CHEROKEE COUNTY CHERT PIT AT YELLOW CREEK Stormwater Outfall, Leesburg, Alabama

CHEROKEE COUNTY CHERT PIT AT YELLOW CREEK is a stormwater outfall located in Leesburg, Cherokee County, Alabama, United States. The facility manages stormwater runoff from a chert pit mining operation, classified under NAICS codes 212390 and 212399 for other nonmetallic mineral mining and quarrying. As a stormwater outfall, it discharges collected runoff into Yellow Creek, a local waterway. The facility operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, specifically the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. Stormwater discharges from industrial activities such as mining are typically regulated under NPDES Multi-Sector General Permits or individual permits. The facility's location in a rural area of Cherokee County suggests that runoff management focuses on sediment control and prevention of erosion from the chert pit site. The environmental significance of this outfall lies in its discharge to Yellow Creek, which may be subject to water quality standards for aquatic life and recreation. Proper stormwater management at mining sites is critical to prevent sedimentation and potential contamination from heavy metals or other pollutants associated with chert extraction. The facility's operational status indicates ongoing compliance with permit conditions to protect downstream water resources.

The facility discharges stormwater into Yellow Creek, a tributary within the Coosa River basin in Alabama. The region's geology features chert and limestone formations, which can influence runoff chemistry. Mining operations in the area may contribute sediment and trace metals to stormwater, necessitating best management practices for erosion and sediment control. The outfall's location in a rural setting with mixed forest and agricultural land uses means that stormwater quality is influenced by both natural and anthropogenic factors.