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This important rulemaking was led by Jenine Camilleri and Greg Geist, and resulted in the renewal of three general stormwater permits: the 1200-Z (industries); 1200-COLS (industries in the Columbia Slough) and 1200-A (sand and gravel). Jenine and Greg did a great job with these complex and controversial permits. In his first-ever presentation to the EQC, Greg delivered an excellent clear and concise presentation, and responded to Commissioners' questions. The renewed permits strengthen water quality protection by:

Requiring increased stormwater sampling
Requiring permit holders to actively investigate and take corrective actions when benchmarks are exceeded
Explicitly prohibiting permit holders from causing water quality standards violations
Limiting the sampling waiver to one permit term
Requiring DEQ to revoke coverage when benchmarks are consistently exceeded, which will then require an individual permit

The renewed permits also provide for a new, 14-day public notice and comment period on the permit application and submitted stormwater management plans. For more information on this rulemaking, please see the Staff Report for Agenda Item K, at http://www.deq.state.or.us/about/eqc/agendas/2006/200608EQCagenda.htm

2. Water Quality Permitting Fee Changes

This critically important rulemaking was led by Sonja Biorn-Hansen and Scott Manzano, and a great team effort involving permit, budget, accounting, and fee invoicing staff. In addition to Sonja and Scott, several others deserve special recognition for this very complex rulemaking: Mark Fisher from Eastern Region; Dottie Reynolds from Western Region, and Joni Hammond, Eastern Region Administrator. Sonja provided an engaging presentation to the EQC and was thanked by Vice-Chair Bill Blosser for her good work on the rulemaking.

This fee rulemaking is part of the larger effort to improve the water quality permit program as recommended by the Blue Ribbon Committee on Wastewater Permitting. (For more information, please see the linked Blue Ribbon Committee Report on Key Enhancements to the Wastewater Permitting Report on DEQ's website at http://www.deq.state.or.us/wq/wqpermit/wqpermit.htm.) The 2005 Legislature approved the Blue Ribbon Committee’s recommendations for additional general funds and a fee increase in DEQ’s wastewater program budget. This rulemaking implements the legislatively approved fee increases. For more information on this rulemaking, please see the Staff Report for Agenda Item L, at http://www.deq.state.or.us/about/eqc/agendas/2006/200608EQCagenda.htm