444th Regular Meeting of the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission
This meeting will be held by Zoom and in-person at the Barbey Maritime Center in Astoria, Oregon.
Location:
Columbia River Maritime Museum – Barbey Maritime Center
2042 Marine Drive
Astoria, Oregon 97103
Note: To comply with federal accessibility requirements, DEQ may post documents in their source file format (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.). Document type will be noted next to the link for that document. If you require materials in a specific format (such as PDF), please submit a Public Records Request.
Thursday, July 9, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 814 2426 6261
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+16694449171,,81424266261# US
Join Instructions
All times are approximate and subject to change.
9 a.m.
Welcome and Meeting Open
The commission will open the meeting and review the day's agenda.
9:05 a.m.
Item A: Draft Meeting Minutes (Action)
Commissioners will review and take action on proposed draft minutes from the May 2026 regular meeting.
9:10 a.m.
Item B: Climate Protection Program Update (Informational)
DEQ will provide an update on the implementation of the Climate Protection Program, which is midway through its first three-year compliance period. This update will include how the program's implementation has progressed and the schedule for moving through and past the program's first compliance period.
10:40 a.m.
Break
10:55 a.m.
Item C: Recycling Modernization Act Rulemaking Update (Informational)
DEQ will provide an update on the Recycling Modernization Act rulemaking. The proposed rulemaking would amend many previously adopted rules and propose a very limited number of new rules based on updated information and progress of the program since implementation began July 1, 2025. DEQ plans to present draft proposed rules to the commission in January 2027. This will be the third rulemaking since the Act was signed into law in early 2022.
11:55 a.m.
Working Lunch and Executive Session
The commission will hold a working lunch and executive session, pursuant to ORS 192.660(2), (f) and (h). Per state law, members of the media are permitted to attend executive sessions; however, they may not report on the specifics or details of any discussions or information presented during these sessions. To request access as a member of the media, please email Lindsay Trapp by 12 p.m. on Monday, July 6, 2026.
1:15 p.m.
Item D: The Blue Economy in Northwest Oregon (Informational)
Sarah Lu, the Executive Director of the Columbia Pacific Economic Development District, will provide an overview of the Blue Economy in Northwest Oregon and the initiatives to strengthen and diversify this sector, including industrial symbiosis. The presentation will highlight collaborative work in the region, recent legislation, and ongoing local initiatives.
2:30 p.m.
Adjourn Public Meeting
3 p.m.
Item E: Colewart Creek Restoration Project Tour (Informational)
Commissioners will receive a tour from the Columbia River Estuary Study Taskforce (CREST) of the Colewart Creek Restoration Project, a multi-phase tidal wetland restoration effort between CREST and the Lewis and Clark National Historic Park. The tour will highlight ongoing efforts to restore hydrologic connectivity, tidal channel complexity, and juvenile salmon habitat within a historically diked and altered estuarine wetland complex in the Lewis and Clark River basin. Participants will view completed restoration features, including bridge crossings, reconnected tidal channels, large wood habitat structures, and restored marshplain areas, while discussing lessons learned from earlier project phases and how adaptive management and monitoring continue to inform future restoration actions. The tour will also include a discussion of proposed future restoration efforts to improve fish passage, tidal exchange, and long-term wetland resilience within this interconnected network of Lower Columbia estuary habitats. Please note that this tour is not open to the public.
Friday, July 10, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 833 6515 0774
One tap mobile
+16694449171,,83365150774# US
Join Instructions
All times are approximate and subject to change.
9 a.m.
Welcome and Meeting Open
The commission will open the meeting and review the day's agenda.
9:05 a.m.
Item F: 2027-29 Agency Request Budget Certification (Action)
DEQ will present a summary of the 2027-29 Agency Request Budget for the commission's final review and request approval for the EQC Chair to certify the budget submittal.
9:25 a.m.
Item G: Director's Report (Informational)
DEQ will present written and verbal updates on agency activities and other issues of interest to the commission.
10:25 a.m.
Break
10:40 a.m.
Item H: Public Forum (DOCX)
The commission will provide an opportunity for public comment on any environmental and public health issues relevant to DEQ and EQC. Sign-ups to comment will occur shortly before the start of this agenda item, and people should limit comments to two minutes or less. The commission may adjust comment times at its discretion. The commission cannot accept comment on the following rulemaking: Landfill, Crematory and Non-Technical Updates 2026.
11:30 a.m.
Adjourn Meeting