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July 21-22, 2022

421st regular meeting of the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission

July 21-22, 2022: Online/teleconference

The Oregon Environmental Quality Commission will meet on July 21 and 22. Commissioners and some DEQ staff may attend in-person at the DEQ Portland offices; however, access for the public and some presenters will be by Zoom, an online video conferencing platform, with toll-free telephone access for audio-only connections. 

July 21, 2022: 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

All times are approximate and subject to change
9 a.m.
Welcome and meeting open
The commission will convene the public meeting and review the day's agenda.

9:05 a.m.
Item A: Air Toxics Science Advisory Committee membership (Action)
DEQ will present seven proposed members of the Air Toxics Science Advisory Committee for commission concurrence. 

9:25 a.m.
Item B: Climate and transportation programs overview (Informational)
DEQ will present an overview of programs and projects at the agency related to climate change, greenhouse gas emissions reductions and the modernization of Oregon's transportation systems.

10 a.m.
Item C: Advanced Clean Cars II rulemaking development (Informational)
DEQ will present updates on proposed rules for low- and zero-emission vehicles. Oregon, along with 16 other states, follow California's vehicle emission standards. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is expected to adopt an extension of its Clean Car Standards to 2035 later this summer.

10:50 a.m.
Break: The commission will recess for a short break

11:05 a.m.
Item D: Employee Commute Options rulemaking development (Informational)
DEQ will present updates on proposed rules for the Employee Commute Options program. The program requires employers of certain sizes and in certain geographic parts of the state to provide transportation options and emissions mitigation programs for their employees.
11:35 a.m.
Item E: Public comment - Climate and transportation items
The commission will hold a comment opportunity specific to agenda items B, C and D. Sign-ups to comment will occur at the start of this agenda item, and people are asked to limit their comments to three minutes or less.

12:05 p.m.
Item F: Temporary rule corrections to Asbestos Program fee rules (Action)
DEQ will propose temporary rules to correct errors in the Asbestos Program fees adopted at the May EQC meeting. Temporary rules expire 180 days after filing.
12:15 p.m.
Item G: Delegation of rulemaking authority for permanent corrections to Asbestos Program fees (Action)
DEQ will request delegation of the rulemaking authority for the permanent corrections to the Asbestos Program fee rules, allowing Director Whitman to approve the corrections following the completion of required rulemaking processes.

12:20 p.m.
Lunch and executive session
The commission will hold a working lunch and executive session, pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(a), (f) and (h): To consider the employment of a public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent; to consider information or records that are exempt by law from public inspection; and to consult with counsel concerning the legal rights and duties of a public body with regard to current litigation or litigation likely to be filed.

Executive sessions are closed meetings only for EQC members, DEQ staff and Department of Justice representatives. Members of the media may attend but may not report on any of the communications that occur during the executive session except to state the general subject of the session as previously announced. To request access as a member of the media, please email Stephanie Caldera by noon on Tuesday, July 19, 2022.

1:20 p.m.
Item H: Built Environment Strategic Plan (Informational)
DEQ and project partners will present the Materials Management Program's Built Environment Strategic Plan, and discuss the innovative development processes used for and agency recommendations included in this plan.

2 p.m.
Item I: Annual State of the Environment report (Informational)
DEQ will present summary information regarding environmental outcomes in Oregon based on reporting over the past year.
2:55 p.m.
Break: The commission will recess for a short break

3:05 p.m.
Item J: Memorandum of Understanding for water quality between DEQ and ODF (Informational)
DEQ and Oregon Department of Forestry will co-present an overview of progress made in implementing the Memorandum of Understanding on achieving water quality goals on non-federal forestlands in Oregon. The MOU was finalized in December 2021.

3:35 p.m.
Item K: Director's recruitment process (Discussion and action)
The commission will discuss the recruitment of DEQ’s next director. During this item, the commission may take action on process and administrative elements of the recruitment, including but not limited to the desired criteria/position description, general timelines and delegation of certain work to individual commissioners.

4:45 p.m.
Recess
The commission will recess at approximately 4:45 p.m. until 9 a.m. on Friday, July 22, 2022.

July 22, 2022: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

All times are approximate and subject to change

9 a.m.
Welcome and meeting open
The commission will reconvene the public meeting and review the day's agenda.

9:05 a.m.
Item L: Public forum 
The commission will will hold a comment opportunity for any environmental and public health issues relevant to DEQ and EQC. Sign-ups to comment will occur at the start of this agenda item, and people are asked to limit comments to three minutes or less.

The commission may not hear comment on rulemaking items for which DEQ has held and closed a public comment period. Issues subject to this limit at this meeting include:
  • Clean Fuels Program expansion rulemaking (Fall 2022 projected proposal)

10 a.m.
Item M: Draft meeting minutes (Action)
The commission will review and take action on the proposed draft minutes of the May 19-20, 2022, regular EQC meeting.

10:05 a.m.
Item N: Commissioner reports (Informational)
Commissioners will provide verbal updates on their activities and work of interest to the commission and DEQ. 

10:20 a.m.
Break: The commission will recess for a short break

10:30 a.m.
Item O: Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund Program updates (Informational)
DEQ will present updates on rule revisions for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loan Program, in response to funding and administrative changes made by the federal government. DEQ will request EQC action on the final proposed rules in early 2023.
11 a.m.
Item P: Agency Request Budget 2023-2025 (Informational)
DEQ will present its draft 2023-25 Agency Request Budget information for commissioner input. Chair George will be asked to certify the final ARB by Sept. 1, 2022.
11:45 a.m.
Item Q: Director's report (Informational)
Director Whitman will present written and verbal updates on agency activities and other issues of interest to the commission.

12:30 p.m.
Adjourn
The commission is scheduled to adjourn at approximately 12:30 p.m.

***



Contact

For questions about the commission please email Stephanie Caldera, or call 503-229-5301

Interested in receiving EQC agenda updates via email? Subscribe here!

Please contact Stephanie Caldera for commission materials prior to 2020.