DEQ proposal

See far right column to learn how to comment on this proposal. DEQ proposes changes to OAR 340-200-0400 including adoption of two Limited Maintenance Plans for the Grants Pass area – one for Carbon Monoxide (CO) and one for particulate matter 10 microns and smaller (PM₁₀). DEQ is proposing to adopt these plans into the Oregon Clean Air Act State Implementation Plan.

 

Rulemaking goal

The goal of this rulemaking is to maintain compliance with CO and PM₁₀ National Ambient Air Quality Standards for the next 10 years in the Grants Pass area.

Historically, Grants Pass violated the CO and PM₁₀ health standards and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classified the area as nonattainment for both air pollutants. Under the Clean Air Act, communities that exceed health standards must adopt plans to achieve and maintain good air quality.

 

EQC adopted attainment plans with CO and PM₁₀ control measures to reduce pollution levels within the urban growth boundary to meet the federal standards. This resulted in significant improvement in air quality and Grants Pass was reclassified to attainment for CO in 2000 and PM₁₀ in 2002. EQC adopted the first maintenance plans for Grants Pass at that time. The current maintenance plans expire in 2015.

 

EPA requires Oregon to establish second maintenance plans for the Grants Pass area to ensure compliance with the standards through 2025. Grants Pass’s CO and PM₁₀ levels have steadily declined and the area is unlikely to exceed these standards again. EPA guidance allows states the option to adopt a simplified or “limited” maintenance plan if air quality levels are below a certain threshold and there is little risk of a future health standard violation. Grants Pass’s CO and PM₁₀ levels are well below this threshold. Under the limited maintenance plan option, no new control measures are required, or the need for costly computer modeling for transportation conformity analysis.

 

DEQ requests public comment through Monday, January 26, 2015 at 5 p.m. on whether to consider other options for achieving these rules’ substantive goals while reducing negative economic impact of the rule on business. DEQ’s statement of fiscal and economic impact is in the notice at: http://www.oregon.gov/deq/RulesandRegulations/Pages/2014/RGPLMP.aspx.

 

Who does this affect?

The proposed rules affect the Middle Rogue Metropolitan Planning Organization. The proposed amendments incorporate the limited maintenance plans into the State of Oregon Clean Air Act Implementation Plan and do not change the regulated parties.

 

Attend a hearing

DEQ invites you to attend the public hearing described below. The presiding officer will be DEQ staff and provide a brief overview of the proposal before inviting your spoken or written comment.

Hearing location

Grants Pass City Council Chambers

101 NW ‘A’ Street

Grants Pass, Oregon 97526

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Date: Thursday, January 22, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

Comment deadline

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

Monday, January 26, 2015 at 5 p.m.

 

More information

The proposed rules and notice for this rulemaking are on DEQ rules and regulations web page [Link].

 

Sign up for rulemaking notices

Get email updates about future DEQ proposed rule by signing up through GovDelivery at

http://www.oregon.gov/deq/RulesandRegulations/Pages/proposedrule.aspx.

 

What has happened so far?

Documents used to develop proposal

The notice lists documents that DEQ relied on to consider the need for the proposed rules and prepare the rulemaking documents [Link].

 

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 or summary of 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 EQC

The Environmental Quality Commission is the board that reviews all proposed changes to division 340 of the Oregon Administrative Rules. The commission adopts, rejects, or adopts with changes, any proposed rule.

 

DEQ plans to take the completed draft proposal, including any modifications made in response to public comments to the commission for decision at its March 2015 meeting.

 

If EQC approves the proposed rules and incorporating the amendments into the Oregon Clean Air Act State Implementation Plan under OAR 340-200-0040, DEQ will submit the revised state implementation plan to EPA.

 

Accessibility information

You may review copies of all website pages and documents referenced in this announcement at:

 

DEQ Headquarters, Executive Building

Air Quality Program, 11^th Floor

811 SW Sixth Avenue

Portland, OR 97204

 

To schedule a review, call Brian Finneran at 503-229-6278 or toll-free in Oregon at 1-800-452-4011.

 

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, Portland, at 503-229-5696 or call toll-free in Oregon at 1-800-452-4011, ext. 5696; fax to 503-229-6762; or email to deqinfo@deq.state.or.us. Hearing impaired persons may call 711.