BURTON MINE BORROW PIT Stormwater Outfall, Fort Payne, Alabama

BURTON MINE BORROW PIT is a stormwater outfall located at 1960 County Road 153 in Fort Payne, DeKalb County, Alabama. This facility manages stormwater runoff from a mining-related catchment, classified under NAICS 212399 (Other Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying). As an operational stormwater outfall, it plays a role in controlling the quality and quantity of runoff from the surrounding area. The facility operates under the US EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) framework, which regulates stormwater discharges through MS4 permits. In Alabama, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) administers the NPDES program. Stormwater outfalls like this one are typically required to implement best management practices (BMPs) to reduce pollutant loads and protect receiving waters. The environmental significance of BURTON MINE BORROW PIT lies in its management of runoff from a mining area, which can carry sediments, metals, and other pollutants. Proper operation helps protect local water bodies, such as nearby streams and the Tennessee River basin, from degradation. Compliance with permit conditions ensures that the facility contributes to regional water quality goals.

The facility is located in DeKalb County, Alabama, within the Tennessee River basin. The area features karst topography with limestone geology, making groundwater particularly vulnerable to contamination from surface runoff. Mining operations in the catchment can generate sediment and metal-laden runoff, posing risks to aquatic ecosystems. The outfall discharges to waters that may be impaired by siltation or metals, requiring careful management under the Clean Water Act.