OAR 340-273-0010: Purpose and Scope

(1) This division establishes rules and requirements for the Climate Protection Program for certain air contamination sources that emit greenhouse gases or that cause greenhouse gases to be emitted. (2) Climate change caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions has detrimental effects on the overall public welfare of the State of Oregon. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change will improve the overall public welfare of Oregon. In particular, reducing greenhouse gas emissions will improve the welfare of environmental justice communities. (a) Fuel combustion and industrial processes result in emissions of greenhouse gases, which are air contaminants that cause climate change; (b) Reducing greenhouse gas emissions may also reduce emissions of other air contaminants, which may improve air quality for Oregon communities; and (c) Environmental justice communities in Oregon are disproportionately burdened by air contamination, including through disproportionate risk of the impacts of climate change. (3) The purposes of the Climate Protection Program are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from sources in Oregon, achieve co-benefits from reduced emissions of other air contaminants, support a strong statewide economy, and enhance public welfare for Oregon communities, particularly environmental justice communities disproportionately burdened by the effects of climate change and air contamination. To support these purposes, this division: (a) Requires that covered entities reduce greenhouse gas emissions; (b) Supports reduction of emissions of other air contaminants that are not greenhouse gases; (c) Prioritizes reduction of greenhouse gases and other air contaminants in environmental justice communities; (d) Provides covered entities with compliance options to minimize disproportionate business and consumer economic impacts associated with meeting the Climate Protection Program requirements; (e) Incentivizes the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from industries in Oregon, while allowing trade exposed industries to remain competitive; and (f) Allows covered entities to comply with the Climate Protection Program requirements in part through contributing community climate investment funds to support projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prioritize benefits for environmental justice communities in Oregon. (4) DEQ administers this division in all areas of the State of Oregon. (5) (a) Whenever the DEQ Director has good cause to believe that any person is engaged or is about to engage in any acts or practices that constitute a violation of this division, the Director may authorize DEQ to institute actions or proceedings for legal or equitable remedies to enforce compliance thereto or to restrain further violations. (b) The proceedings authorized by subsection (a) may be instituted without the necessity of prior DEQ notice, hearing and order. (c) The provisions of this section are in addition to and not in substitution of any other civil or criminal enforcement provisions available to DEQ. This includes, without limitation, the authority to impose civil penalties and issue orders according to ORS Chapter 468.090 to 468.140 and OAR chapter 340, divisions 11 and 12. (6) If any dates under this division occur on a Saturday, Sunday, or a state holiday, the deadline is extended to the following business day.