Agency 3400 DAS Notification for Rulemaking Water Quality Permitting Fee 2014 Increases

DETP/19/16788

''Monday, July 22, 2019 at 3:50:02 PM (GMT+07:00) Goldstein, Meyer:'' Rule Caption: WQ Permit Fees — 2014 Increase Adm. Order No.: DEQ 13-2014 Filed with Sec. of State: 11-14-2014 Certified to be Effective: 12-1-14 Notice Publication Date: 6-1-2014 Rules Amended: 340-045-0075, 340-071-0140 Subject: Short summary Effective December 1, 2014, these DEQ rules increase water quality fees by 2.9 percent for individuals, businesses and government agencies that hold the following permits: - National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits. - Water Pollution Control Facility permits. - Water Pollution Control Facility permits specific to onsite septic systems. The proposed fee increases would not affect fees for the following permits: - Suction dredge discharge: 700-PM permit fees are set in Oregon statute. DEQ rules cannot change this law. - Graywater: Water Pollution Control Facility permits 2401 and 2402 for graywater use. - Small off-stream mining operations: Water Pollution Control Facility permit 600. These permits do not have application fees or annual fees. Background ORS 468B.051 allows water quality permit fee increases. DEQ has taken these actions concerning fee increases: In 2002 DEQ convened the Blue Ribbon Committee on Wastewater Permitting to recommend improvements to DEQ’s water quality permit program. The committee included industry, environmental and local government representatives. In 2004 the committee published a report containing recommendations. These included increasing fee revenue by no more than 3 percent each year to address increasing program costs. In 2005 the Oregon Legislature adopted the committee’s recommended annual fee increase into chapter 468B of Oregon Revised Statutes. DEQ implemented fee increases each year between 2007 and 2013, excluding 2009. The Water Quality Permitting program is responsible for: - Issuing Permits. These permits cover a wide range of activities such as: • Municipal wastewater treatment • Industrial wastewater treatment • Stormwater treatment • Fish hatcheries • Suction dredge mining • Seafood processing • Onsite sewage treatment - Compliance and inspection: DEQ conducts inspections and reviews discharge monitoring reports that permit holders submit. - Enforcement: DEQ may take enforcement action against permit holders that do not comply with their permits’ terms. - Pretreatment: Those facilities that receive wastewater from “significant industrial users” must have pretreatment programs. The law requires DEQ to oversee these programs - Plan Review: Municipal wastewater treatment facilities that wish to upgrade their facilities must submit plans for review. Regulated parties The proposed fee increases would affect: - Parties that currently hold a permit. - Parties that apply for modifications to or transfer of these permits. - Any party that applies for a new permit. - Any party that needs technical assistance related to these permits.