Director Dialogue item for June 2014 EQC

Air Contaminant Discharge Permit Fee Increase – Permanent Rule

The 2013 Oregon Legislature approved Policy Package 111, which includes a 20% fee increase in the Air Contaminant Discharge Permit program. DEQ requested the fee increase to restore 3.67 ACDP positions and support the program through 2017. The program does not receive a CPI increase to gradually increase fees every year like the Title V program; this results in a larger fee increase every four to six years. ACDP fees were last increased in 2007 by 20%.

ACDP positions were initially reduced by 6.67 positions in the Legislatively Approved Budget. DEQ is able to operate the program without 3 of the positions cut in the budget because of permitting process improvements, however DEQ cannot maintain adequate service in the program without restoring the 3.67 positions funded by the fee increase.

DEQ worked with stakeholders including Associated Oregon Industries during development of the policy package; industrial groups did not oppose the fee increase in the 2013 legislature.

Temporary rule amendments were adopted the Commission at the October, 2013 meeting. This allowed DEQ to issue ACDP invoices in October as scheduled and avoid a supplemental billing. DEQ will propose permanent rule amendments for their consideration at the EQC meeting in June, 2014.