Environmental Quality Commission

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Jan. 23-24, 2020

​407th regular meeting of the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission

 
Hillsboro: Jan. 23-24, 2020


Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020: Off-site morning tour, meeting 10:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
  • Meeting location: Hillsboro Civic Center, Main Auditorium
    • 150 E Main Street, Hillsboro, Oregon 97123

The commissioners and several DEQ staff participate in an off-site tour of the agency laboratory facilities in Hillsboro in the morning. The tour is an opportunity for the commissioners to learn about the operations of the DEQ Laboratory and Environmental Assessment Division, and is not part of the regular meeting agenda.

Meeting open and welcome
​Chair George will convene the commission at 10:45 a.m., open the meeting and review the day's agenda.

Item B, Action item: Meeting minutes
The commissioners will take action on the proposed draft minutes from the Nov. 14-15, 2019, regular EQC meeting.

The commissioners will discuss the morning's tour of the DEQ laboratory and address any follow-up questions or discussion related to the tour.

Working lunch and executive session
The commissioners, DEQ staff and Oregon Department of Justice staff will meet for an executive session over a working lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. This executive session is held under the authority of ORS 192.660(2)(f) and (h).

DEQ will present an update on the Oregon Recycling Steering Committee and possible future changes to recycling opportunities in Oregon.

Item E, Informational item: Oregon's Environmental Protection Act​
DEQ will present information about federal actions or proposals that could result in a roll-back of specific environmental laws or protections, per the conditions of Oregon's Environmental Protection Act (2019).

Item F, Informational item: Budget and legislative updates
DEQ will present updates about general budget and legislative information and provide an overview of the budget and legislative development processes for the 2021 Legislative Session. 
Item F audio: Part 1 (staff presentation and commenters); Part 2  (commenters); Part 3 (item closing)
Comment opportunity for Item F
The commission will hold a public comment opportunity specific to the staff presentation and discussion for Item F, Budget and legislative updates. Each person presenting comment is asked to limit their​ comments to three minutes or less.
  • ​This comment opportunity is scheduled to begin at approximately 3:30 p.m. and last for 30 minutes

Item G, Informational item: Director's ​report​
Director Whitman will present verbal and written updates on agency activities and issues of interest to the commission.
Item G audio: Part 1; Part 2

Item H was rescheduled for Friday, Jan. 24, 2020
​
Recess
The commission will recess at approximately 5 p.m. until 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. 

Commissioners and some staff from DEQ will gather on Thursday evening for a social dinner. No business will be conducted at the dinner.


Friday, Jan. 24, 2020: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

  • Meeting location: Hillsboro Civic Center, Main Auditorium
    • 150 E Main Street, Hillsboro, Oregon 97123​​


Meeting open and welcome
​Chair George will reconvene the commission at 8:30 a.m., open the meeting and review the day's agenda.

DEQ will propose a modification to the Total Dissolved Gas Standard for the mainstem Columbia River for the purposes of fish passage.

Item J, Action item: Willamette Basin Mercu​ry TMDL Multiple-Discharger Variance​​
​DEQ will propose rule amendments to create a multi-disharger variance tool and process that would allow qualifying point source dischargers in the Willamette Basin to apply for and obtain a variance for water quality-based effluent limits for mercury. 

Staff from DEQ and the Department of Forestry will co-present an update on collaborative agency activities and areas of regulatory overlap.

DEQ will propose permanent rule revisions, to replace temporary rules adopted in summer 2019, for the Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate Program.

Due to file sizes, documents for Item M are posted in several parts
Item M, Informational item: Indirect source petition​​
DEQ will present information about a petition for rulemaking regarding air quality regulations for indirect sources of certain air pollutants. DEQ intends to bring a proposal for commission action on the petition as part of the March 18-19, 2020, EQC meeting.
Comment opportunity for Item M
The commission will hold a public comment opportunity specific to the staff presentation and discussion for Item M, Indirect source petition. Each person presenting comment is asked to limit their​ comments to three minutes or less.
  • ​This comment opportunity is scheduled to begin at approximately 11:45 a.m. and last for 45 minutes
Item M audio: Part 1 (staff presentation and commenters); Part 2  (commenters)

Working lunch
The commission will recess for a working lunch from 12:30 to 2 p.m. and review required annual training from the Oregon Department of Administrative Services.

There is no document for this item
Item N: Public forum
  • Time certain start: 2 p.m.
The commission will open an opportunity for public comment, both in-person and by toll-free telephone line, at approximately 2 p.m. This item is scheduled to last approximately 60 minutes; however, all times are subject to change based on commission needs. Each person wishing to present comment is asked to limit their comments to three minutes or less

Commissioners will provide verbal updates on their recent EQC-related activities and other items of interest for the commissioners and agency.

Adjourn: The commission will adjourn at approximately 3 p.m. 

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​​Contact​

For questions about the commission please contact Stephanie Caldera , or call 503-229-5301

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​Please contact Stephanie Caldera for commission materials prior to 2019​​