LegalFix

Section 453.370 - Limitations on local community right to know regulatory programs; local fees.

OR Rev Stat § 453.370 (2019) (N/A)
Copy with citation
Copy as parenthetical citation

(2) To the extent that a local program is supported in whole or in part by fees, those fees may be set, imposed or assessed only by the local government that is implementing the local program. Such fees are allowed only to the extent not otherwise prohibited or limited by law. Such fees:

(a) Shall be adopted by ordinance as a fee schedule, after notice and public hearing; and

(b) May not exceed $2,000 for any single facility in any calendar year.

(3)(a) All local community right to know regulatory program enforcement, including but not limited to penalties, may be imposed only by a local fire official or a board established by the local government to implement the local community right to know regulatory program.

(b) Penalties for violations of a community right to know regulatory program may not exceed $1,000 per day and shall be assessed according to a schedule adopted by the local government after notice and public hearing. Except when a local government has reasonable grounds to find that an employer willfully and knowingly avoided compliance with the local program, and as long as the employer submits the required information within 30 days following a written notification of noncompliance, penalties shall be suspended if the employer has no history of violating the local program.

(4) After notice and public hearing, the local government must determine that:

(a) Existing reporting to local, state or federal agencies is inadequate to meet the needs and concerns of the local government;

(b) The state or federal government does not collect data that will provide substantially the same information desired by the local government;

(c) The local government has asked the appropriate state agency to operate the program desired by the local government and the state agency has not committed to do so within 180 days;

(d) The Department of Environmental Quality, the State Fire Marshal and the Oregon Health Authority have had an opportunity to comment on the proposed program and the local government has responded to those comments; and

(e) The local government has provided an opportunity for written and oral public comment on the proposed program.

(5) Any local government that operates a local community right to know regulatory program shall:

(a) Provide for an opportunity to report data electronically;

(b) Place data reported under the program on the Internet with instructions for the general public that explain the organization of the data; and

(c) Keep records of data usage and otherwise document interest in the collected data.

(6) Data and other information presented under a local community right to know regulatory program:

(a) Shall clearly distinguish, where appropriate, public health interpretations from the raw data;

(b) May, where feasible, indicate specifically which hazardous substances and toxic substances are being released into the local air, water and land; and

(c) Shall include locations where a person may obtain epidemiological statistics related to health effects of the hazardous substances and toxic substances, if available.

(7) For any hazardous substance or toxic substance that a local government proposes to require an employer to report under a local community right to know regulatory program established pursuant to this section, the local government shall seek written and oral public comment and provide written notice to interested parties prior to adoption as a reporting requirement. The local government must provide the public with an opportunity to comment on the appropriateness of reporting on the proposed hazardous substance or toxic substance, including but not limited to commenting on health and environmental considerations, economic concerns and feasibility of compliance. The local government shall consider the comments before adopting a list or making additions to a list of hazardous substances and toxic substances to be reported.

(8) In administering a local community right to know regulatory program, a local government shall establish procedures to exempt, when reasonable, an entity from all or part of the local program for the purpose of protecting trade secrets or where the local government determines that the operations of the entity pose little or no risk to the public health or the environment.

(9) Except as prohibited by federal or state law, a local program may not differentiate between public and private employers.

(10) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of a local government to:

(a) Distribute information collected under the state Community Right to Know and Protection Act; or

(b) Adopt or enforce a local ordinance, rule or regulation strictly necessary to comply with:

(A) The Uniform Building Code as adopted and amended by the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services;

(B) A uniform fire code; or

(C) Any requirement of a state or federal statute, rule or regulation, including but not limited to those controlling hazardous substances, toxic substances or other environmental contaminants. [1999 c.1089 §3; 2001 c.104 §191; 2005 c.22 §326; 2009 c.595 §898]

LegalFix

Copyright ©2024 LegalFix. All rights reserved. LegalFix is not a law firm, is not licensed to practice law, and does not provide legal advice, services, or representation. The information on this website is an overview of the legal plans you can purchase—or that may be provided by your employer as an employee benefit or by your credit union or other membership group as a membership benefit.

LegalFix provides its members with easy access to affordable legal services through a network of independent law firms. LegalFix, its corporate entity, and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and contractors do not provide legal advice, services, or representation—directly or indirectly.

The articles and information on the site are not legal advice and should not be relied upon—they are for information purposes only. You should become a LegalFix member to get legal services from one of our network law firms.

You should not disclose confidential or potentially incriminating information to LegalFix—you should only communicate such information to your network law firm.

The benefits and legal services described in the LegalFix legal plans are not always available in all states or with all plans. See the legal plan Benefit Overview and the more comprehensive legal plan contract during checkout for coverage details in your state.

Use of this website, the purchase of legal plans, and access to the LegalFix networks of law firms are subject to the LegalFix Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

We have updated our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosures. By continuing to browse this site, you agree to our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosures.