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.

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 12/23/2024

WDEQ has issued a General Permit for Storm Water Discharges Associated with Mineral Mining Activities (MMGP) renewal, effective January 1, 2025 and expiring December 31, 2029. To maintain existing coverage for your facility (or facilities) under the new MMGP you must re-apply (renew). Known contacts for current (extended) permit authorizations will receive emails from WDEQ. These emails will contain renewal instructions. Note that these notifications may go out to multiple people to increase the likelihood that DEQ reaches someone at your company.  ONLY ONE RENEWAL SUBMISSION/FEE PER PERMIT AUTHORIZATION NUMBER IS NECESSARY, so please coordinate to avoid duplicate submissions.

The renewal and fee payment deadline is March 3, 2025. Failure to submit a renewal by April 11, 2025 shall result in permit coverage termination. If you believe MMGP permit coverage for a particular facility is no longer required, please let us know the circumstances via email to both of the addresses below.  A completed Notice of Termination form may be required.

If you haven’t received a WDEQ notification regarding MMGP renewal by January 10, 2025, please check your email spam before contacting both of us at .: Anita Rehner (anita.rehner@wyo.gov, 307-777-5622); Katy Sprouse (katy.sprouse@wyo.gov, 307-777-7570).

Make sure to include your WYPDES permit authorization number(s) (starting with ‘WYR32’, followed by 4 unique digits) and facility name(s) in your email so that we can better assist you.

Applicants for new MMGP coverage must either apply through the new WYIMS public-facing permitting system or use the Notice of Intent 2025 posted on this page and follow the instructions within it. Permittees will be emailed WYIMS usage instructions with the renewal notification.

Payment of Permit Fees

Water Quality Division requires permit fees for new individual permits and MMGP (general permit authorizations) to be submitted with the permit application or Notice of Intent (NOI) form. All storm water general permit authorizations have variable fees that must be calculated depending upon the coverage start date and length of permit term. Fees are $200 per 12-month period, with no pro-ration for partial years. TheFee Calculatormay be used to determine the proper amount to be submitted with each general permit NOI or renewal. The method of payment varies depending on how the NOI or renewal request is submitted. Applicants that submit an application or NOI electronically via the WDEQ Water Quality Division Downloads link, shall be pay fees electronically via https://deq.wyoming.gov/e-payment/. Applicants that use the WYIMS permitting system (https://wyims.wyo.gov/ncore/external/home) may pay through WYIMS (preferred) or download a payment voucher generated by WYIMS and submit it by mail to the Cheyenne office address shown on the voucher with a check for the fee. 

Checks must be made out to “WDEQ, Water Quality Division” and include in the memo the authorization number (if existing) or type of permit being applied for and the permitted company name. See the NOI or your renewal instructions (for authorizations being renewed in early 2025) for payment options.

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

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

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

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.