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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Alternatives for proposed regulations on effluent limitations and sedimentation pond standards

Conference · · Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)
OSTI ID:5359531
The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) promulgated its final permanent program rules for effluent limitations and sedimentation pond standards on March 13, 1979. These rules were based on the best available at that time. Shortly thereafter the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) commissioned Skelly and Loy, and OSM commissioned D'Appolonia Associates, to test the utility of OSM's pond design criteria for meeting the total suspended solids (TSS) effluent limitations. Both studies concluded that ponds meeting OSM's design criteria might not meet the TSS standards during any hydrologic event. On the bases of a petition received from the National Coal Association/American Mining Congress (NCA/AMC) Joint Committee on Surface Mining Regulations and the two studies, OSM on December 31, 1979, suspended, insofar as it applied to total suspended solids, its rainfall exemption from the effluent limitations and certain of its design criteria and adopted the EPA rainfall exemption with respect to total suspended solids. Proposed revised regulations are scheduled to be promulgated on or about October 1980. This paper discusses alternatives being considered for achieving the TSS standards.
Research Organization:
Dept. of the Interior, Washington, DC
OSTI ID:
5359531
Report Number(s):
CONF-801263-
Conference Information:
Journal Name: Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English