Oregon Administrative Rules › Chapter 340 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY › Division 245 - CLEANER AIR OREGON › Section 340-245-0120 - Community Engagement

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 7, July 1, 2024
(1) The
			 purpose of community engagement is to inform the community and provide a
			 mechanism for input to DEQ's work with sources that are called into the
			 program. The requirements of this rule are intended to ensure that
			 consideration of environmental justice is appropriately emphasized throughout
			 implementation of this division.
(2) Notification. When DEQ holds a public
			 meeting under subsection (3)(a), DEQ will, at a minimum, notify persons with an
			 address in the notification area. DEQ will provide a 30 day notice of any
			 public meeting held under subsection (3)(a) by sending an email through
			 GovDelivery or mailing written notice via U.S. mail to such persons. DEQ may
			 enhance the public notice procedures at its discretion. DEQ may determine
			 notice requirements for any additional public meetings held under subsection
			 (3)(c).
(3) Public meetings.
(a) DEQ may hold one or more public meetings
			 to gather community input prior to drafting proposed permit conditions for new,
			 reconstructed, modified and existing sources if the owner or operator requests
			 Source Risk Limits greater than any of the Community Engagement Levels except
			 as allowed by OAR 340-245-0130(6). DEQ, in consultation with persons who live
			 or spend time within the notification area, may determine that another forum
			 for communication, as listed in section (4), in lieu of or in addition to a
			 public meeting, is appropriate;
(b)
			 If DEQ does not hold a public meeting as specified in subsection (a), DEQ will
			 provide written notice via U.S. mail to all persons with an address in the
			 notification area that the owner or operator has requested Source Risk Limits
			 greater than any of the Community Engagement Levels except as allowed by OAR
			 340-245-0130(6);
(c) DEQ may, at
			 its discretion, also hold one or more public meetings for any other reporting,
			 monitoring or permitting action associated with activities under this division
			 with advanced notice;
(d) In
			 planning and holding public meetings, DEQ will consider:
(A) A location that is Americans with
			 Disabilities Act compliant, is convenient for community members to attend and
			 can be accessed by public transportation, if available;
(B) The timing of the meeting, scheduling in
			 a manner that is convenient to the majority of attendees;
(C) Whether translation services are
			 necessary, and may provide such services;
(D) Whether childcare is necessary, and when
			 feasible, may work with providers to render such services; and
(E) Best practices for public and community
			 meetings as identified in resources published by the State of Oregon
			 Environmental Justice Task Force and OHA;
(e) When DEQ determines to hold a public
			 meeting under subsection (3)(a) regarding a source, then the owner or operator
			 must pay the applicable community engagement fee specified in OAR 340-216-8030  Table 3, and at least one representative of the owner or operator must appear
			 at the public meeting.