Oregon Environmental Quality Commission extends public comment period on temporary emissions regulations

The Oregon Environmental Quality Commission recently extended the public comment period, which will continue until March 30, on a set of temporary rules that would regulate the metals emissions from Portland’s small colored art glass manufacturing facilities.

The commission made this decision following a meeting to consider the rules’ adoption, which the public was invited to attend and present public comments. The majority of the 50 local residents who spoke at the meeting requested more time to review the rules and give their comments, which the commission obliged.

The rules would temporarily bridge a regulatory gap surrounding the art glass facilities, which are not currently covered by any other federal or state regulations in terms of their metal emissions. The facilities use metals like cadmium, arsenic and chromium in their work, which can present a risk to the surrounding community. The proposed rules will prohibit the art glass manufacturers from using chromium VI, cadmium and arsenic unless they have installed devices that will control emissions
 
The rule will also bar those facilities from using chromium III pending an Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) establishment of the maximum allowable usage rate. Once approved, facilities not abiding by the new regulations will be subject to DEQ enforcement actions.

The commission will meet again to discuss the rules on April 20 to 21.