418th regular meeting of the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission
Feb. 3-4, 2022: Online/teleconference
The Oregon Environmental Quality Commission met on February 3 and 4 for a regular meeting. The commission meeting was held on Zoom, an online video conferencing platform, with toll-free telephone access for audio-only connections.
Feb. 3, 2022: Working lunch and executive session 12:15 to 1 p.m., regular meeting 1 to 4 p.m.
All times are approximate and subject to change
12:15 p.m.
Executive session (Closed meeting)
The commission will have an executive session as part of a working lunch, held pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(f) and (h). Executive session is a closed meeting for commissioners, specific DEQ staff and staff from the Oregon Department of Justice, to discuss confidential legal information and updates. Per state law, members of the media may attend executive session; however, they may not report on the specifics or details of any discussions or information presented during executive session.
1 p.m.
Welcome and meeting open: The commission will convene the public meeting and review the day's agenda.
1:05 p.m.
The commissioners will review and take action on the draft minutes from the Nov. 17-18, 2021, regular and Dec. 16, 2021, special EQC meetings.
1:10 p.m.
Commissioners will provide verbal updates on their activities and work of interest to the commission and DEQ. DEQ and the commissioners will also discuss, and may assign, the EQC liaison roles for the following entities:
- Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (voting member)
- Oregon Board of Agriculture
- Oregon Board of Forestry
- DEQ Internal Audit Committee (chair position)
1:40 p.m.
Item C: Regional Haze State Implementation Plan (Action)
DEQ will present proposed rules and related updates to the Oregon Air Quality State Implementation Plan for the implementation of Oregon's Regional Haze Plan.
Due to file sizes, the materials for Item C are separated as shown below:
2:10 p.m.Break: The commissioners will recess for a short break.
2:20 p.m.
DEQ will present a proposal for the commission to issue TMDLs by rules. Currently, TMDLs are issued by DEQ order; however, reinstating the process to issue these watershed management plans by rule allows for greater transparency of public process and more procedural certainty for all entities involved in the TMDL.
3:15 p.m.
The commission will open an opportunity for general public comment on environmental and public health issues of interest to EQC and DEQ.
- Sign-ups to present comment will occur at the start of this item
- People are asked to limit all comment to three minutes or less
- This time limit may be reduced if the number of people requesting to present comment would exceed the allotted item time
- The commission will affirm commenters' time once sign-ups have occurred at the meeting
- The commission cannot accept comment on future proposed rulemakings for which DEQ has held, and closed, a public comment period
4 p.m.
Recess: The commission will recess at approximately 4 p.m., and is scheduled to reconvene at 9 a.m. on Friday, February 4.
Feb. 4, 2022: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
All times are approximate and subject to change
9 a.m.
Reconvene: The commissioners will reconvene and review the day's agenda.
9:05 a.m.
DEQ will present summary information about the 2022 Legislative Session, which convened February 1.
9:20 a.m.
DEQ will present preliminary information about the development process and initial draft policy proposals for the DEQ 2023-25 Agency Request Budget.
10:20 a.m.
DEQ will present the agency's Annual Rulemaking Agenda for 2022, and discuss ways in which the commission may choose, as a group or individually, to be engaged on specific rulemaking development processes prior to agency recommendations and proposals of the draft rules.
11 a.m.
Break: The commission will recess for a short break.
11:10 a.m.
DEQ will propose delegation of authority, from the commission to DEQ Director Richard Whitman, for specific rulemakings planned in 2022 that involve little to no policy consideration or are otherwise administrative in scope.
11:45 a.m.
Director Whitman will present verbal and written updates on agency activities and other issues of interest to the commission.
12:30 p.m.
Adjourn: The commission is scheduled to adjourn its meeting at 12:30 p.m.
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