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Funding Oregon’s Groundwater Protection Program

Funding Oregon’s Groundwater Protection Program. A fee proposal for UICs. An Important Issue. Protection of Oregon’s drinking water Almost half of Oregonians (1.4 million people) are dependent on groundwater for daily water 77 percent at least partially dependent on groundwater

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Funding Oregon’s Groundwater Protection Program

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  1. Funding Oregon’s Groundwater Protection Program A fee proposal for UICs

  2. An Important Issue • Protection of Oregon’s drinking water • Almost half of Oregonians (1.4 million people) are dependent on groundwater for daily water • 77 percent at least partially dependent on groundwater • Underground Injection Control devices (UICs) are a potential threat to drinking water • Oregon needs to fund and retain its own administration of UIC regulations

  3. What’s a UIC? • A device that transfers liquid below ground • Historically they include… • Dry Wells, Cesspools, Drill Holes, Floor Drains • Used for stormwater and wastewater • They are used routinely in development

  4. What are the Issues? • Inadequate funding source • High level of growth and development • Causing an increased program workload • Insufficient local resources and technical assistance

  5. Issues continued… • State program relinquishment to EPA: • Loss of state protection of Oregon’s groundwater • Loss of local knowledge and understanding of UIC issues • Loss of understanding of regional geology • Loss of support to development community • No development of program guidance for agencies and developers

  6. What are the options? • Return program to EPA • EPA likely will rely on an enforcement approach • Developers and municipalities at risk • Both State and Federal rules remain in place • Little/no technical assistance to development community • Less protection for Oregon groundwater

  7. Options continued… • Request general fund allocation • Still possible • Develop fee proposal • Proposed action

  8. Benefits of UIC Fees • For All • State protection of Oregon’s groundwater • Drinking water source • For the Development Community • Improved technical assistance & guidance • Shorter development review time • Reduced risk • Greater certainty

  9. For Municipalities & Districts Improved DEQ rules Improved technical assistance & guidance Permits issuance Shorter development review time Greater certainty Reduced risk Ability to promote ‘green’ stormwater technologies Ability to consider innovative technologies for treated wastewater effluent Benefits continued…

  10. Goals of UIC Fee Table • Simple • Fair • Easy to administer

  11. Fee Table Proposal • Classifications • Simple, Moderate, Complex • Fee types • Registration • Annual compliance fee if annual actions required • Fee Categories • Rule authorized (new fee) • Permits (existing fee)

  12. Proposed New Fees • Simple • $100 per UIC • No annual compliance fee • Moderate (small parking lots, <1000 TPD, etc.) • $125 per UIC • No annual compliance fee • Complex (large parking lots, >1000 TPD geothermal, etc.) • $300 per UIC for large parking lots • $10,000 per UIC for large energy-producing geothermal • Annual compliance fee of $100 - $200 per UIC per year

  13. DEQ Staffing Structure • 6.75 FTEs • 1 policy FTE at headquarters (NRS4) • existing 0.8 FTE from federal funds • 1 senior hydrogeologist FTE (NRS4) • 3 regional hydrogeologists FTE (NRS3) • Portland, Eugene, Bend • 1 FTE administrative support (AS1) • 0.5 FTE enforcement staff (ELS) • 0.25 Management oversight • $620,000 per year

  14. Groundwater Protection Coalition • Objective • Adoption of the proposed Fee Structure by Legislature • Participation • Redmond, Bend, Portland, Gresham, Multnomah County, Eugene, Milwaukie, Trimet, Clackamas County • Participated in fee structure development

  15. GPC Next Steps • Coordinated representation in Salem • Legislative outreach • UIC Day • Testimony from stakeholders • Stakeholder Outreach and Support • Development community, environmental community, HBA, LOC, AOC, ODOT, Big Box Retailers • Letters of Support

  16. Summary • Proposal adequately funds state UIC program administration • State protection of Oregon’s groundwater • Improved level of service to development and municipal communities • Asking for your letter of support

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