OAR 340-253-0000: Overview

(1) Context. The Oregon Legislature has found that climate change poses a serious threat to the economic well-being, public health, natural resources, and environment of Oregon. Section 1, chapter 907, Oregon Laws 2007. The Oregon Clean Fuels Program will reduce Oregon’s contribution to the global levels of greenhouse gas emissions and the impacts of those emissions in Oregon in concert with other greenhouse gas reduction policies and actions by local governments, other states, and the federal government. (2) Purpose. The purpose of the Oregon Clean Fuels Program is to reduce the amount of lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions per unit of energy by a minimum of 10 percent below 2010 levels by 2025, 20 percent by 2030, and 37 percent by 2035. This reduction goal applies to the average of all transportation fuels used in Oregon, not to individual fuels. A fuel user does not violate the standard by possessing fuel that has higher carbon content than the clean fuel standard allows. (3) Background. The 2009 Oregon Legislature adopted House Bill 2186 enacted as chapter 754 of Oregon Laws 2009. The law authorizes the Environmental Quality Commission to adopt low carbon fuel standards for gasoline, diesel fuel and fuels used as substitutes for gasoline or diesel fuel. Sections 6 to 9 of chapter 754, Oregon Laws 2009 is printed as a note following ORS 468A.270 in the 2011 Edition. The 2015 Oregon Legislature amended those provisions when it adopted Senate Bill 324 (chapter 4, Oregon Laws 2015), which was codified in ORS 468A.265 through 468A.277. ORS 468A.265 through 468A.277 were further amended by the 2017 Oregon Legislature in House Bill 2017. OAR chapter 340, division 253 implements that law. (4) LRAPA. Notwithstanding Lane Regional Air Pollution Agency authorization in OAR 340-200-0010(3), DEQ administers this division in all areas of the State of Oregon.