Adopted rule
Filed and effective: Aug. 18, 2025
See Oregon Bulletin, September 2025
Rulemaking contact:
Alex Meadows, 971-349-9578
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality updated its air quality rules to match recent changes made by the federal government. This process ensures that Oregon's rules remain at least as protective as federal standards and helps streamline the permitting process. Permit writers must apply the most protective standards to all facilities operating in Oregon. Aligning Oregon's rules with federal rules makes the permitting process more efficient.
This rule update includes four key changes:
- Adopting the latest federal regulations
- Adjusting rules for startup, shutdown, and malfunction emergency situations; permitted facilities:
- Must report all emissions
- Cannot claim equipment malfunctions as a reason to exceed emission limits
- Updating the air quality standard for fine particle pollution to align with the national standard
- Updating the air quality standard for sulfur dioxide to align with the national standard
The updates also include changes to air quality standards that will require revisions to Oregon's State Implementation Plan, which outlines how the state meets federal air quality requirements.