Rulemaking

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Willamette Valley Mercury Variance 2019

Proposed rulemaking

Aron Borok, 503-229-5050

This rulemaking will add procedures for qualifying point source dischargers in the Willamette Basin to apply for and obtain a water quality standards variance that would apply to water quality based effluent limits for mercury. The proposed rules will require the dischargers to continue to work to decrease mercury in effluent.

In addition, DEQ is proposing changes to the variance rule (OAR 340-041-0061) to be consistent with recent changes to parallel federal regulations. This rulemaking will allow DEQ permit writers to issue permits that would otherwise have unattainable water-quality based effluent limits for mercury. The variance will allow permit holders to meet mercury effluent limits while still requiring them to reduce mercury loads over time.

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Willamette Valley Mercury Variance Advisory Committee

​This committee’s purpose is to provide early input to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality on a rule establishing a multiple discharger variance for mercury in the Willamette Basin, as well as amendments to Oregon’s variance rule at OAR 340-041-0059.  

Advisory Committee charter

Willamette Valley Mercury Variance Advisory Committee Meetings
Past meetings
 
Meeting 6
Aug. 1, 2019
 
Meeting 5
June 3, 2019
 
Meeting 4
Apr. 4, 2019
 

Meeting 3

Jan. 24, 2019

Meeting 1 - Nov. 1, 2018

Meeting 2 - Dec. 10, 2018

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Advisory committee meetings are open to the public. The public may attend the meeting, but the committee has discretion whether to allow the public to participate in the meeting. The public will be able to comment on the proposed rule changes during the public notice and comment period later in the rulemaking. DEQ publishes meeting notices on https://www.oregon.gov/deq/Get-Involved/Pages/Calendar.aspx. 

Please notify DEQ of any special physical or language accommodations or if you need information in large print, Braille or another format. To make these arrangements, contact DEQ, Portland, at 503-229-5696 or call toll-free in Oregon at 1-800-452-4011, ext. 5696; fax to 503-229-6762; or email to deqinfo@deq.state.or.us. Hearing impaired persons may call 711.

​Public involvement

DEQ is now accepting public comments on the proposed rule changes. The comment period closes on Nov. 4, 2019 at 4 p.m.

Submit comment

For more information, see the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Draft Rules .

The public notice packet includes the notice, proposed rules and any supporting documents.

 

Public hearings

Oct. 22, 2019 - DEQ Headquarters
700 NE Multnomah St.
Third Floor, Room L700
Portland, OR 97232
4 p.m.

 

Oct. 22 2019 - DEQ Eugene Office
165 E. Seventh Avenue
Willamette Conference Room (Room 100)
Eugene, OR 97401
4 p.m.

 

EQC action

This meeting has not been scheduled yet.