Oregon progress report for the second regional haze planning period
This report explains that visibility monitoring data gathered by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality demonstrates that Oregon is on track to meet its reasonable progress goals towards improving visibility at Class I areas in Oregon. Class I areas are areas such as national parks, wilderness areas, and other protected lands designated for enhanced air quality and visibility protection in the Clean Air Act.
The Environmental Protection Agency's Regional Haze Rule requires states to submit progress reports every 10 years. As part of Oregon's responsibilities to fulfill the Clean Air Act requirements listed in 40 CFR 51.308 (g) and (h) for the second planning period, Oregon submitted this progress report to EPA on Jan. 31, 2025.
Regional Haze Round 2 State Implementation Plan Development and Division 223 Rulemaking
DEQ conducted a rulemaking to codify the Round 2 Regional Haze process for selecting facilities that must reduce emissions or install controls, the methodology for deeming those controls cost effective and facility compliance options. The rulemaking was one component of and ran concurrently with DEQ's development of the Round 2 Regional Haze State Implementation Plan. The 2018 – 2028 Oregon Regional Haze SIP was posted for public comment until 4 p.m. Nov. 1, 2021. DEQ presented to the Environmental Quality Commission for adoption in February 2022.
Oregon Regional Haze 2018-2028 State Implementation Plan