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Funding Oregon’s Groundwater Protection

Program

A fee proposal for UICs

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An Important Issue

Protection of Oregon’s drinking waterAlmost 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

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What’s a UIC? A device that transfers liquid below groundHistorically they include…

Dry Wells, Cesspools, Drill Holes, Floor Drains Used for stormwater and wastewater

They are used routinely in development

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What are the Issues?

Inadequate funding sourceHigh level of growth and developmentCausing an increased program workloadInsufficient local resources and technical assistance

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Issues continued…

State program relinquishment to EPA:Loss of state protection of Oregon’s groundwaterLoss of local knowledge and understanding of UIC issuesLoss of understanding of regional geologyLoss of support to development communityNo development of program guidance for agencies and developers

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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 placeLittle/no technical assistance to development community Less protection for Oregon groundwater

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Options continued…

Request general fund allocationStill possible

Develop fee proposalProposed action

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Benefits of UIC FeesFor All

State protection of Oregon’s groundwater

Drinking water source

For the Development CommunityImproved technical assistance & guidanceShorter development review time Reduced riskGreater certainty

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Benefits continued…

For Municipalities & DistrictsImproved DEQ rulesImproved technical assistance & guidancePermits issuanceShorter development review timeGreater certaintyReduced riskAbility to promote ‘green’ stormwater technologiesAbility to consider innovative technologies for treated wastewater effluent

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Goals of UIC Fee Table

SimpleFairEasy to administer

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Fee Table ProposalClassifications

Simple, Moderate, Complex

Fee typesRegistration Annual compliance fee if annual actions required

Fee CategoriesRule authorized (new fee)Permits (existing fee)

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Proposed New FeesSimple

$100 per UICNo annual compliance fee

Moderate (small parking lots, <1000 TPD, etc.)$125 per UICNo 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 geothermalAnnual compliance fee of $100 - $200 per UIC per year

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DEQ Staffing Structure6.75 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, Bend1 FTE administrative support (AS1)0.5 FTE enforcement staff (ELS)0.25 Management oversight

$620,000 per year

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Groundwater Protection Coalition

ObjectiveAdoption of the proposed Fee Structure by Legislature

ParticipationRedmond, Bend, Portland, Gresham, Multnomah County, Eugene, Milwaukie, Trimet, Clackamas CountyParticipated in fee structure development

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GPC Next Steps

Coordinated representation in SalemLegislative outreachUIC DayTestimony from stakeholders

Stakeholder Outreach and SupportDevelopment community, environmental community, HBA, LOC, AOC, ODOT, Big Box RetailersLetters of Support

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SummaryProposal adequately funds state UIC program administrationState protection of Oregon’s groundwaterImproved level of service to development and municipal communitiesAsking for your letter of support