Or. Admin. R. 340-271-0320

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 9, September 1, 2024

Section 340-271-0320 - Best Available Emissions Reduction Order

(1) DEQ may issue a BAER order for each owner or operator of a covered stationary source that must submit a BAER assessment as provided in OAR 340-271-0310. A BAER order will establish the actions that the owner or operator of a covered stationary source must take to reduce covered emissions and the timeline on which the actions must be taken.

(2) In establishing the requirements in a BAER order for a covered stationary source, DEQ may consider any information it deems relevant, and must consider the following:

(a) Information submitted in a BAER assessment;

(b) The fuels, processes, equipment, technology, systems, actions, and other strategies, methods and techniques that maximize covered emissions reductions;

(c) The fuels, processes, equipment, technology, systems, actions, and other strategies, methods and techniques for reducing covered emissions used by sources in this state or in other jurisdictions that produce goods of comparable type, quantity, and quality;

(d) A reasonable schedule and amount of time necessary to implement a strategy under consideration by DEQ to reduce covered emissions;

(e) Environmental, public health, and energy impacts of a strategy under consideration by DEQ to reduce covered emissions, including but not limited to air quality impacts for nearby communities and impacts related to switching to cleaner energy resources, zero-emissions energy resources, or renewable fuels;

(f) Economic impacts of a strategy under consideration by DEQ to reduce covered emissions including, but not limited to, costs so great that a new source could not be built or an existing source could not be operated, and cost-effectiveness of different strategies that would achieve similar covered emissions reductions;

(g) Processes and operations currently in use by and at the covered stationary source and the remaining useful life of the covered stationary source;

(h) Whether a strategy under consideration by DEQ to reduce covered emissions is achievable, technically feasible, commercially available, and cost-effective;

(i) Whether a strategy under consideration by DEQ to reduce covered emissions has an impact on the type or quality of good(s) produced by and at the covered stationary source, if applicable; and

(j) Input from the public and community organizations from nearby the covered stationary source. Upon receipt of a BAER assessment, DEQ will provide public notice with a copy of the BAER assessment and a minimum of 30 days to submit written comments. DEQ also will provide public notice with a copy of DEQ's draft BAER order and a minimum of 30 days to submit written comments.

(3) For the owner or operator of a covered stationary source required to register and report according to OAR chapter 340, division 215, DEQ will consider emissions data reports to assess whether covered emissions reductions are being achieved when establishing the requirements in a BAER order or for determining when to notify the owner or operator of a covered stationary source to conduct and submit an updated complete BAER assessment as described in OAR 340-271-0310(5).

(4) DEQ may verify information submitted in a BAER assessment.

(5) DEQ may consult with industry experts and third-party organizations before issuing a BAER order.

(6) DEQ will notify the owner or operator of a covered stationary source of a BAER order in writing. A BAER order is effective 30 days from the date of the notification unless, within that time, DEQ receives a written request for a hearing from the owner or operator of the covered stationary source according to section (7).

(7) The owner or operator of a covered stationary source may file with DEQ a written request for a contested case hearing to challenge a BAER order issued according to section (6). The request must be filed in writing within 30 days of the date that DEQ issued the BAER order and must state the grounds for the request. The hearing will be conducted as a contested case hearing in accordance with ORS 183.413 through 183.470 and OAR chapter 340, division 11.

(8) DEQ will provide a public status update if DEQ has not yet issued a BAER order after 18 months of the date on which DEQ notified the owner or operator of a covered stationary source that it must conduct a BAER assessment.

Or. Admin. R. 340-271-0320

DEQ 27-2021, adopt filed 12/16/2021, effective 12/16/2021; DEQ 17-2023, amend filed 11/16/2023, effective 11/16/2023

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 468.020, 468A.025 & 468A.040

Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 468.020, 468A.025, 468A.040, 468.035, 468A.010, 468A.015 & 468A.045