Louisiana Administrative Code › Title 33 - ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY › Part IX - Water Quality › Subpart 1 - Water Pollution Control › Chapter 7 - Effluent Standards › Section IX-705 - Sand and Gravel Extraction

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024
A.
				  Applicability. The provisions of this Section apply to the discharge of process
				  and mine dewatering wastewater pollutants or pollutant properties associated
				  with the extraction of sand and gravel, including "pit run" operations, dirt
				  pits, etc., from natural deposits. Without first obtaining a LWDPS permit,
				  following the procedures set forth in LAC 33:IX.Chapter 3, no person shall
				  discharge or allow to be discharged process and mine dewatering wastewater into
				  the waters of the state from any facility or activity.
B. Definitions. The following definitions are
				  applicable to terms used in this Section. Definitions of other terms and
				  meanings of abbreviations are set forth in LAC 33:IX.107.
Bankfull Stage
- the gauge height (based
					 on the latest datum), in feet, in the vicinity of the gauge at which one or
					 both banks are overtopped by floods.
Dredging
- to mechanically remove or
					 transport earthen material, sand, or gravel by digging, scooping, scraping, or
					 suctioning.
Mine
- an area of land, surface or
					 underground, actively mined for the production of sand and gravel, including
					 "pit run" operations, dirt pits, etc., from natural deposits.
Mine Dewatering
- any water that is
					 impounded or that collects in the mine and is pumped, drained, or otherwise
					 removed from the mine through the efforts of the mine operator. This term shall
					 also include wet pit overflows caused solely by direct rainfall and groundwater
					 seepage. However, if a mine is also used for treatment of process generated
					 wastewater, discharges of commingled water from the mine shall be deemed
					 discharges of process generated wastewater.
Pit Run Operation
- an operation in which
					 sand, gravel and associated earthen materials are removed from deposits, and no
					 washing or classification are involved.
Process Generated Wastewater
- any
					 wastewater used in the slurry transport of mined materials, air emissions
					 control, or processing inclusive of mining. The term shall also include any
					 other water which becomes commingled with such wastewater in a pit, pond,
					 lagoon, mine or other facility used for the treatment of such wastewater. The
					 term includes wastewater used for the suction dredging of deposits in a body of
					 water and returned directly to the body of water without being used for other
					 purposes or combined with other wastewater.
C. Prohibition. Unless specifically exempted
				  by the administrative authority, dredging in the river channel is prohibited.
				  Where dredging of the river channel is authorized by the administrative
				  authority, there shall be no increase in the turbidity 100 yards downstream of
				  the operation compared to measurements made directly upstream from the
				  operation.
D. General
1. All impoundments of process or mine
				  dewatering wastewater must be surrounded by a stable, well-maintained levee of
				  sufficient size and construction to prevent a discharge of pollutants into
				  surface waters of the state.
a. Producers
				  must maintain a 2-foot freeboard in the process or mine dewatering wastewater
				  impoundments.
b. Any unpermitted
				  discharge of process or mine dewatering wastewater shall be a violation
				  including a discharge resulting from a levee break when the river is less than
				  bankfull stage, based on the closest gauging station or other mutually agreed
				  upon elevation establishing bankfull stage at the site.
c. If a levee breaks it must be repaired
				  immediately and production must cease until the levee is repaired.
d. All levees must be inspected at least
				  twice daily during normal working hours and as necessary during other hours
				  when adverse weather conditions may threaten the integrity of the
				  levees.