Chapter NR 270

NR 270.103(1) (1) The concentration of pollutants discharged in mine drainage from mines that produce copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, or molybdenum bearing ores or any combination of these ores from open-pit or underground operations other than placer deposits may not exceed: 

NR 270.103(2) (2) The concentration of pollutants discharged from mills that use the froth flotation process alone, or in conjunction with other processes, for the beneficiation of copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, or molybdenum ores or any combination of these ores may not exceed:

NR 270.103(3) (3) 

NR 270.103(3)(a) (a) Except as provided in this subsection, there may not be discharge of process wastewater to navigable waters from mine areas and mill processes and areas that use dump, heap, in-situ leach or vat-leach processes to extract copper from ores or ore waste materials.

NR 270.103(3)(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 270.103(4) (4) 

NR 270.103(4)(a) (a) Except as provided in this subsection, there may not be discharge of process wastewater to navigable waters from mills that use the cyanidation process to extract gold or silver.

NR 270.103(4)(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 270.103 Note Note: The concentration of pollutants discharged in mine drainage or discharged from mines and mills beneficiating gold or silver ores by gravity separation methods including mining of placer deposits, dredge mining and hydraulic mining operations will be proposed and promulgated at a later date.

NR 270.103 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 30, eff. 11-1-86.

NR 270.104 NR 270.104 New source performance standards (NSPS). Except as provided in ss. NR 270.0015, 270.002 and 270.003 and 40 CFR 125.30-125.32, 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 270.104(1) (1) The concentration of pollutants discharged in mine drainage from mines that produce copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, or molybdenum bearing ores or any combination of these ores from open-pit or underground operations other than placer deposits may not exceed:

NR 270.104(2) (2) 

NR 270.104(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in this subsection, there may not be discharge of process wastewater to navigable waters from mills that use the froth-flotation process alone, or in conjunction with other processes, for the beneficiation of copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, or molybdenum ores or any combination of these ores.

NR 270.104(2)(b) (b)

NR 270.104(2)(b)1. 1. 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 270.104(2)(b)2. 2. In the event there is a build up of contaminants in the recycle water which significantly interferes with the ore recovery process and this interference cannot be eliminated through appropriate treatment of the recycle water, the permitting authority may allow a discharge of process wastewater in an amount necessary to correct the interference problem after installation of appropriate treatment. This discharge shall be subject to the limitations of sub. (1). The facility shall have the burden of demonstrating to the department that that discharge is necessary to eliminate interference in the ore recovery process and that the interference could not be eliminated through appropriate treatment of the recycle water.

NR 270.104(3) (3) 

NR 270.104(3)(a) (a) Except as provided in this subsection, there may not be discharge of process wastewater to navigable waters from mine areas and mill processes and areas that use dump, heap, in-situ leach or vat-leach processes to extract copper from ores or ore waste materials.

NR 270.104(3)(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 270.104(4) (4) 

NR 270.104(4)(a) (a) Except as provided in this subsection, there may not be discharge of process wastewater to navigable waters from mills that use the cyanidation process to extract gold or silver.

NR 270.104(4)(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 270.104 Note Note: The concentration of pollutants discharged in mine drainage or discharged from mines and mills beneficiating gold or silver ores by gravity separation methods including mining of placer deposits, dredge mining and hydraulic mining operations will be proposed and promulgated at a later date.

NR 270.104 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86.

NR 270.11 NR 270.11 Applicability; description of the platinum ore subcategory. The provisions of this subcategory are applicable to discharges from:

NR 270.11(1) (1) Mines that produce platinum ore; and

NR 270.11(2) (2) Mills that process platinum ore.

NR 270.11 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86.

NR 270.113 NR 270.113 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 effluent limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best available technology economically achievable (BAT):

NR 270.113(1) (1) The concentration of pollutants discharged in mine drainage from mines that produce platinum bearing ores from open-pit or underground operations other than placer deposits may not exceed:

NR 270.113(2) (2) The concentration of pollutants discharged from mills that use the froth-flotation process alone, or in conjunction with other processes, for the beneficiation of platinum ores may not exceed: 

NR 270.113 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86.

NR 270.12 NR 270.12 Cross-references. The federal citations in this chapter correspond to provisions of the Wisconsin Administrative Code and Wisconsin Statutes. The federal citations may be cross-referenced in the following table:

NR 270.12 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86; correction made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, November, 1997.