Announcement to GovDelivery Subscribers of Air Quality Permits, Rulemaking, Title V Permit Program public:

Subject: DEQ reopens public comment period for proposed revisions to air quality permitting, Heat Smart, and gasoline dispensing facility rules

DEQ reopens public comment period for proposed revisions to air quality permitting, Heat Smart, and gasoline dispensing facility rules

DEQ received a request from the U.S. Forest Service and Friends of the Columbia Gorge to extend the public comment period for the proposed air quality permitting, Heat Smart, and gasoline dispensing facility updates, which closed Aug. 28, 2014. DEQ reopened the public comment period for this rulemaking until Monday, Sept. 15, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. to provide additional time for comment. This is DEQ’s fourth update to its initial proposal issued June 16, 2014.

DEQ proposes rule revisions to:

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

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

Change the New Source Review preconstruction permitting program

Modernize methods allowed for holding public hearings and meetings

Re-establish the Heat Smart woodstove replacement program exemption for small commercial solid

fuel boilers regulated under the permitting program

Remove annual reporting requirements for small gasoline dispensing facilities

DEQ requests public comment on the proposed rules. To consider comments on the proposed rules, DEQ must receive the comment by 5:00 p.m., Sept. 15, 2014. Click here to view the rulemaking documents and details about the public comment period, including how to submit comments. DEQ held public hearings Jul. 16, 2014.

DEQ plans to take the final proposal including any modifications made in response to public comments to the Environmental Quality Commission for decision at the commission's January 2015 meeting. If adopted, DEQ will submit the rules to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a revision to the State Implementation Plan as required by the Clean Air Act.

Questions? Contact Jill Inahara at 503-229-5001 or inahara.jill@deq.state.or.us. In Lane County, contact Max Hueftle at 541-736-1056 or max@lrapa.org.