Jan. 21-22, 2021

412th regular meeting of the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission

Jan. 21-22, 2021: Teleconference

The commission meeting was held by teleconference, and people could attend through the Zoom web conferencing platform, for audio and video access, or by toll-free telephone connection, for audio-only access. Please note, meeting video and audio is recorded through the Zoom platform and recordings are posted back to this agenda page once available.

• Recording from Thursday, January 21: https://youtu.be/FXvDOxYMMTQ
• Recording from Friday, January 22: https://youtu.be/AuwPSsdDKeQ

Thursday, January 21: 12-5 p.m.

Meeting open and welcome
The commission will convene the 412th regular meeting of the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission. 

A. Action: Draft meeting minutes
Commissioners will review and take action on proposed draft minutes from recent EQC meetings. 

B. Informational: Commissioner reports
Commissioners will provide verbal updates of their recent activities of interest to the commission and DEQ. 

C. Action: NESHAP rule updates
DEQ will propose rules to update NESHAP categories related to recent updates to federal rules for air quality protections.

• Item C presentation slides 

D. Action: VW Grants Program rules
DEQ will propose rules for distribution of remaining funds in the VW Diesel settlement.  The rules will govern the allocation of grants for reducing diesel emissions and associated health impacts based on the settlement requirements and federal program guidelines.

• Item D presentation slides

 
E. Informational: Regional Haze Program updates
DEQ will present updates and request commission feedback regarding the proposed Regional Haze Program updates. The final program revisions will be proposed for commission action in July 2021.

• Item E presentation slides 

F. Action: Water Quality fee rule corrections
DEQ will present proposed corrections to certain Water Quality permit fees, approved in summer 2020. The proposal corrects typographical and other errors in the fee rules that need to be corrected for accurate billing to permit holders.

• Item F presentation slides 

G. Informational: Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program update
DEQ will present information on the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program, which provides below-market rate loans for the planning, design and construction of water pollution control activities, and which will bring proposed rule changes to the commission for a decision at the March 2021 EQC meeting.

• Item G presentation slides 

H. Informational: 1200Z permit development update
DEQ will provide an update on the 1200Z, an industrial stormwater permit, which is proposed to be issued as a rule, which will be brought to the commission for a decision at the March 2021 EQC meeting.

• Item H presentation slides 

I. Informational: Racial justice and equity work at DEQ
DEQ will present an update on the work going on at the agency to advance diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as efforts to integrate racial justice considerations into DEQ programs.

• Item I presentation slides 

J. Action: Outstanding Resource Waters Designation for Crater Lake and Waldo Lake
DEQ will propose rules to designate Crater Lake and Waldo Lake as Outstanding Resource Waters for the State of Oregon, which would provide these lakes additional water quality protections.

• Item J presentation slides 

K. Public forum
The commission provides this time for the public to talk to the commission about environmental or public health issues of concern. People are asked to limit comments to three minutes or less. 

Recess
The commission will recess until 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021 

Friday, January 22: 8:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.; executive session 1 to 2 p.m.

Reconvene
The commission will reconvene the meeting and review the day's agenda. 

L. Informational: Diesel emissions and pollution reduction
DEQ and co-presenters will provide a panel-style workshop on current programs and projects to reduce diesel pollution in Oregon.

• Item L presentation slides 

Comment opportunity: Diesel emissions and pollution reduction (30 min)
Following Item L, the commission will provide an opportunity for public comment on current and potential future work to reduce diesel emissions in Oregon.
 
M. Discussion/Action: Public engagement opportunities at EQC meetings
DEQ will propose possible changes to expand opportunities for public engagement at EQC meetings.
 
Comment opportunity: Public engagement opportunities at EQC meetings (20 min)
Following Item M, the commission will open a comment opportunity specific to the discussion and materials regarding ways to expand public engagement at EQC meetings.
 
N. Informational: Director's report
Director Whitman will present written and verbal updates on agency activities and other issues of interest to the commission.
 
Adjourn
The commission will adjourn the public meeting.

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Executive Session
Following adjournment, the commission will hold an executive session. This executive session will be 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. 

If you are a member of the media who wishes to attend executive session, please contact Stephanie Caldera for the connection information.

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