The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality enforces environmental laws to protect Oregon's air, land and water. DEQ's Office of Compliance and Enforcement issues fines and requires violators
(formally referred to as “respondents”) to correct violations. Our Supplemental Environmental Project Policy allows up to 80% of fines to go to projects that benefit human health and the environment.
Qualifying for a Supplemental Environmental Project
In order to qualify:
- The project must primarily benefit the environment or public health in Oregon.
- As much money must be spent on the project as is sought in the penalty reduction.
- The project cannot be an activity or result that is already required by law or set to become a future requirement.
- The portion of the project attributable to penalty reduction is not funded by government contracts, loans or grants.
- The project does not create a significant market or economic advantage for the respondent.
- The project does not result in DEQ controlling the funds or implementing the project.
- If the respondent is doing the project itself, the project must be commensurate with the respondent’s expertise and capabilities.
- The respondent must agree to provide a final report on the project.
For more information, see our
Frequently Asked Questions page.
Types of SEPs
SEPS are projects or activities that improve air quality, reduce hazardous waste, encourage more efficient use of resources, improve water quality, reduce or clean up solid waste, or aid in environmental emergency preparedness. For a list of the types of projects available and specific organization contacts, please visit the
Project Ideas and Contacts page.
Case-by-Case SEPs
Case-by-case SEPs are projects that are proposed in relation to the fines assessed in a specific case. Respondents choose an organization that they would like to work with on a SEP and then work with that organization to submit a project application to DEQ for review and approval that is tailored to the amount of the fine.
Pre-Approved SEPs
Starting in September 2026, DEQ will begin accepting applications for pre-approved SEPs. Pre-approved SEPs allow third party organizations (i.e. non-profit or government entities) to apply for pre-approval of a project (or fully developed concept) which they would like to have funded. The goal of the pre-approved SEPs is to help to connect respondents with organizations that have projects (or fully developed concepts) that have already been vetted and pre-approved by DEQ.
Pre-approved projects will be posted on DEQ’s website on a semiannual basis. Projects submitted by the fall application deadline (October 31st of each year) will be posted on DEQ’s website in early January. Projects submitted by the spring application deadline (April 30th of each year) will be posted on DEQ’s website in early July.
Projects will be pre-approved for a period of one year but are eligible for renewal.
If a respondent elects to fund a pre-approved SEP, the organization receiving the SEP funds will need to submit a streamlined secondary application that specifies how the specific amount of funding will be spent.
Nonprofit and government organizations that have potential qualifying projects in need of funding are encouraged to
attend a virtual listening session on Sept. 17, 2026, at 10 a.m. to learn how to apply for pre-approval of its project.
Apply for a SEP
- Case-by-Case SEP Application Form
This application is for a person or entity that has been assessed a civil penalty by DEQ and would like to mitigate their penalty through a SEP. This application can be submitted by a respondent directly, or by an organization that is already working with a specific respondent in relation to a specific enforcement case. Completed applications should be submitted via email to the Environmental Law Specialist assigned to the case, as indicated in the cover letter to the enforcement case. - Pre-Approved SEP Application Form
This application is for a third-party organization or entity that would like to submit a SEP application to DEQ for pre-approval. Completed applications should be submitted via email to SEP.Enforcement@DEQ.oregon.gov
Information sessions
DEQ held two meetings in January 2023 to share information on the updated policy on these projects. Following these, DEQ updated its policy on Supplemental Environmental Projects to provide more opportunities for communities to participate in project selection.
To be notified of future listening sessions, make sure you sign up to receive
email notifications from DEQ's enforcement office. DEQ’s enforcement office is continuously looking for ways to improve the SEP policy and welcomes input from community-based organizations through these listening sessions and direct outreach.
Recent examples of supplemental projects
The following are just a few recent examples of Supplemental Environmental Projects, funded by civil penalties that provided real tangible environmental benefits to Oregon communities.
The project supports the planting of trees in the Sumner, Cully, Parkrose, Argay, and Wilks neighborhoods as well as within the Columbia Slough watershed. The specific plangent sites were developed through consultation with community. Urban tree planting provides significant human health and environmental benefits, including carbon sequestration, enhanced air quality (trees can hold small particles on their surfaces and reduce ground level ozone, shade and reduced urban heat island effect, habitat creation, and stormwater management.
This program helps residents replace old woodstoves with either non wood heating devices or new certified low-emitting woodstoves in Klamath Falls and Chiloquin. Exchanging old woodstoves for alternative energy-efficient unites, EPA-certified woodstoves, or certified fireplace inserts reduces particulate matter emissions in local airsheds. Particulate matter emissions are a serious public health and environmental concern because, once inhaled, these pollutants can affect the heart and lungs, causing serious health problems. This SEP contribution funded the replacement of 15 old woodstoves and the purchase of six air quality monitors for Klamath County to provide timely and accurate air quality assessments to residents to reduce exposure to elevated pollutant levels.
This program helps increase groundwater elevations and improve local groundwater quality in the shallow alluvial aquifer and the spring-fed streams that are tributaries to the Walla Walla River. The SEP contribution helped fund two managed aquifer recharge sites (the Gallagher site and the Ringer Road site) in the Walla Walla Valley, near the communities of Milton-Freewater and Umapine.
SOLVE was founded in 1969 by Oregon Governor Tom McCall. Its mission is to “bring Oregonians together to improve our environment and build a legacy of stewardship." This SEP contribution helped fund cleanup events in public areas along the Columbia and Willamette rivers. Participants removed hazardous substances, household wastes, marine waste and litter, preventing pollutants from going into waterways. Litter and marine debris are a serious environmental concern that may result in the malnutrition, entanglement and strangulation of wildlife.