DEQ proposal

DEQ proposes an increase of 2.9 percent for most permit fees under OAR 340, division numbers 45 and 71.

 

DEQ’s objective

DEQ proposes a fee increase of 2.9 percent in response to increased water quality permit program costs.

 

Who does this affect?

Parties affected by this proposal include individuals, private businesses and government agencies.

 

Permit fees would increase for most National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Water Pollution Control Facility, and WPCF-Onsite septic system permits. Suction dredge (700-PM) permits would not be affected by the fee increase, since those permit fees are set in statute and can only be changed by the Legislature. Graywater (2401 and 2402) permits would also not be affected by the fee increase in an effort to encourage graywater reuse permitting. There are no application fees or annual fees for small offstream mining operations (WPCF 600). These operations would not be affected by the fee increase.

 

Sign up for notices

Get email updates about this proposed rule by signing up at: http://www.deq.state.or.us/regulations/rulemaking.htm

Attend a hearing

DEQ invites you to attend the public hearing listed below. DEQ will provide a brief overview of the proposal before inviting your spoken or written comment.

Portland

811 SW Sixth Ave.

10^th floor, Room EQC-A

Portland, OR, 97204

Time: 6 p.m.

Date: Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013

Presiding Officer: DEQ staff

 

Comment deadline

To consider comments on the proposed rules, DEQ must receive the comment by

5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, 2013.

 

More information

The Rule Proposal and Notice for this rulemaking are on DEQ’s website: http://www.deq.state.or.us/regulations/proposedrules.htm.

 

What has happened so far?

Advisory committee

DEQ convened the Blue Ribbon Advisory Committee in May 2013 and provided a summary of the rulemaking proposal. DEQ answered questions and gathered input from the committee, specifically on the fiscal impact of the proposed rules

 

Documents used to develop proposal

DEQ relied on the following documents to consider the need for the proposed rule and to prepare the rulemaking documents:

 

•  Blue Ribbon Committee Report on Key Enhancements to the Oregon Wastewater Permitting Program – 2004

•  Cost factors approved through the state’s budget process

•  Compensation plan changes

•  Fee increase calculations

•  DEQ 2011-2013 Legislatively Approved Budget

•  DEQ 2013-2015 Governor’s Balanced Budget

•  DEQ’s water quality permit database

•  Application and annual fee invoice records

•  Oregon Revised Statutes 468B.051

 

What will happen next?

DEQ will prepare a written response to each comment or summary of similar comments received by the comment deadline. DEQ may modify the rule proposal based on the comments.

Comments and responses will become part of the DEQ staff report that will go to the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission for final decision.

 

Present proposal to the commission

The Governor selected the five members of the commission to review all proposed changes to division 340 of the Oregon Administrative Rules. The commission adopts, rejects or adopts with changes proposed rules.

 

DEQ plans to present this proposal to the commission for final decision at its October 2013 meeting. If approved by the commission, the proposed fees will be effective Nov. 1, 2013.

Accessibility information

To schedule a review of all websites and documents referenced in this announcement, call Chris Clipper at 503-229-5656.

 

Please notify DEQ of any special physical or language accommodations or if you need information in large print, Braille or another format. To make these arrangements, contact DEQ Communications and Outreach, Portland, at 503-229-5696 or call toll-free in Oregon at 1-800-452-4011; fax to 503-229-6762; or email to

deqinfo@deq.state.or.us. Hearing impaired persons may call 711.