 

Water Use Classification Maps 

Information on Alabama TMDLs 

Alabama 303(d) List of Impaired Waters 

AL Handbook for Erosion Control, Sediment Control and Stormwater management on Construction Sites and Urban Areas

ADEM Water Use Classifications (WUC) and designations
scroll to Division 6 - Volume 1, then Chapter 10

ADEM Water Use Classifications (WUC) maps
scroll to Division 6 - Volume 1, then Chapter 11

 

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), adopted in 1997, replaced the Standard Industrial Codes (SIC), and can be viewed or downloaded at the U.S. Census Bureau: https://www.census.gov/naics/
The SIC Codes can be viewed or downloaded at: http://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/sicsearch.html. Registration forms (ADEM Form 498) and reporting forms (ADEM Forms 499, 500, and 501) can be viewed or downloaded in PDF format on the forms page.

 

Qualified Credentialed Inspector Training

ADEM currently recognizes the following QCI Training Programs:

Homebuilders Association of Alabama (HBAA)
HBAA Qualified Credentialed Inspector (QCI) training program 

Thompson Engineering, Inc. (TEI)
Thompson Engineering, Inc. (TEI) Qualified Credentialed Inspector (QCI) training program

 

Contact Information