June 16, 2014

Senate President

900 Court St. NE, S-XXX

Salem, Oregon 97301

The Honorable Senator_________:

This letter complies with the ORS 183.335(15) requirement to notify certain legislators when an agency proposes changes to Oregon Administrative Rules.

The Department of Environmental Quality proposes changes to the air quality permitting rules under divisions 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 209, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 225, 226, 228, 232, 234, 236, 240, 242, 244, 246, 262, 264, and 268 of chapter 340. If approved, the rules would:

•  Clarify and update air quality rules

•  Update particulate matter emission standards

•  Change permitting requirements for emergency generators and small natural gas or oil-fired equipment

•  Establish two new state air quality area designations (“sustainment” and “reattainment”) to help areas avoid and more quickly end a federal nonattainment designation

•  Identify Lakeview as a state sustainment area while retaining its federal attainment designation

•  Change the pre-construction permitting program (New Source Review)

•  Provide more flexibility for public hearings and meetings

•  Re-establish woodstove replacement program (Heat Smart) exemption for small commercial solid fuel boilers that the permitting program regulates

•  Remove annual reporting requirements for small fuel dispensing facilities

The enclosed rulemaking announcement includes a link to DEQ’s rulemaking website. The website includes all public notice documents and information on how to submit comment. The deadline for public comment is July 31. If you have questions or comments, please call me at (503) 229-5397.

Sincerely,

Uri Papish

Interim Air Quality Administrator

Enclosure

cc:      Greg Aldrich, DEQ