For the purpose of this subpart:

(a) Except as provided below, the general definitions, abbreviations, and methods of analysis set forth in part 401 of this chapter shall apply to this subpart.

(b) The term “mine dewatering” shall mean 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 ground water seepage. However, if a mine is also used for the treatment of process generated waste water, discharges of commingled water from the mine shall be deemed discharges of process generated waste water.

(c) The term “10-year 24-hour precipitation event” shall mean the maximum 24 hour precipitation event with a probable reoccurrence interval of once in 10 years. This information is available in “Weather Bureau Technical Paper No. 40,” May 1961 and “NOAA Atlas 2,” 1973 for the 11 Western States, and may be obtained from the National Climatic Center of the Environmental Data Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.

(d) The term “mine” shall mean an area of land actively mined for the production of sand and gravel from natural deposits.

(e) The term “process generated waste water” shall mean any waste water used in the slurry transport of mined material, air emissions control, or processing exclusive of mining. The term shall also include any other water which becomes commingled with such waste water in a pit, pond, lagoon, mine or other facility used for treatment of such waste water. The terms does not include waste water 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 waste water.