Internal Management Directives

Managers at DEQ occasionally issue internal management directives to staff, which describe expectations for how employees should implement various components of environmental programs. These directives are not binding on third parties, and staff may deviate from an IMD, either in accordance with the circumstances specified in an IMD, or as appropriate with approval from a program manager.

As part of the agency's ongoing commitment to public understanding of our processes, existing directives are listed on this page with new ones posted here as they are issued.

Air Quality

Land Quality

Applying Hazardous Waste, Universal Waste and State-Only Waste Pesticide Residue Management Standards
Calculating Costs for Incineration of Pathological Waste in Oregon, 2006
Clean Fill Determinations.
This 2019 directive describes the screening criteria DEQ Materials Management staff uses to evaluate whether material meets DEQ's definition of clean fill for purposes of reuse or disposal.
Conditions for Solid Waste Permit Exemption for On-Farm Anaerobic Digesters Under an ODA Issued Confined Animal Feeding Operation Permit, 2011
Conducting Contained-In Determinations For Environmental Media, 2024
Contaminant Delineation for Cleanup Projects, 2014
DEQ Role in Very Small Facility Exemption Determination, 2008
Determining an Exemption from Financial Assurance Requirements for Low-Risk Solid Waste Disposal Sites, 2010
Developing Concentration Limits at Permitted Solid Waste Facilities, 2011
Every Other Week Collection of Recyclables Under the Opportunity to Recycle Rules, 2004
E-Waste Handling Facility Permitting and Compliance. Directive on Land Quality Issues, 2009
Facility Closure and Post Closure Care, 2014
Guidance for Obtaining a Department Research, Development, and Demonstration Permit, 2012
Guidelines for Alternative Daily Cover Material Application. 2006
Hazardous Waste Fees for Remediation Wastes, 2015
Hazardous Waste Management, Criteria for Applying Factors to Determine Significant Non-Complier Status (Supersedes Policy Number 2000-PO-002), 2011
Household Hazardous Waste Collection - Facility Design and Operations Guidance, 2004
Management of Asbestos Containing Waste Material at Permitted Solid Wate Transfer Stations and Material Recovery Facilities, 2006
Operations Plans to Implement Ban on Disposal of Covered Electronics Devices at Permitted Solid Waste Disposal Facilities, 2009
Permit Required for Transfer of Solid Waste in Shrink-Wrapped Bales, 2009
Regulation of Facilities Used to Manage Woody Biomass from Forestry Operations, 2020
Solid Waste Complaint Response, 2007
Solid Waste Storage and Speculative Accumulation, 2008
Specifications for the Use of Recycled Glass in Landfill Roadbeds, 2004
Underground Storage Tank Technical Assistance Inspection Program, 2011
Using Immunity from Enforcement in the Hazardous Waste Technical Assistance Program, 2015
Wood Waste and Industrial Waste Landfills, 2007

Water Quality

Antidegradation Policy Implementation, 2001
Arsenic Reduction Policy in Surface Water Drinking Water Source Area, 2013
Bacterial Criteria for Marine and Estuarine Waters, 2012
Clean Fill Determinations
This 2019 directive describes the screening criteria DEQ Materials Management staff uses to evaluate whether material meets DEQ's definition of clean fill for purposes of reuse or disposal.
NPDES Compliance Schedule Guidance (with addendum)
IMD for Functionally Equivalent Discharges: Determining if a WPCF permit should be a NPDES permit under the Maui Supreme Court Decision
Implementation of Methylmercury Criterion in NPDES Permits, 2021
Implementing Oregon's Biosolids Program, 2005
Instructions for BOD5 to CBOD5 Substitution in NPDES Permits
Interim Procedure for Addressing Naturally Occurring Arsenic in NPDES Permits
Note: This document applies only to permits that reference it.
Memo Describing Existing Use Review Under Antidegradation Policy, 2001
Monitoring Background Groundwater Quality for Regulating Permitted Operations under OAR 340-040-0030, 2023
Nonpoint Source Compliance With the Protecting Cold Water Criterion of the Temperature Standard
Onsite Septic Variances, 2023
Operations, Monitoring and Management Plans for Land Application of Non-Sanitary Wastewater, 2002
Oregon Bacterial Rule: Bacterial Criteria for Marine and Estuarine Waters
Protecting Cold Water Criterion, 2011
Reasonable Potential Analysis Process for Toxic Pollutants, 2024
Recycled Water, 2009
Regulatory Mixing Zone IMD - part 1
Regulatory Mixing Zone IMD - part 2: Reviewing Mixing Zone Studies, 2013
Regulatory Mixing Zone IMD - Transmittal Memo
Site Specific Background Pollutant Criterion, 2012
Site Specific Background Pollutant Criterion IMD - Transmittal Memo.
Please contact Spencer Bohaboy by email or phone at 503-229-5415 to obtain the worksheets associated with the implementation of the criterion.
Temperature Water Quality Standard Implementation, 2008
Use Attainability Analysis and Site Specific Criteria, 2007
Use of Significant Figures and Rounding Conventions in Water Quality Permitting, 2013
Use of Significant Figures and Rounding Conventions in Water Quality Permitting - Transmittal Memo
Variances for NPDES Permit Holders, 2012
Water Quality Trading, 2016

Other

Administrative Search Warrant Procedures
This IMD is to be used by all DEQ inspectors to determine how and when they can enter onto a property and inspect documents.
Enforcement Guidance for Field Staff
This IMD is to be used by DEQ staff when determining how to respond to violations identified during compliance monitoring actions such as inspections, complaint response, and report review.
Staff Guidance Regarding Cultural Resources Protection Laws, Office of the Director Directive