2023 Oregon Revised Statutes › Volume : 13 - Housing, Games, Environment › Chapter 468A - Air Quality › Section 468A.315 - Emission fees for major sources; base fees; basis of fees; rules.

(1) The fee schedule required under ORS 468.065 (2) for a source subject to the federal operating permit program shall be based on a schedule established by rule by the Environmental Quality Commission in accordance with this section. Except for the additional fees under subsection (2)(e) of this section and ORS 468A.345, this fee schedule shall be in lieu of any other fee for a permit issued under ORS 468A.040, 468A.045 or 468A.155. The fee schedule shall cover all reasonable direct and indirect costs of implementing the federal operating permit program and shall consist of:
(a) An emission fee of $121 per ton of each regulated pollutant emitted during the prior calendar year as determined under subsection (2) of this section.
(b) Fees for the following specific elements of the federal operating permit program:
(A) Reviewing and acting upon applications for modifications to federal operating permits.
(B) Any activity related to permits required under ORS 468A.040 other than the federal operating permit program.
(C) Department of Environmental Quality activities for sources not subject to the federal operating permit program.
(D) Department review of ambient monitoring networks installed by a source.
(E) Other distinct department activities created by a source or a group of sources if the commission finds that the activities are unique and specific and that additional rulemaking is necessary and will impose costs upon the department that are not otherwise covered by federal operating permit program fees.
(c) A base fee of $16,002 for a source subject to the federal operating permit program.
(2)(a) The fee on emissions of regulated pollutants required under this section shall be based on the amount of each regulated pollutant emitted during the prior calendar year as documented by information provided by the source in accordance with criteria adopted by the commission or, if the source elects to pay the fee based on permitted emissions, the fee shall be based on the emission limit for the plant site of the major source.
(b) The fee required by subsection (1)(a) of this section does not apply to any emissions in excess of 7,000 tons per year of all regulated pollutants. The department may not revise a major source’s plant site emission limit due solely to payment of the fee on the basis of documented emissions.
(c) The commission shall establish by rule criteria for the acceptability and verifiability of information related to emissions as documented, including but not limited to the use of:
(A) Emission monitoring;
(B) Material balances;
(C) Emission factors;
(D) Fuel use;
(E) Production data; or
(F) Other calculations.
(d) The department shall accept reasonably accurate information that complies with the criteria established by the commission as documentation of emissions.
(e) The rules adopted under this section shall require an additional fee for failure to pay, substantial underpayment of or late payment of emission fees.
(3) The commission shall establish by rule the size fraction of total particulates subject to emission fees as particulates under this section.
(4) As used in this section, "regulated pollutant" means particulates, volatile organic compounds, oxides of nitrogen, and sulfur dioxide. [1991 c.752 §§5,25; 1993 c.790 §§6,7; 2007 c.480 §1; 2009 c.266 §1; 2018 c.102 §20; 2023 c.260 §§1,2]
Note:
The amendments to 468A.315 by section 4, chapter 260, Oregon Laws 2023, become operative January 1, 2025. See section 5, chapter 260, Oregon Laws 2023. The text that is operative on and after January 1, 2025, is set forth for the user’s convenience.
(1) The fee schedule required under ORS 468.065 (2) for a source subject to the federal operating permit program shall be based on a schedule established by rule by the Environmental Quality Commission in accordance with this section. Except for the additional fees under subsection (3)(e) of this section and ORS 468A.345, this fee schedule shall be in lieu of any other fee for a permit issued under ORS 468A.040, 468A.045 or 468A.155. The fee schedule shall cover all reasonable direct and indirect costs of implementing the federal operating permit program and shall consist of:
(a) An emission fee of $121 per ton of each regulated pollutant emitted during the prior calendar year as determined under subsection (3) of this section.
(b) Fees for the following specific elements of the federal operating permit program:
(A) Reviewing and acting upon applications for modifications to federal operating permits.
(B) Any activity related to permits required under ORS 468A.040 other than the federal operating permit program.
(C) Department of Environmental Quality activities for sources not subject to the federal operating permit program.
(D) Department review of ambient monitoring networks installed by a source.
(E) Other distinct department activities created by a source or a group of sources if the commission finds that the activities are unique and specific and that additional rulemaking is necessary and will impose costs upon the department that are not otherwise covered by federal operating permit program fees.
(c) A base fee of $16,002 for a source subject to the federal operating permit program.
(2) Not more than once each calendar year, the commission may increase the fees established under this section. The amount of the annual increase may not exceed the anticipated increase in the cost of administering the federal operating permit program or three percent, whichever is lower, unless a larger increase is provided for in the department’s legislatively approved budget.
(3)(a) The fee on emissions of regulated pollutants required under this section shall be based on the amount of each regulated pollutant emitted during the prior calendar year as documented by information provided by the source in accordance with criteria adopted by the commission or, if the source elects to pay the fee based on permitted emissions, the fee shall be based on the emission limit for the plant site of the major source.
(b) The fee required by subsection (1)(a) of this section does not apply to any emissions in excess of 7,000 tons per year of all regulated pollutants. The department may not revise a major source’s plant site emission limit due solely to payment of the fee on the basis of documented emissions.
(c) The commission shall establish by rule criteria for the acceptability and verifiability of information related to emissions as documented, including but not limited to the use of:
(A) Emission monitoring;
(B) Material balances;
(C) Emission factors;
(D) Fuel use;
(E) Production data; or
(F) Other calculations.
(d) The department shall accept reasonably accurate information that complies with the criteria established by the commission as documentation of emissions.
(e) The rules adopted under this section shall require an additional fee for failure to pay, substantial underpayment of or late payment of emission fees.
(4) The commission shall establish by rule the size fraction of total particulates subject to emission fees as particulates under this section.
(5) As used in this section, "regulated pollutant" means particulates, volatile organic compounds, oxides of nitrogen, and sulfur dioxide.