Call: 1-307-777-7937
Open Hours: Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wyo.Gov
Citizen
Business
Government
Vacancies
Complaints
Report a Spill

Mineral Mining and Associated Activities

Enforcement Actions

The DEQ undertakes enforcement actions to preserve safe environmental conditions throughout Wyoming. 

This page contains information on the enforcement actions that the Water Quality Division may undertake, as well as a record of enforcement actions that have been undertaken by WQD.

If the download box is not working below, please click here.

Electronic Documents Submittal

Electronic document submittal is available for WQD permit applications, reports, and other communications.
Visit:  WDEQ Water Quality Division Downloads

You do NOT need to follow up the electronic submission with a hard copy submission unless you are specifically contacted by a WQD staff person with a request to do so.

Need to report a spill or complaint? Please visit https://deqspills.wyo.gov/home

Submitting a public comment? WQD is unable to accept public notice comments through this system. Refer to the public notice document for instructions on how to submit comments or visit https://wq.wyomingdeq.commentinput.com/comment/search.

NOTICE: All applications for water distribution systems and/or sewage collection systems that are within the Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities (BOPU) district shall be submitted to the BOPU for approval. Contact Frank Strong or Bryce Dorr at (307) 637-6460, ENGreview@cheyennebopu.org, or http://cheyennebopu.org for additional information.

Recent General Permit Authorizations

The DEQ Water Quality Division accepts comments on all permits authorized under a general permit for a period of 30 days, as provided for in W.S. 35-11-801(d).

Interested persons may mail or fax comments to the main Cheyenne office. The ‘Date’ column in the table below indicates the date the authorization was posted to the website. Comments must be received before 5:00 pm on the 30th day after the authorization was posted to the website. For example, comments for an authorization posted on 10/1/18 must be received by 5:00 p.m. on 10/31/18. DEQ does not accept emailed comments.

You may sort the table by posting date or search for the type of general permit, the county where the permit was issued, the permit number, or the name of the person or company to whom the permit was issued.

If you wish to review the general permit documents, please go to the web page for each permitting program:

If the download box is not working below, please click here.

Proposed Rules and Regulations

Water Quality Rules Chapter 12

The Wyoming Environmental Quality Council will consider proposed revisions to the
Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Water Quality Rules Chapter 12, Design and Construction Standards for Public Water Supplies, Docket 22-3103, at a hearing to be held on November 15, 2022 in the Capitol Extension Public Meeting Room 5, Herschler Building, 122 W. 25th Street, Cheyenne, WY, 82002, starting at 9:00 a.m. (MST). The revisions include new requirements for public water supplies that propose well acidization, updates to water treatment technologies, and the incorporation by reference of the Recommended Standards for Water Works, 2018 Edition. More information is available at: https://eqc.wyo.gov/Public/Pleadings.aspx?DocketId=4336

Water Quality Rules Chapter 3

The Department of Environmental Quality has revised Water Quality Rules, Chapter 3, Regulations for Permit to Construct, Install or Modify Public Water Supplies,
Wastewater Facilities, Disposal Systems, Biosolids Management Facilities, Treated
Wastewater Reuse Systems and Other Facilities Capable of Causing or Contributing to Pollution.

The Environmental Quality Council adopted the revised rules at a public hearing located at the Capitol Extension Public Meeting Room 5, Herschler Building, 122 W. 25th Street, Cheyenne, Wyoming on June 14, 2022. The final rule was filed with the Wyoming Secretary of State on August 19, 2022.

Electronic copies of the rule are available from the Secretary of State at rules.wyo.gov , under “Current Rules,” “Environmental Quality, Dept of (020),” “Water Quality,” “Chapter 3.”

Water Quality Rules Chapter 29

The Department of Environmental Quality has created a new rule: Water Quality Rules Chapter 29, Geologic Sequestration Special Revenue Account Requirements.

The Environmental Quality Council adopted the new rule at a public hearing located at the Capitol Extension Public Meeting Room 5, Herschler Building, 122 W. 25th Street, Cheyenne, Wyoming on June 14, 2022. The final rule was filed with the Wyoming Secretary of State on August 19, 2022.

Electronic copies of the rule are available from the Secretary of State at rules.wyo.gov, under “Current Rules,” “Environmental Quality, Dept of (020),” “Water Quality,” “Chapter 29.”

Rules and Regulations

All official Wyoming State Rules and Regulations are kept at the Wyoming Secretary of State’s Office. Click here to view all current Rules and Regulations.

Mineral Mining and Associated Activities

Mineral mining and processing (SIC 14) and associated activities, such as mobile hot plants, concrete batch plants and stockpiles are covered by the mineral mining storm water permit. Non-mineral mining activities and fuels, such as coal, should use the general industrial storm water permit.

Please note that the general mineral mining storm water permit is not available to facilities where storm water runoff has the potential to discharge to class 1 waters. Facilities may apply for coverage under an individual storm water permit.

UPDATE (January 2023)

***All existing authorizations for mineral mining stormwater coverage will be continued automatically, and will NOT expire on 3/31/2023. A new Wyoming Mineral Mining General Permit (MMGP) is under development, and final issuance is anticipated in 2023. No action is necessary at this time for existing permittees who wish to retain their permit coverage. Once the MMGP renewal is issued, an announcement will be sent out to permittees, with instructions on how to renew their authorizations. WDEQ will continue to accept applications for new MMGP authorizations, with a maximum fee of $200 to cover the period of time between now and the issuance of the new MMGP.

 

If you are aware of personnel changes at your organization that affect the contact information for your storm water permit(s), please contact Anita Rehner (307-777-5622, anita.rehner@wyo.gov) or Katy Sprouse (307-777-7570, katy.sprouse@wyo.gov). This will ensure that your organization receives email updates. Permittees are always welcome to contact us with questions as we proceed.

Payment of Permit Fees

Beginning July 1, 2013 payment of permit fees for individual permits and general permit authorizations are required to be submitted with the permit application or NOI form.  All storm water authorizations have variable fees that must be calculated depending upon the NOI date.  The “Fee Calculator” should be used to determine the proper amount to be submitted with each NOI.  Checks should be made out to the “Dept. of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division.

Contact
Updates
Updates
  1. WYPDES permit fees were raised on July 1, 2020.  Fees for storm water permits changed from $100 per each 12-months to $200 per each 12-months.  The maximum fee will be $1000 for a five year term.  All WYPDES permits are affected whether storm water or discharge permits. Permit fees cannot be pro-rated for partial years. Visit our fee calculator. (December 28, 2020)

  2. The Water Quality Division is requesting that the public submit documents (applications and other forms) via an upload link whenever possible.  Please see more information about what can be uploaded here:  https://deq.wyoming.gov/water-quality/  (April 2, 2020)
Fee Calculator
Fee Calculator

Beginning July 1, 2013 payment of permit fees for individual permits and general permit authorizations are required to be submitted with the permit application or NOI form.  Some types of permits have flat fees and others have variable fees that must be calculated. 

This "Fee Calculator" should be used to determine the proper amount to be submitted with each application or NOI.  Checks should be made out to the "Dept. of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division.

Storm Water Guidance Documents
Storm Water Guidance Documents

This resource page contains guidance documents related to WYPDES Storm Water Permitting.

Storm Water Links
Storm Water Links

Best Management Practices

  • City of Casper Storm Water Web Page.  The City of Casper has put together a web page with many resources for homeowners to contractors.  (12/07)
  • A Guide to Temporary Erosion-Control Measures for Contractors, Designers and Inspectors (Available Below):  The state of North Dakota has produced this excellent and straightforward guidebook for temporary erosion controls on construction sites. (6/05)

Erosion and Sediment Control Best Management Practices for the City of Casper Wyoming.  Casper has published this manual for contractors working in Casper.  In addition to recommended BMPs the manual has information City ordinances addressing erosion control. (9/05)

  • Cover Page for Manual (Available Below for Download)
  • BMP Manual  (Available Below for Download)
  • Manual Appendices (Available Below for Download)

This EPA site has published a number of webcasts addressing many aspects of storm water. They may be appropriate for construction, industrial, or municipal applications.  Other EPA storm water related resources including a National Menu of BMPs and various fact sheets can be found on this page.

National Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP) Database - This database provides monitoring results measuring the effectiveness of structural and non-structural BMPs used around the country.  http://www.bmpdatabase.org/

Protecting Water Quality in Urban Areas - This document from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has a wealth of information on protecting surface waters in urban areas.

Connect With Us

Facebook-square Twitter Instagram Youtube Linkedin