Surface Coal Mining in Appalachia

• EPA has published a draft document, Field-Based Methods for Developing Aquatic Life Criteria for Specific Conductivity.
• Links to all EPA regulations that apply to the Mining (except Oil and Gas) Sector (NAICS 212)

Major EPA Activities that Apply to Mining other than Coal Mining in Appalachia

• Abandoned Mine Lands Program
• Enforcement of requirements for federal entities to clean up abandoned mines
• Effluent guidelines:
  • Mineral Mining and Processing
  • Ore Mining and Dressing
• NPDES requirements to control wastewater discharges from mining operations (includes information about Good Samaritan Initiative)
• Exclusion of mining and mineral processing waste from regulation under RCRA Subtitle C
• RCRA legislative and regulatory timeline for mining waste