The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s governing body, the Environmental Quality Commission, adopted six different sets of rules at their November meeting last Thursday and Friday.
Why do rules matter? Rules determine how DEQ regulates. When the legislature passes laws, they’re often very general. The agency responsible for implementing the law has to write the rules that include all the details. For more information on how rulemaking works, check out DEQ’s GreenState Podcast on this topic.
Summary of the EQC-adopted rules:
- A temporary rule to delay implementation of California’s rules requiring heavy duty engine makers to meet stricter emissions standards from 2024 to 2025.
- Modifying rules that govern the three climate programs at DEQ: Greenhouse Gas Reporting, Third Party Verification and Climate Protection in order to provide additional clarity.
- Extending the sunset date of the Ballast Water exchange plus treatment rule, which requires commercial vessels to follow a specific process when they bring in ballast water from outside the Pacific Northwest.
- Correcting and updating Oregon’s fish and aquatic life use designations using the best available data and information. This update will inform water quality standards.
- Establishing the foundational elements of the Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act to modernize Oregon’s recycling system.
- Updating the Round 2 Regional Haze State Implementation Plan with additional information regarding monitoring, record keeping and reporting requirements for facilities included in the plan.
You can find all the reports and slides presented to the Commission on the EQC website.
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