Proposed rule
Rulemaking contact: Megan Duenas, 503-887-7934
The Air Quality program needs to increase fees by 3% in 2026 for fiscal year 2027, as provided in ORS 468A.315, 468A.345 and 468A.750. Per statute, the amount of the increase may not exceed the anticipated increase in the cost of administering the program or 3%, whichever is lower. The proposed fees will cover costs associated with sustaining current service levels for air quality programs. A periodic small increase in fees also reduce the need to ask for a one-time large fee increase in the future. Without this increase, DEQ may need to reduce staff endangering the program's ability to provide essential program services to Oregonians and maintain the public health benefits associated with program functions. This rate of increase is based on a calculation of the current service level in the 2025-27 Legislatively Adopted Budget compared to the 2023-2025 Legislatively Adopted Budget. Programs included in this fee increase include:
Advisory committee
DEQ is convening an advisory committee to review the fiscal impacts related to the proposed rules. In convening this committee, DEQ has appointed members that reflect the range of entities that are both directly and indirectly affected by proposed changes to the rules.