Relating to Department of Environmental Quality regulatory processes; and prescribing an effective date.

Oregon applicants can pay for faster reviews

Beginning January 1, 2027, Oregon environmental permit applicants, permit holders, and regulated entities can request paid faster or enhanced reviews. The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) can hire staff or contractors, oversee outside work, and cover work outside normal operations. Before hiring or contracting, DEQ must consider using existing staff. Requests must identify each permit or decision sought, explain the public interest, and show that required project approvals are secured. DEQ must weigh project readiness, its outstanding regulatory work, and the agreement’s effect on that work. Within 45 business days of receiving a written request, DEQ must give a written approval or denial explaining its reasons. Applicants can ask the DEQ director to reconsider a denial; that decision is not subject to judicial review under Oregon’s administrative procedures law. DEQ must enter an agreement promptly when all four conditions apply: the application is complete, qualified contractors are available, at least one year has passed since denial of a similar request, and the review is not substantially complete. Payments are voluntary and cannot exceed DEQ’s service costs; DEQ can waive related fees in whole or part. Money goes into a state DEQ account and remains available for the agreement’s purposes. Agreements cannot waive legal duties, apart from permitted fee waivers. DEQ cannot change processing priorities or schedules based on expected agreements. After outside work ends, DEQ must speed the start of required public participation and act on the application. DEQ must post agreements, written decisions, and contractor names and services online, while protecting trade secrets and confidential business information.