Fuel Tank Seismic Stability 2023

Adopted rule

Administrative Order No. DEQ-13-2023
Filed and Effective: Sept. 14, 2023
See Oregon Bulletin, October 2023

Rulemaking contact: Killian Stoltenburg, 971-295-8734
Media contact:  Jennifer Flynt, Public Affairs, 503-568-3295

In 2022, Senate Bill 1567 gave the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality the authority to develop a program that evaluates the vulnerability of fuel tank systems to earthquakes and requires facilities to develop a plan to minimize risk. These rules will apply to facilities managing over two million gallons of fuel in Lane, Multnomah and Columbia counties.

DEQ has established a rules advisory committee that will provide input and suggestions during the development of these new rules. The committee represents a combination of neighborhood, local emergency response, impacted neighborhood and community groups and regulated party perspectives.

The Environmental Quality Commission reviewed and adopted these rules on Sept. 14, 2023. DEQ is aiming to complete facility assessments by June 1, 2024.

In the news

Regulation coming to Portland oil facilities as state looks to avert massive spill after the 'big one', KGW.com
Oregon looks to head off an earthquake-triggered fuel-spill disaster - Oregon Public Broadcasting

Public involvement

The comment period closed on July 12, 2023 at 4 p.m..

For more information, see the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which includes the notice and proposed rules.

Public meetings

DEQ held three public hearings throughout June.

Hearing 1, June 15, 2023
Hearing 2, June 17, 2023
Hearing 3, June 20, 2023

A fee payers informational session was held on May 15, 2023.

EQC action

The Environmental Quality Commission adopted these rules at its meeting on Sept. 14, 2023.