OAR 340-012-0030: Definitions

All terms used in this division have the meaning given to the term in the appropriate substantive statute or rule or, in the absence of such definition, their common and ordinary meaning unless otherwise required by context or defined below: (1) "Alleged Violation" means any violation cited in a written notice issued by DEQ or other government agency. (2) "Class I Equivalent," which is used to determine the value of the "P" factor in the civil penalty formula, means two Class II violations, one Class II and two Class III violations, or three Class III violations. (3) "Commission" means the Environmental Quality Commission. (4) "Compliance" means meeting the requirements of the applicable statutes, and commission or DEQ rules, permits, permit attachments or orders. (5) "Conduct" means an act or omission. (6) "Director" means the director of DEQ or the director's authorized deputies or officers. (7) "DEQ" means the Department of Environmental Quality. (8) “Expedited Enforcement Offer” (EEO) means a written offer by DEQ to settle an alleged violation in accordance with the expedited procedure described in OAR 340-012-0170(2). (9) “Field Penalty” as used in this division, has the meaning given that term in OAR chapter 340, division 150. (10) "Final Order and Stipulated Penalty Demand Notice" means a written notice issued to a respondent by DEQ demanding payment of a stipulated penalty as required by the terms of an agreement entered into between the respondent and DEQ. (11) "Flagrant" or "flagrantly" means the respondent had actual knowledge that the conduct was unlawful and consciously set out to commit the violation. (12) "Formal Enforcement Action" (FEA) means a proceeding initiated by DEQ that entitles a person to a contested case hearing or that settles such entitlement, including, but not limited to, Notices of Civil Penalty Assessment and Order, Final Order and Stipulated Penalty Demand Notices, department or commission orders originating with the Office of Compliance and Enforcement, Mutual Agreement and Orders, accepted Expedited Enforcement Offers, Field Penalties, and other consent orders. (13) "Intentional" means the respondent acted with a conscious objective to cause the result of the conduct. (14) "Magnitude of the Violation" means the extent and effects of a respondent's deviation from statutory requirements, rules, standards, permits or orders. (15) "Negligence" or "Negligent" means the respondent failed to take reasonable care to avoid a foreseeable risk of conduct constituting or resulting in a violation. (16) “Notice of Civil Penalty Assessment and Order” means a notice provided under OAR 137-003-0505 to notify a person that DEQ has initiated a formal enforcement action that includes a financial penalty and may include an order to comply. (17) "Pre-Enforcement Notice" (PEN) means an informal written notice of an alleged violation that DEQ is considering for formal enforcement. (18) "Person" includes, but is not limited to, individuals, corporations, associations, firms, partnerships, trusts, joint stock companies, public and municipal corporations, political subdivisions, states and their agencies, and the federal government and its agencies. (19) "Prior Significant Action" (PSA) means any violation cited in an FEA, with or without admission of a violation, that becomes final by payment of a civil penalty, by a final order of the commission or DEQ, or by judgment of a court. (20) "Reckless" or "Recklessly" means the respondent consciously disregarded a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the result would occur or that the circumstance existed. The risk must be of such a nature and degree that disregarding that risk constituted a gross deviation from the standard of care a reasonable person would observe in that situation. (21) "Residential Owner-Occupant" means the natural person who owns or otherwise possesses a single family dwelling unit, and who occupies that dwelling at the time of the alleged violation. The violation must involve or relate to the normal uses of a dwelling unit. (22) "Respondent" means the person named in a formal enforcement action (FEA). (23) "Systematic" means any violation that occurred or occurs on a regular basis. (24) "Violation" means a transgression of any statute, rule, order, license, permit, permit attachment, or any part thereof and includes both acts and omissions. (25) "Warning Letter" (WL) means an informal written notice of an alleged violation for which formal enforcement is not anticipated. (26) "Willful" means the respondent had a conscious objective to cause the result of the conduct and the respondent knew or had reason to know that the result was not lawful.