Green Permits

In 1997, the Legislature passed an experimental program, Green Permits (ORS 468.501-521). The Environmental Quality Commission adopted rules to implement the statute in 1999 (OAR Chapter 340, Division 14). The 2003 Legislature extended the Green Permits Program to January 2008 (HB 3175 2003). However, the program was not extended further and DEQ did not issue any further Green Permits after January 2, 2008.

Program Description

The Oregon Green Permits program rewards facilities that go the extra mile to reduce their impacts on the environment and encourages:

• Creative solutions to environmental issues
• Systematic approaches to environmental management
• Meaningful involvement of those interested in a facility’s environmental performance

A Green Permit modifies regulatory requirements after a facility has demonstrated that it can meet certain requirements. Rules require a facility to:

1. demonstrate that it has achieved or will achieve superior environmental performance,
2. develop a public performance report, and
3. plan and implement a program for ongoing communication with interested stakeholders to provide input into the facility's environmental program.

A "tiered" approach offers different types of Green Permits, in which increasing performance receives increasing benefits.

Facilities that have been issued a Green Permit have formal environmental management systems in place that include policies, measurable objectives and resources to continually improve environmental performance. To see a list of organizations issues green permits, see Applications, Permits and Reports.

Contacts

Questions regarding the permits or program should be directed to the DEQ office for their region:

Eastern Region: Joni Hammond, 541-278-4610
Northwest Region: David Kunz 503-229-5336
Western Region: Keith Andersen, 541-686-7838 x 246

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