1. A. If drainage from the disturbed areas is mixing with drainage from other areas not disturbed by current surface coal mining and reclamation operations, the permittee shall achieve the effluent limitation set forth below for all the mixed drainage when it leaves the permit area.
2. B. Discharges of water from areas disturbed by surface mining shall be made in compliance with applicable State laws and regulations, the federal Clean Water Act, and with effluent limitations for coal mining promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency set forth in 40 CFR 434.

3. C. Adequate facilities shall be installed, operated, and maintained to treat any water discharged from the disturbed area so that it complies with all federal and States laws and regulations and the limitations of this regulation. If the pH of water to be discharged from the disturbed area is less than 6.0, an automatic lime feeder or other automatic neutralization process approved by the Bureau shall be installed, operated, and maintained. The Bureau may authorize the use of a manual system if it finds that:

   1. (1) Flow is infrequent and presents small and infrequent treatment requirements to meet applicable standards which do not require use of an automatic neutralization process; and
   2. (2) Timely and consistent treatment is ensured.

Authority: Environment Article, §15-503, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date:

Regulations .01—.09 were previously codified as COMAR 08.13.09.24A—I, respectively. Recodification occurred in April, 1993. For a history of these regulations before April, 1993, see "Administrative History of COMAR 08.13.09 before April, 1993" which follows COMAR 26.20.01.

Regulation .02 amended effective October 11, 1993 (20:20 Md. R. 1569)

Chapter revised effective October 23, 1995 (22:21 Md. R. 1614)

Chapter recodified from COMAR 08.20.21 to COMAR 26.20.21, June 1996

Regulation .01-1 adopted effective March 14, 2005 (32:5 Md. R. 582)

Regulation .08 amended effective March 14, 2005 (32:5 Md. R. 582)

Regulation .09D amended effective March 14, 2005 (32:5 Md. R. 582)