OAR 340-043-0000
Purpose and Policies

(1)

The purpose of these rules and guidelines is to prevent water pollution and protect the quality of the environment and public health in Oregon, consistent with the policies of ORS 468B.015 (Policy) and 468B.020 (Prevention of pollution), by requiring application of all available and reasonable method for control of wastes and chemicals relative to design, construction, operation, and closure of mining operations which use cyanide or other toxic chemicals to extract metals or metal-bearing minerals from the ore and which produce wastes or wastewaters containing toxic materials.

(2)

The following policies are established to provide further guidance regarding the level of environmental protection these rules are intended to achieve:

(a)

Liner, leak detection and leak collection systems (systems) are necessary for heap leach pads, solution ponds, and tailings facilities to assure that any leak will be detected before toxic materials escape from the liner system and are released to the environment. For purposes of these rules, the environment is considered to begin at the bottom of the last liner. These systems shall assure that a leak is found, and that sufficient time is available to allow for the repair of the leak and cleanup of any leaked material before there is a release to the environment. Natural conditions, such as depth to groundwater or net rainfall, shall be considered as additional protection but not in lieu of the protection required by the engineered liner system;

(b)

The toxicity of mill tailings and the potential for long-term cyanide and toxic metals release from mill tailings shall be reduced to the greatest degree practicable through removal, reuse, or destruction of chemical solutions prior to placement of tailings in the tailings disposal facility;

(c)

The closure of heap leach pads and tailings disposal facilities shall prevent future release to the environment of residual potentially toxic chemicals contained in the facility.

Source: Rule 340-043-0000 — Purpose and Policies, https://secure.­sos.­state.­or.­us/oard/view.­action?ruleNumber=340-043-0000.

340‑043‑0000
Purpose and Policies 340‑043‑0010
Definitions 340‑043‑0020
Permit Required 340‑043‑0025
Permit Conditions on Assumption of Liability 340‑043‑0030
Permit Application 340‑043‑0040
Plan and Specifications 340‑043‑0050
Design, Construction, Operation and Closure Requirements 340‑043‑0060
Exemption from State Permit for Hazardous Waste Treatment or Disposal Facilities 340‑043‑0070
Guidelines for the Design, Construction, Operation and Closure of Chemical Mining Operations: Purpose 340‑043‑0080
Guidelines for the Design, Construction, Operation and Closure of Chemical Mining Operations: General Provisions 340‑043‑0090
Guidelines for the Design, Construction, Operation and Closure of Chemical Mining Operations: Control of Surface Water Run-On and Run-Off 340‑043‑0100
Guidelines for the Design, Construction, Operation and Closure of Chemical Mining Operations: Physical Stability of Retaining Structures and Emplaced Mine Materials 340‑043‑0110
Guidelines for the Design, Construction, Operation and Closure of Chemical Mining Operations: Protection of Wildlife 340‑043‑0120
Guidelines for the Design, Construction, Operation and Closure of Chemical Mining Operations: Guidelines for Design, Construction, and Operation of Heap-Leach Facilities 340‑043‑0130
Guidelines for the Design, Construction, Operation and Closure of Chemical Mining Operations: Guidelines for Disposal of Mill Tailings 340‑043‑0140
Guidelines for the Design, Construction, Operation and Closure of Chemical Mining Operations: Guidelines for Disposal or Storage of Wasterock, Low-Grade Ore and Other Mined Materials 340‑043‑0150
Guidelines for the Design, Construction, Operation and Closure of Chemical Mining Operations: Guidelines for Heap-Leach and Tailings Disposal Facility Closure 340‑043‑0160
Guidelines for the Design, Construction, Operation and Closure of Chemical Mining Operations: Post-Closure Monitoring 340‑043‑0170
Guidelines for the Design, Construction, Operation and Closure of Chemical Mining Operations: Land Disposal of Wastewater 340‑043‑0180
Guidelines for the Design, Construction, Operation and Closure of Chemical Mining Operations: Guidelines for Open-Pit Closure
Last Updated

Jun. 8, 2021

Rule 340-043-0000’s source at or​.us