(a) The provisions of this subpart J are applicable to discharges from—

(1) Mines that produce copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, or molybdenum bearing ores, or any combination of these ores from open-pit or underground operations other than placer deposits;

(2) Mills that use the froth-flotation process alone or in conjunction with other processes, for the beneficiation of copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, or molybdenum ores, or any combination of these ores;

(3) Mines and mills that use dump, heap, in-situ leach, or vat-leach processes to extract copper from ores or ore waste materials; and

(4) Mills that use the cyanidation process to extract gold or silver.

(b) Discharge from mines or mines and mills that use gravity separation methods (including placer or dredge mining or concentrating operations, and hydraulic mining operations) to extract gold ores are regulated under subpart M.

(c) Discharge from mines (including placer or dredge mining, and hydraulic mining operations) or mines and mills that use gravity separation methods to extract silver from placer ores are not covered under this part.

(d) The provisions of this subpart shall not apply to discharges from the Quartz Hill Molybdenum Project in the Tongass National Forest, Alaska.

[47 FR 54609, Dec. 3, 1982, as amended at 53 FR 18788, May 24, 1988]