On May 15, 2014, public notice was submitted for the proposed issuance of the two new general permits for coal mining in Kentucky by the Kentucky Division of Water (DOW).  The public notice includes two new general permits for coal mining.  The first is General Permit KYGE40000 for coal mining operations located in the eastern Kentucky coalfield and the second is General Permit KYGW40000 for coal mining operations located in the western Kentucky coalfield.  These two general permits are replacing the current General Permit for Coal Mining (KYG040000) that expires this year on July 31, 2014.  These new general permits include several new water quality-based requirements and mandate the electronic submission of the Notice of Intent (NOI) for coverage under the proposed general permits and electronic submission of the Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) using EPA’s NetDMR tool.

In anticipation of significant public interest in these proposed general permits, the public comment period will be open for (45) days. Comments on the two general permits for Coal Mining must be received at the Kentucky Division of Water in Frankfort by July 1, 2014.  For more information on the two proposed general permits such as the draft fact sheets, draft general permits and NOI instructions, please navigate to the following website:

http://kydep.wordpress.com/2014/05/15/envhelpky-gov-14/