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Mining (except Oil and Gas) Sector (NAICS 212)

As a subset of the mining, quarrying, oil and gas extraction sector (NAICS 21), mining includes:
  • metal and nonmetallic mineral mining, which may involve
    • quarrying
    • well operations
    • beneficiating (e.g., crushing, screening, washing, and flotation)
    • other preparation customarily performed at the mine site, or as a part of mining activity.

Additional regulatory information may be available from the US Department of the Interior (DOI).

Laws and Regulations

​Air

  • Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program
  • National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP): air toxics regulations:
    • Gold Mine Ore Processing and Production (Area Sources)
    • Taconite Iron Ore Processing

Asbestos

  • Asbestos Laws and Regulations

Waste

  • Industrial Waste: Mining Waste
  • TENORM: Mining Wastes: Technologically-Enhanced, Naturally-Occurring Radioactive Material (TENORM) produced from mining wastes.

Water

  • Effluent Guidelines: Coal Mining Point Source Category
  • Ore Mining and Dressing Effluent Guidelines
  • Mineral Mining and Processing Effluent Guidelines
  • Surface Coal Mining in Appalachia: mountaintop coal mining and surface mining.
  • National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES): wastewater permits:
    • Mining
    • Stormwater Discharges from Industrial Facilities
  • Underground Injection Control (UIC) Regulations

Enforcement

  • National Enforcement Initiatives: Reducing Pollution from Mineral Processing Operations

Policies and Guidance

  • Guidance on Implementing the Radionuclide NESHAP
  • Surface Coal Mining Activities under Clean Water Act Section 404: wetlands policy and guidance 
  • Polluted Runoff: Abandoned Mine Drainage
  • Abandoned Mine Land: Policy and Guidance: assessment and remediation of abandoned mine lands.

Additional federal and state regulations not listed here may apply. Find your state environmental agency.

Frequent Questions

  • Where can I find out about requirements for damming, diverting or altering a creek, stream, or other natural watercourse?
  • Where can I find information on oil spills?

Ask a Question

Partnership Programs

  • Coalbed Methane Outreach Program (CMOP):  to reduce methane emissions from coal mining activities
  • Natural Gas STAR Program: to reduce methane emissions from natural gas operations
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on September 21, 2021
United States Environmental Protection Agency

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