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Genentech

DEQ received an application for a new air quality permit from Genentech Inc. on June 18, 2019. The permit would replace Genentech Inc.’s existing air quality permit. The company applied for a new permit application because they have constructed two new pharmaceutical manufacturing buildings.
 
As part of the Cleaner Air Oregon process, DEQ required Genentech to conduct a risk assessment to evaluate health impacts from the facility. DEQ created Cleaner Air Oregon facility web pages as part of an ongoing commitment to communities to be transparent and provide access to a facility’s health risk assessment information. Facility correspondence and deliverables are provided below.

Air Toxics assessment process


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The Emissions Inventory provides information on all the Toxic Air Contaminant emissions from a facility, and includes information on a facility’s operations and activities, as well as fuel and material usage rates. This is often the longest step in the CAO risk assessment process as DEQ needs to verify that all activities have been accounted for, and that the most representative emissions data available are used. In some cases, DEQ will require a facility to perform source testing at this stage if insufficient data is available to estimate emissions. 
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​For an introduction to emissions inventories and why they matter, please see EPA’s Fact Sheet. DEQ is currently finalizing a fact sheet specific to our Cleaner Air Oregon program. A facility-specific emissions inventory timeline and associated documents are linked below.
 
June 18, 2019: Genentech provides initial Emissions Inventory
Aug. 23, 2019: Genentech provides revised Emissions Inventory and supplemental information in response to DEQ comments.
Sept. 6, 2019: Genentech submits revised Emissions Inventory based on proposed equipment modifications.

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The Modeling Protocol provides information on how the facility plans to accurately model the concentrations of Toxic Air Contaminants (TACs) that community members may be exposed to based on the TAC emissions data from the approved Emissions Inventory. A Risk Assessment Work Plan is required for more complex Risk Assessments (Level 3 or Level 4) and provides more detailed information about locations where people live or normally congregate around the facility and how risk to these community members will be evaluated.

​June 18, 2019: Genentech provides initial Level 1 modeling protocol
Aug. 23, 2019: Genentech provides revised Level 1 modeling protocol in response to DEQ comments.

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The Risk Assessment provides the summary of findings on potential risks to the surrounding community from emissions of Toxic Air Contaminants from this facility. The assessment indicates the exposure location(s) in the community with the highest potential Cancer and Noncancer health risk, and DEQ uses this information to regulate TAC emissions from the facility. In some cases, the risk may be very low, and no further action may be required, or the risk may exceed health-based standards where DEQ can require risk reductions. In most cases, permit conditions will be developed and included in a facility's air quality permit to regulate TAC emissions based on the results of the risk assessment.

​Aug. 23, 2019: Genentech Submits Initial Level 1 Risk Assessment
Sept 4, 2019: DEQ approves Genentech’s Level 1 Risk Assessment
Sept. 6, 2019: DEQ approves Genentech Level 1 Risk Assessment
Sept. 9, 2019: DEQ approves Genentech’s revised Level 1 Risk Assessment based on proposed equipment modifications.

​Risk Reduction Plan (not required)​





Contact

Jonathan Giska

Genentech Site Address

4625 NE Brookwook Pkwy

Hillsboro, OR 97124-9332

Current AQ permit

How to get involved