Oregon applicants may pay DEQ to speed regulatory reviews

The law allows applicants, permit holders, and regulated businesses to ask DEQ for an agreement to speed up or improve regulatory work. The agreements may cover DEQ work under the listed Oregon environmental and related laws, including permits, authorizations, and other regulatory decisions. The request must describe the permits or other decisions sought, explain the public interest, and show that other needed project approvals are secured. Payments are voluntary and cannot exceed DEQ's cost for the service; DEQ may waive some or all fees for that service. Before hiring staff or contracting for services, DEQ must assess whether its current staff can do the work. DEQ must consider project readiness and effects on other pending work, and may not change review priorities based on expected agreements. These provisions become operative January 1, 2027.

DEQ must notify a requester within 45 business days whether it grants or denies a request, and explain how it weighed the required factors. This applies to written requests by applicants, permit holders, or regulated businesses for a DEQ agreement. A requester may seek reconsideration of a denial from the DEQ director. The director's decision cannot be reviewed in court under Oregon's administrative procedures law. These provisions become operative January 1, 2027. The 45-business-day period begins when DEQ receives a written request.

DEQ must enter an agreement in a timely manner when the listed conditions are met and, after outside work ends, promptly begin related public steps and act on the application. This applies to applicants, permit holders, or regulated businesses seeking an agreement for a permit, authorization, or other regulatory decision. The application must be complete, qualified and appropriate contractors must be available, at least one year must have passed since DEQ denied an earlier request, and the regulatory process must not be substantially complete. These provisions become operative January 1, 2027. The one-year wait runs from DEQ's denial of an earlier request.

DEQ must post agreements, request notices, and information about contractors it hires or contracts with and the work they do. The posted notices cover requests under this law. DEQ must remove trade secrets and other confidential business information from the posted material. This provision becomes operative January 1, 2027.