NR 182.106(2)(s)
(s) An operator shall compact embankment materials or drainage or filter bed materials to 95 percent of the maximum dry density as determined by the standard proctor compaction test or to a greater density as dictated by the embankment height. The material shall be compacted in lifts of 6 to 8 inches in thickness. If waste rock is approved by the department for use outside an earth core, compaction and crushing of such waste rock may not be necessary if the applicant demonstrates that stable slopes can be constructed and maintained without compaction and crushing of the waste rock.
NR 182.106(2)(t)
(t) An operator shall provide emergency spill areas along the tailings pipeline corridor to allow for draining the pipeline, if necessary, in case of power interruptions or pipeline failure. Tailings pipelines should be self-draining to the tailings area or to an emergency spill area or both. In some cases, such as a long pipeline over rough country, the department may require several spill areas to be provided.
NR 182.106(3)
(3) An operator shall design and operate mining waste facilities to ensure management of stormwater in a manner that minimizes uncontrolled releases and adverse environmental impacts. Provisions for stormwater management shall incorporate all of the following:
NR 182.106(3)(a)
(a) An operator shall design storm water drainage ditches, structures, and sedimentation basins such that the construction of these items shall occur during the initial stage of construction to control runoff and limit entrained sediment from reaching surface water bodies.
NR 182.106(3)(b)
(b) An operator shall incorporate all of the following concepts in the design of both temporary and permanent erosion and sediment control measures:
NR 182.106(3)(b)6.
6. Prepare drainageways and outlets to handle concentrated or increased runoff.
NR 182.106(3)(c)
(c) An operator shall perform the design calculations required in pars.
(d),
(e), and
(f) for the period in the mining waste facility's development during which the combination of surface conditions and contributing acreage would result in the greatest runoff volume.
NR 182.106(3)(d)
(d) An operator shall design all permanent storm water drainage ditches, sedimentation or retention ponds, swales, conveyance channels, channel linings, outlet protection, culverts, and other storm water control structures handling flow onto or off the mining waste facility to accommodate peak flow rates from a 100 year, 24-hour storm event. The size of the storm event shall be determined based on current rainfall probability data, including models or forecasts, approved by the department for this purpose.
NR 182.106(3)(e)
(e) An operator shall design temporary and permanent sediment control measures to settle 0.015 mm size particles for all storms up to, and including, the 25 year, 24-hour storm. The surface area for permanent sediment basins shall be calculated using the rainfall intensity over the 25 year, 24-hour storm event for the mining waste facility. Principal spillways, and outlet protection for sediment basins shall be designed to pass a 100 year, 24-hour storm event. Emergency spillways for sedimentation basins shall be designed to pass a 100 year, 24-hour storm event. The size of the storm event shall be determined based on current rainfall probability data, including models or forecasts, approved by the department for this purpose. The design of the dewatering structures for sediment basins shall be selected such that the basin is dewatered in no less than 3 days. An analysis shall be performed to document compliance with this requirement.
NR 182.106(3)(f)
(f) An operator shall design containment berms placed around active fill areas to control and collect the liquid volume resulting from the 100 year, 24-hour storm event. The design shall consider the volume of liquid generated from active fill areas, including all areas with exposed solid waste or areas with waste covered by daily cover. The size of the storm event shall be determined based on current rainfall probability data, including models or forecasts, approved by the department for this purpose. Storm water in contact with active fill areas shall be handled and treated as leachate.
NR 182.106(3)(g)
(g) An operator shall divert storm water away from the active fill area of the mining waste facility and any borrow areas to a sedimentation control structure.
NR 182.106(3)(h)
(h) An operator shall ensure that storm water drainage ditches, structures, and sedimentation basins discharge along existing drainage patterns capable of accepting the anticipated flow volume. An operator shall perform an analysis to determine the amount and velocity of runoff prior to mining waste facility development and to document compliance with this requirement.
NR 182.106(3)(i)
(i) An operator shall design storm water diversion and construction at a mining waste facility to minimize impacts, such as erosion, sedimentation, and flooding.
NR 182.106(3)(j)
(j) An operator shall ensure that the design of all storm water management features complies with all applicable requirements of the department including ch.
NR 103 and permits required under ch.
30, Stats.
NR 182.106(4)
(4) An applicant shall consider the following parameters and concepts when planning, designing, constructing, and operating a mill and a mining waste facility, the application of which shall be dependent on the specific design, the nature of the waste, the composition of any leachate associated with the waste, and the hydrogeologic conditions existing at the disposal site:
NR 182.106(4)(a)
(a) When practicable, on a site-specific basis, an operator shall ensure that a mining waste facility is located in the same watershed as the mining surface facilities.
NR 182.106(4)(b)
(b) When practicable, on a site-specific basis, an operator shall ensure that a mining waste facility is located so that tailings pipelines do not cross any major watercourse or pass through any wetland where such crossing would be inconsistent with s.
281.36, Stats. Tailings pipelines shall be as short as practicable.
NR 182.106(4)(c)
(c) An operator shall minimize upstream rainfall catchment areas.
NR 182.106(4)(d)
(d) An operator shall ensure that the outside crest of the dam or embankment is higher than the inside crest in order to force runoff on the crest to the inside of the dam.
NR 182.106(4)(e)
(e) When practicable, an operator shall ensure that the design of a mining waste disposal facility facilitates and incorporates ongoing or staged reclamation.
NR 182.106(4)(f)
(f) An operator shall market mining wastes that are not used for construction or reclamation purposes and that present a significant risk of environmental pollution subject to all of the following requirements:
NR 182.106(4)(f)1.
1. An operator shall ensure that the products and by-products of such marketing will not result in a greater potential for environmental pollution.
NR 182.106(4)(f)2.
2. An operator shall ensure that a market for a particular waste is reasonably available.
NR 182.106(4)(f)3.
3. An operator shall ensure that the costs for disposing of such waste exceeds the costs for its marketing.
NR 182.106(4)(g)
(g) An operator shall minimize, in the disposal of mining waste, the discharge of environmental pollutants to the groundwaters of the state.
NR 182.106(5)
(5) The applicant shall give high priority to the selection of a design and operating procedure for the mine, mill, and mining waste disposal sites that will provide for the reclamation of all disturbed sites and minimize the risk of environmental pollution. When practicable, an applicant shall select facilities and practices to ensure any of the following:
NR 182.106(5)(a)
(a) Minimize production of mining waste through the design and operation of the mining facility.
NR 182.106(5)(b)
(b) Provide for the segregation of acid-generating wastes from those materials that are not acid-generating waste.
NR 182.106(5)(c)
(c) Provide for eventual underground backfill of waste, in the event of underground mining, with emphasis on segregated acid-generating materials.
NR 182.106 History
History: CR 20-043: cr. Register December 2021 No. 792, eff. 1-1-22. NR 182.107
NR 182.107 Groundwater standards and evaluation. NR 182.107(1)(a)
(a)
Applicability. Notwithstanding the applicability provisions of s.
NR 140.03, under the authority of ss.
293.15 (11) and
293.66, Stats., mining waste facilities regulated under this chapter and other facilities situated on a prospecting site regulated under ch.
NR 131 or a mining site regulated under ch.
NR 132, shall comply with the groundwater quality standards specified in ch.
NR 140 as implemented in this section.
NR 182.107(1)(b)1.1. The horizontal distance to the boundary of the design management zone for mining waste facilities regulated under this chapter shall be 1,200 feet from the limits of filling, unless reduced under s.
NR 140.22 (3), or at the boundary of property owned or leased by the applicant, whichever distance is less.
NR 182.107(1)(b)2.
2. The horizontal distance to the boundary of the design management zone for a surface mine or surface prospecting excavation shall be 1,200 feet from the edge of the mine or prospecting excavation, unless reduced under s.
NR 140.22 (3), or at the boundary of property owned or leased by the applicant, whichever distance is less.
NR 182.107(1)(b)3.
3. The horizontal distance to the boundary of the design management zone for an underground mine or prospecting excavation shall be 1,200 feet from the maximum outer edge of the underground prospecting or mine workings adjacent to the ore body as projected to the land surface, unless reduced pursuant to s.
NR 140.22 (3), or at the boundary of property owned or leased by the applicant, whichever distance is less.
NR 182.107(1)(b)4.
4. The horizontal distance to the boundary of the design management zone for facilities, other than the prospecting excavation, mine, and mining waste facility, situated on a prospecting site regulated under ch.
NR 131 or a mining site regulated under ch.
NR 132, shall be as specified in Table 4 of ch.
NR 140, if listed, or 150 feet from the edge of the facility, unless expanded or reduced under s.
NR 140.22 (3), or at the boundary of property owned or leased by the applicant, whichever distance is less.
NR 182.107(1)(c)1.1. For facilities located on a mining or prospecting site or any activity that will take place under a mining or prospecting permit or under another approval related to a mining or prospecting operation, the department shall determine the depth of useable groundwater.
NR 182.107(1)(c)2.
2. For an activity regulated under a mining or prospecting permit or another approval related to the mining or prospecting operation, the department may not apply a groundwater enforcement standard at any point that is deeper than the depth of useable groundwater.
NR 182.107(1)(d)
(d)
Mandatory intervention boundary. The horizontal distance to the mandatory intervention boundary for a mining waste facility or a surface or underground mine or prospecting excavation shall be 150 feet from the limits of filling, the outer edge of the mine or prospecting excavation, or the outer edge of the underground workings as projected vertically to the land surface, unless the boundary of the design management zone is within 300 feet of the outer waste boundary, mine, prospecting excavation, or underground prospecting, or mine workings. In no case may the mandatory intervention boundary extend more than one half the distance from the limits of filling, mine, prospecting excavation, or underground prospecting or mine workings to the boundary of the design management zone. The mandatory intervention boundary shall apply as provided in subs.
(1s) and
(1u).
NR 182.107(1p)
(1p) Substances without a standard under ch. nr 140.
For any substance for which there is not an enforcement standard and preventive action limit in ch.
NR 140, the waste site, mine and other facilities on a mining site may not cause concentrations that have a substantial deleterious impact on a current beneficial use or a significant future beneficial use of groundwater, such as drinking, irrigation, aquaculture, maintenance of livestock, or maintenance of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, as designated by the department.
NR 182.107(1s)(a)
(a) As part of its plan of operation approval issued under s.
NR 182.109 (3) (b), the department shall determine the adequacy of the contingency plan submitted by the applicant under s.
NR 182.109 (2) (d) that specifies the action that will be taken if an analysis of groundwater samples requires a response under ss.
NR 140.24 to
140.27 and this section. The contingency plan shall provide that the response protocol includes a comparison of the observed sampling results to the results of the original predictive modeling, completed as part of the feasibility report and mine permitting and environmental review processes, and updated predictive modeling completed subsequent to the start of operation. If the comparison indicates that the observed sampling results are consistent with the design and expected performance of the facility, and the sampling results indicate that an enforcement standard or a preventive action limit has not been exceeded within the depth of useable groundwater and beyond the mandatory intervention boundary, the operator may recommend a no response action in accordance with s.
NR 140.24.
NR 182.107(1s)(b)
(b) If the analyses of groundwater samples collected as part of the operational groundwater monitoring program indicate that the quality of the groundwater is statistically significantly different from either baseline or background, the owner shall do all of the following:
NR 182.107(1s)(b)2.
2. Determine, if possible, the cause of the difference in quality, such as the result of a spill, a design failure, or an improper operation procedure.
NR 182.107(1s)(b)3.
3. Determine the extent of groundwater contamination or the potential for groundwater contamination.
NR 182.107(1s)(b)4.
4. Implement the applicable portion of the contingency plan and notify the department promptly of any additional remedial steps being taken.
NR 182.107(1s)(c)1.1. If a preventive action limit or an enforcement standard has been exceeded within the depth of useable groundwater and beyond the mandatory intervention boundary, the department shall require a response in accordance with s.
NR 140.24, but may not approve a no action response under s.
NR 140.24 (5).
NR 182.107(1s)(c)2.
2. If a response under s.
NR 140.24 (5) has previously been taken, and if subsequent monitoring results are consistent with updated predictive modeling projections and indicate that the groundwater standards will not be attained or exceeded within the depth of useable groundwater and at the design management zone, the department may determine that a no additional response is necessary.
NR 182.107(1u)(a)1.
1. The operator of a prospecting or mining site shall monitor groundwater quality at locations approved by the department along the mandatory intervention boundary and the boundary of the design management zone for the mining waste site and other facilities specified by the department.
NR 182.107(1u)(a)2.
2. The operator of a prospecting or mining site shall monitor groundwater quality at locations approved by the department within the mandatory intervention boundary and the design management zone for the mining waste site and other facilities specified by the department.
NR 182.107(1u)(a)3.
3. The department shall require intervention by the operator in accordance with the provisions of the contingency plan, submitted as part of the plan of operation under s.
NR 182.109, when analyses of samples from monitoring points within the design management zone or within the mandatory intervention boundary show a reasonable probability that, without intervention, there may be a violation of the established groundwater quality standards at the boundary of the design management zone. The department shall use the results of the predictive modeling submitted by the applicant as part of the feasibility report, mining permit application, environmental impact report, and other information available to the department to determine criteria of “reasonable probability."
NR 182.107(1u)(a)4.
4. The department may specify additional monitoring locations and tests needed to support a comparative analysis of the observed groundwater quality and the predicted impacts to groundwater quality documented in the feasibility report, mining permit application, environmental impact report and wastewater engineering report.
NR 182.107(1u)(a)5.
5. An operator shall monitor groundwater at locations approved by the department in the vicinity of the prospecting or mining site on a monthly basis for at least 12 consecutive months during the initial site preparation and construction phase at the mining waste site and prospecting or mining site to further characterize baseline water quality prior to operation. An operator shall include, in the parameters analyzed, those substances specified by the department for monitoring, indicator parameters as specified by the department, parameters identified as important based on characteristics of the mining wastes, and any other parameters deemed appropriate by the department for the specific conditions of the site.
NR 182.107(1u)(a)6.
6. An operator shall conduct monitoring of groundwater quality within aquifers potentially affected by the prospecting or mining activity at locations which are not expected to be affected by the prospecting or mining operation or the mining waste facility.
NR 182.107(1u)(b)
(b) In addition to the requirements under par.
(a), the department shall specify the parameters for groundwater analysis and may include those considered indicator parameters and those important parameters identified from the waste characterization studies that may be appropriate under the specific conditions.
NR 182.107(1x)
(1x) Non-compliance with groundwater standards.
If the department has reason to believe that a site is not in compliance with the requirements of this section, or if the department projects with reasonable probability that a site will not achieve such compliance at the boundary of the design management zone and within the depth of useable groundwater, it shall require the operator to take appropriate intervention measures specified in the contingency plan submitted under s.
NR 182.109, and may take additional actions including those prescribed in s.
NR 140.26.
NR 182.107(2)(a)
(a) The department shall evaluate proposed mining waste facilities to determine whether construction, operation, and closure of the facility will result in the unreasonable detriment of public or private water supplies or the unreasonable detriment of public rights in the waters of the state. The department may not approve any mining waste facility if the facility is likely to result in unreasonable detriment of public or private water supplies or the unreasonable detriment of public rights in the waters of the state.
NR 182.107(2)(b)
(b) If the department finds that the proposed waste site will result in the unreasonable detriment of public or private water supplies or the unreasonable detriment of public rights in the waters of the state, the department shall either deny necessary approvals or the operating license for the facility or impose conditions on the necessary approvals and operating license in a manner consistent with s.
293.65 (3) (b), Stats.
NR 182.107 History
History: CR 20-043: cr. Register December 2021 No. 792, eff. 1-1-22: renumbering of (1x) (a) to (1x) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register December 2021 No. 792. NR 182.108(1)(1)
An applicant is encouraged to contact the department during the early stages of project planning and development to determine what permits and approvals may be required and to assure that submissions are consistent with department requirements.
NR 182.108(2)
(2) No person may establish or construct a mining waste site or expand an existing mining waste site without first obtaining approval of a feasibility report and a plan of operation from the department. The purpose of the feasibility report is to determine whether the site may be approved for the purpose intended and to identify any conditions that must be included in the plan of operation and in the license issued under this chapter.
The feasibility report shall be prepared and submitted to the department in accordance with s.
NR 182.104. The feasibility report shall be submitted at the same time as the permit application and plans submitted under ch.
NR 131 or
132 and shall be consistent with the applications and plans submitted under ch.
NR 131 or
132. If the proposed mining waste site is a surface mine backfilled with mining waste, the feasibility report submittal provisions of this section may be satisfied by including the information required by this section in the mining permit application submitted under ch.
NR 132 and issuance of the mining permit shall constitute approval of the feasibility report and favorable determination of site feasibility. The amount of regional and site-specific information and data required for each waste site may vary and shall be based on results of the waste characterization studies, but shall, at a minimum, contain the items in subs.
(3) to
(13), unless such information is contained in the submittal of documents required under ch.
NR 131,
132, or
150 or s.
23.11 (5), Stats.
NR 182.108(3)
(3) The feasibility report shall contain a general overview of the proposed mining waste facility that includes all of the following:
NR 182.108(3)(b)
(b) The name, address and phone number of the person who has been designated by the applicant as the primary contact for departmental correspondence.
NR 182.108(3)(f)
(f) The proposed facility life and range of disposal capacity of the proposed facility.
NR 182.108(3)(g)
(g) The estimated waste types and quantities to be contained in the proposed facility.
NR 182.108(4)
(4) The feasibility report shall include discussion of waste characterization studies and analysis of all mining wastes that may be disposed of or stored in the mining waste site. Waste characterization studies shall be conducted in accordance with all of the following:
NR 182.108(4)(a)
(a) Waste characterization and analysis shall identify the characteristics of the wastes necessary to enable the applicant to comply with the requirements of these regulations. The waste characterization shall include an evaluation of the quantities, variability, and physical, radiologic, and chemical properties of each waste type at a level of detail necessary to support predictive modeling and assessment of potential environmental impacts related to waste handling, storage, and disposal that is sufficient to allow the department to evaluate the effectiveness of facility design and to determine the appropriate regulatory controls and monitoring requirements. The evaluation under this paragraph may include a review of the literature and results from similar existing facilities, materials, or studies in addition to project-specific characterization and analyses.
NR 182.108(4)(b)
(b) Testing shall be performed on representative samples of material available or obtained through additional sampling programs, on individual wastes from the mining and milling process, and on composite wastes where mixed storage or disposal of individual wastes is proposed. When either physical or chemical segregation of a waste is proposed, each individual waste shall be tested. If representative samples of waste materials are not available and the applicant demonstrates the cost of obtaining the samples are prohibitive or technically infeasible, the analyses shall be based on the most suitable surrogate information, as determined by the department, and reasonable worst case assumptions and analyses, as determined by the department, shall be incorporated into the waste characterization evaluation and related analyses in the absence of direct analytical results. The major components of waste characterization and analysis shall include all of the following:
