Yesterday evening, OSCC joined OBI and the Oregon Forest & Industries Council at the Cleaner Air Oregon rulemaking hearing in Eugene. OSCC was one of 11 organizations to provide public comment in response to the Cleaner Air Oregon rules. Click here to view testimony. We highlighted three concerns for Oregon businesses:
- Community engagement: The proposed rules require public meetings (at a SIGNIFICANT cost to the business) at risk thresholds that are less than the risk thresholds established by the legislature in SB 1541. These meetings should not be required unless the SB 1541 risk thresholds are exceeded.
- Small business impacts: Air toxics permit requirements should be reserved for facilities that exceed the thresholds set by SB 1541. That would be consistent with the legislation and would save smaller businesses the expense of obtaining a new permit (which would run thousands of dollars for in fees to DEQ under the proposed rules and likely require use of a consultant to comply. You can view the proposed fee schedule on page 86: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/Rulemaking%20Docs/cao-pn2-OtherDiv.pdf)
- Locations where impacts are assessed: DEQ’s proposed rules require businesses to assess ambient impacts in places other than where people actually live. This requirement is overly broad and inconsistent with SB 1541.
Find out more about how the revised Cleaner Air Oregon rules could impact businesses through this DEQ one-pager. https://www.oregon.gov/deq/filterDocs/cao-businessfs.pdf
OSCC members are encouraged are encouraged to use the three points (above) and submit their own comments to the DEQ by August 6 at 4:00 PM. Written comments can be submitted directly to DEQ at: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/Regulations/rulemaking/Pages/ccleanerair2017.aspx.
Note that DEQ is posting public comments directly on its website.
Please let us know if you have any questions.