Chapter NR 270

NR 270.03 NR 270.03 Applicability; description of the uranium, radium and vanadium ores subcategory. The provisions of this subcategory are applicable to discharges from:

NR 270.03(1) (1) Mines either open-pit or underground, from which uranium, radium and vanadium ores are produced; and

NR 270.03(2) (2) Mills using the acid leach, alkaline leach, or combined acid and alkaline leach process for extraction of uranium, radium and vanadium. Only vanadium byproduct production from uranium ores is covered under this subcategory.

NR 270.03 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86.

NR 270.032 NR 270.032 Effluent limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best practicable control technology currently available (BPT). Except as provided in ss. NR 270.0015, 270.002 and 270.003 and 40 CFR 125.30 - 125.32, any existing point source subject to this subcategory shall achieve the following effluent limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable after application of the best practicable control technology currently available (BPT):

NR 270.032(1) (1) The concentration of pollutants discharged in mine drainage from mines either open-pit or underground, from which uranium, radium and vanadium ores are produced excluding mines using in-situ leach methods may not exceed:

NR 270.032(2) (2) The concentrations of pollutants discharged from mills using the acid leach, alkaline leach or combined acid and alkaline leach process for the extraction of uranium, radium and vanadium including mill-mine facilities and mines using in-situ leach methods may not exceed:

NR 270.032 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86.

NR 270.033 NR 270.033 Effluent limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best available technology economically achievable (BAT). Except as provided in ss. NR 270.0015, 270.002 and 270.003 and 40 CFR 125.30 - 125.32, any existing point source subject to this subcategory shall achieve the following limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best available technology economically achievable (BAT):

NR 270.033(1) (1) The concentration of pollutants discharged in mine drainage from mines either open-pit or underground, that produce uranium ore, including mines using in-situ leach methods, may not exceed:

NR 270.033 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86.

NR 270.034 NR 270.034 New source performance standards (NSPS). Except as provided in ss. NR 270.0015, 270.002 and 270.003, any new source subject to this subcategory shall achieve the following NSPS representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best available demonstrated technology (BADT):

NR 270.034(1) (1) The concentration of pollutants discharged in mine drainage from mines, either open-pit or underground, that produce uranium ore, excluding mines using in-situ leach methods, may not exceed:

NR 270.034(2) (2) 

NR 270.034(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in this subsection, there may not be discharge of process wastewater to navigable waters from mills using the acid leach, alkaline leach or combined acid and alkaline leach process for the extraction of uranium or from mines and mills using in-situ leach methods.

NR 270.034(2)(b) (b) In the event that the annual precipitation falling on the treatment facility and the drainage area contributing surface runoff to the treatment facility exceeds the annual evaporation, a volume of water equivalent to the difference between annual precipitation falling on the treatment facility and the drainage area contributing surface runoff to the treatment facility and annual evaporation may be discharged subject to the limitations set forth in sub. (1).

NR 270.034 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 3y0, eff. 11-1-86.

NR 270.04 NR 270.04 Applicability; description of the mercury ore subcategory. The provisions of this subcategory are applicable to discharges from:

NR 270.04(1) (1) Mines, either open-pit or underground, that produce mercury ores; and

NR 270.04(2) (2) Mills beneficiating mercury ores by gravity separation methods or by froth-flotation methods.

NR 270.04 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86.

NR 270.042 NR 270.042 Effluent limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best practicable control technology currently available (BPT). Except as provided in ss. NR 270.0015, 270.002 and 270.003 and 40 CFR 125.30-125.32, any existing point source subject to this subcategory shall achieve the following effluent limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable after application of the best practicable control technology currently available (BPT):

NR 270.042(1) (1) The concentration of pollutants discharged in mine drainage from mines, either open-pit or underground, operated for the production of mercury ores may not exceed the following limitations:

NR 270.042(2) (2) 

NR 270.042(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in this subsection, there may not be discharge of process wastewater to navigable waters from mills beneficiating mercury ores by gravity separation methods or by froth flotation methods.

NR 270.042(2)(b) (b) In the event that the annual precipitation falling on the treatment facility and the drainage area contributing surface runoff to the treatment facility exceeds the annual evaporation, a volume of water equivalent to the difference between annual precipitation falling on the treatment facility and the drainage area contributing surface runoff to the treatment facility and annual evaporation may be discharged subject to the limitations set forth in par. (a).

NR 270.042 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86.

NR 270.043 NR 270.043 Effluent limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best available technology economically achievable (BAT). Except as provided in ss. NR 270.0015, 270.002 and 270.003 and 40 CFR 125.30-125.32, any existing point source subject to this subcategory shall achieve the following limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best available technology economically achievable (BAT):

NR 270.043(1) (1) The concentration of pollutants discharged in mine drainage from mines, either open pit or underground, that produce mercury ores may not exceed:

NR 270.043(2) (2) 

NR 270.043(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in this subsection, there may not be discharge of process wastewater to navigable waters from mills beneficiating mercury ores by gravity separation methods or by froth-flotation methods.

NR 270.043(2)(b) (b) In the event that the annual precipitation falling on the treatment facility and the drainage area contributing surface runoff to the treatment facility exceeds the annual evaporation, a volume of water equal to the difference between annual precipitation falling on the treatment facility and the drainage area contributing surface runoff to the treatment facility and annual evaporation may be discharged subject to the limitations set forth in sub. (1).

NR 270.043 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86.

NR 270.044 NR 270.044 New source performance standards (NSPS). Except as provided in ss. NR 270.0015, 270.002, and 270.003, any new source subject to this subcategory shall achieve the following NSPS representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best available demonstrated technology (BADT):

NR 270.044(1) (1) The concentration of pollutants discharged in mine drainage from mines either open pit or underground, that produce mercury ores may not exceed:

NR 270.044(2) (2) 

NR 270.044(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in this subsection, there may not be discharge of process wastewater to navigable waters from mills beneficiating mercury ores by gravity separation methods or by froth-flotation methods.

NR 270.044(2)(b) (b) In the event that the annual precipitation falling on the treatment facility and the drainage area contributing surface runoff to the treatment facility exceeds the annual evaporation, a volume of water equal to the difference between annual precipitation falling on the treatment facility and the drainage area contributing surface runoff to the treatment facility and annual evaporation may be discharged subject to the limitations set forth in sub. (1).

NR 270.044 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86.

NR 270.05 NR 270.05 Applicability; description of the titanium ore subcategory. The provisions of this subcategory are applicable to discharges from:

NR 270.05(1) (1) Mines obtaining titanium ores from lode deposits,

NR 270.05(2) (2) Mills beneficiating titanium ores by electrostatic methods, magnetic and physical methods, or flotation methods; and

NR 270.05(3) (3) Mines engaged in the dredge mining of placer deposits of sands containing rutile, ilmenite, leucoxene, monazite, zircon, and other heavy metals, and the milling techniques employed in conjunction with the dredge mining activity (milling techniques employed include the use of wet gravity methods in conjunction with electrostatic or magnetic methods).

NR 270.05 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86.

NR 270.052 NR 270.052 Effluent limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best practicable control technology currently available (BPT). Except as provided in ss. NR 270.0015, 270.002 and 270.003 and 40 CFR 125.30-125.32, any existing point source subject to this subcategory shall achieve the following effluent limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable after application of the best practicable control technology currently available (BPT):

NR 270.052(1) (1) The concentration of pollutants discharged in mine drainage from mines obtaining titanium ores from lode deposits may not exceed:

NR 270.052(2) (2) The concentration of pollutants discharged from mills beneficiating titanium ores by electrostatic methods, magnetic and physical methods, or flotation methods may not exceed:

NR 270.052(3) (3) The concentration of pollutants discharged in mine drainage from mines engaged in the dredge mining of placer deposits of sands containing rutile, ilmenite, leucoxene, monazite, zircon, or other heavy metals, and the milling techniques employed in conjunction with the dredge mining activity (milling techniques employed include the use of wet gravity metals in conjunction with electrostatic or magnetic methods) may not exceed:

NR 270.052 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86; Chapter NR 270 was republished to correct an error in transcription in (2) (intro.) Register October 2024 No. 826.

NR 270.053 NR 270.053 Effluent limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best available technology economically achievable (BAT). Except as provided in ss. NR 270.0015, 270.002 and 270.003 and 40 CFR 125.30-125.32, any existing point source subject to this subcategory shall achieve the following limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best available technology economically achievable (BAT):

NR 270.053(1) (1) The concentration of pollutants discharged in mine drainage from mines obtaining titanium ores from lode deposits may not exceed:

NR 270.053(2) (2) The concentration of pollutants discharged from mills beneficiating titanium ores by electrostatic methods, magnetic and physical methods, or flotation methods may not exceed:

NR 270.053(3) (3) The concentration of pollutants discharged in mine drainage from mines engaged in the dredge mining of placer deposits of sands containing rutile, ilmenite, leucoxene, monazite, or zircon and the milling techniques employed in conjunction with the dredge mining activity (milling techniques employed include the use of wet gravity methods in conjunction with electrostatic or magnetic methods) may not exceed:

NR 270.053 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86.

NR 270.054 NR 270.054 New source performance standards (NSPS). Except as provided in ss. NR 270.0015, 270.002 and 270.003, any new source subject to this subcategory shall achieve the following NSPS representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best available demonstrated technology (BADT):

NR 270.054(1) (1) The concentration of pollutants discharged in mine drainage from mines obtaining titanium ores from lode deposits may not exceed:

NR 270.054(2) (2) The concentration of pollutants discharged from mills beneficiating titanium ores by electrostatic methods, magnetic and physical methods, or flotation methods may not exceed:

NR 270.054(3) (3) The concentration of pollutants discharged in mine drainage from mines engaged in the dredge mining of placer deposits of sands containing rutile, ilmenite, leucoxene, monazite, or zircon and the milling techniques employed in conjunction with the dredge mining activity (milling techniques employed include the use of wet gravity methods in conjunction with electrostatic or magnetic methods) may not exceed:

NR 270.054 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86.

NR 270.06 NR 270.06 Applicability; description of the tungsten ore subcategory. The provisions of this subcategory are applicable to discharges from:

NR 270.06(1) (1) Mines that produce tungsten ore; and

NR 270.06(2) (2) Mills that process tungsten ore by either the gravity separation or froth-flotation methods.

NR 270.06 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86.

NR 270.062 NR 270.062 Effluent limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best practicable control technology currently available (BPT). Except as provided in ss. NR 270.0015, 270.002 and 270.003 and 40 CFR 125.30-125.32, any existing point source subject to this subcategory shall achieve the following effluent limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best practicable control technology currently available (BPT):

NR 270.062(1) (1) The concentration of pollutants in mine drainage from mines producing 5000 metric tons (5512 short tons) or more of tungsten bearing ores per year may not exceed:

NR 270.062(2) (2) The concentration of pollutants discharged in mine drainage from mines producing less than 5000 metric tons (5512 short tons) or discharged from mills processing less than 5000 metric tons (5512 short tons) of tungsten ores per year by methods other than ore leaching may not exceed:

NR 270.062(3) (3) The concentration of pollutants discharged from mills processing 5000 metric tons (5512 short tons) or more of tungsten ores per year by purely physical methods including ore crushing, washing, jigging, heavy media separation, and magnetic and electrostatic separation may not exceed:

NR 270.062(4) (4) The concentration of pollutants discharged from mills processing 5000 metric tons (5512 short tons) or more of tungsten ores per year by froth flotation methods may not exceed:

NR 270.062 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86.

NR 270.063 NR 270.063 Effluent limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best available technology economically achievable (BAT). Except as provided in ss. NR 270.0015, 270.002 and 270.003 and 40 CFR 125.30-125.32, any existing point source subject to this subcategory shall achieve the following limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best available technology economically achievable (BAT):

NR 270.063(1) (1) The concentration of pollutants discharged in mine drainage from tungsten mines may not exceed:

NR 270.063(2) (2) The concentration of pollutants discharged from mills may not exceed:

NR 270.063 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86.

NR 270.064 NR 270.064 New source performance standards (NSPS). Except as provided in ss. NR 270.0015, 270.002 and 270.003, any new source subject to this subcategory shall achieve the following NSPS representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best available demonstrated technology (BADT):

NR 270.064(1) (1) The concentration of pollutants discharged in mine drainage from tungsten mines may not exceed: 

NR 270.064(2) (2) The concentration of pollutants discharged from mills may not exceed:

NR 270.064 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86.

NR 270.07 NR 270.07 Applicability; description of the nickel ore subcategory. The provisions of this subcategory are applicable to discharges from:

NR 270.07(1) (1) Mines that produce nickel ore; and

NR 270.07(2) (2) Mills that process nickel ore.

NR 270.07 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-96.

NR 270.072 NR 270.072 Effluent limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best practicable control technology currently available (BPT). Except as provided in ss. NR 270.0015, 270.002 and 270.003 and 40 CFR 125.30-125.32, any existing point source subject to this subcategory shall achieve the following effluent limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best practicable control technology currently available (BPT):

NR 270.072(1) (1) The concentration of pollutants discharged in mine drainage from mines producing 5000 metric tons (5512 short tons) or more of nickel bearing ores per year may not exceed:

NR 270.072(2) (2) The concentration of pollutants discharged in mine drainage from mines producing less than 5000 metric tons (5512 short tons) or discharged from mills processing less than 5000 metric tons (5512 short tons) of nickel ores per year by methods other than ore leaching may not exceed:

NR 270.072(3) (3) The concentration of pollutants discharged from mills processing 5000 metric tons (5512 short tons) or more of nickel ores per year by purely physical methods including ore crushing, washing, jigging, heavy media separation, and magnetic and electrostatic separation may not exceed:

NR 270.072(4) (4) The concentration of pollutants discharged from mills processing 5000 metric tons (5512 short tons) or more of nickel ore per year by froth flotation methods may not exceed:

NR 270.072 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86.

NR 270.08 NR 270.08 Applicability; description of the vanadium ore subcategory. The provisions of this subcategory are applicable to discharge from:

NR 270.08(1) (1) Mines that produce vanadium ore (recovered alone and not as a by-product of uranium mining and mills); and