OAR 340-244-0010: General Provisions for Stationary Sources: Policy and Purpose

The Environmental Quality Commission finds that certain air contaminants for which there are no ambient air quality standards may cause or contribute to an identifiable and significant increase in mortality or to an increase in serious irreversible or incapacitating reversible illness or to irreversible ecological damage, and are therefore considered to be hazardous air pollutants. It is the policy of the Commission that no person may cause, allow, or permit emissions into the ambient air of any hazardous substance in such quantity, concentration, or duration determined by the Commission to be injurious to public health or the environment. The purpose of this Division is to establish emissions limitations on sources of these air contaminants. In order to reduce the release of these hazardous air pollutants and protect public health and the environment, it is the intent of the Commission to adopt by rule within this Division the source category specific requirements that are promulgated by the EPA, and state standards to reduce the release of these hazardous air pollutants. Furthermore, it is hereby declared the policy of the Commission that the standards contained in this Division are considered minimum standards, and as technology advances, protection of public health and the environment warrants, more stringent standards may be adopted and applied.