Chapter 385 Oregon Laws 1999

Session Law

 

AN ACT

 

SB 1083

 

Relating to amendment of site certificate; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 469.320, 469.401, 469.402, 469.403, 469.405, 469.421, 469.430, 469.440, 469.441, 469.504, 469.505, 469.563 and 469.992.

 

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

 

      SECTION 1. ORS 469.320 is amended to read:

      469.320. (1) Except as provided in [subsection (2)] subsections (2) and (5) of this section, no facility shall be constructed or expanded unless a site certificate has been issued for the site thereof in the manner provided in ORS 469.300 to 469.563, 469.590 to 469.619, 469.930 and 469.992. No facility shall be constructed or operated except in conformity with the requirements of ORS 469.300 to 469.563, 469.590 to 469.619, 469.930 and 469.992.

      (2) No site certificate shall be required for:

      (a) An energy facility for which no site certificate has been issued that, on August 2, 1993, had operable electric generating equipment for a modification that uses the same fuel type and increases electric generating capacity, if:

      (A) The site is not enlarged; and

      (B) The ability of the energy facility to use fuel for electricity production under peak steady state operating conditions is not more than 200 million Btu per hour greater than it was on August 2, 1993, or the energy facility expansion is called for in the short-term plan of action of an energy resource plan that has been acknowledged by the Public Utility Commission of Oregon.

      (b) Construction or expansion of any interstate natural gas pipeline or associated underground natural gas storage facility authorized by and subject to the continuing regulation of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or successor agency.

      (c) An energy facility, except coal and nuclear power plants, if the energy facility:

      (A) Sequentially produces electrical energy and useful thermal energy from the same fuel source; and

      (B) Under normal operating conditions, has a useful thermal energy output of no less than 33 percent of the total energy output or the fuel chargeable to power heat rate value is not greater than 6,000 Btu per kilowatt hour.

      (d) Temporary storage, at the site of a nuclear-fueled thermal power plant for which a site certificate has been issued by the State of Oregon, of radioactive waste from the plant.

      (3) No sooner than one year after August 2, 1993, the Energy Facility Siting Council may review, and if necessary, revise the fuel chargeable to power heat rate value set forth in subsection (2)(c)(B) of this section. In making its determination, the council shall ensure that the fuel chargeable to power heat rate value for facilities set forth in subsection (2)(c)(B) of this section remains significantly lower than the fuel chargeable to power heat rate value for the best available, commercially viable thermal power plant technology at the time of the revision.

      (4) Any person who proposes to construct or enlarge an energy facility and who claims an exemption under subsection (2)(a) or (c) of this section from the requirement to obtain a site certificate shall request the Energy Facility Siting Council to determine whether the proposed facility qualifies for the claimed exemption. The council shall make its determination within 60 days after the request for exemption is filed. An appeal from the council's determination on a request for exemption shall be made under ORS 469.403, except that the scope of review by the Supreme Court shall be the same as a review by a circuit court under ORS 183.484. The record on review by the Supreme Court shall be the record established in the council proceeding on the exemption.

      (5) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, a separate site certificate shall not be required for:

      (a) Transmission lines, storage facilities, pipelines or similar related or supporting facilities, if such related or supporting facilities are addressed in and are subject to a site certificate for another energy facility; [or]

      (b) Expansion within the site or within the energy generation area of a facility for which a site certificate has been issued, if the existing site certificate has been amended to authorize expansion; or

      (c) Expansion, either within the site or outside the site, of an existing council certified surface facility related to an underground gas storage reservoir, if the existing site certificate is amended to authorize expansion.

      (6) If the substantial loss of the steam host causes a facility exempt under subsection (2)(c) of this section to substantially fail to meet the exemption requirements under subsection (2)(c) of this section, the electric generating facility shall cease to operate one year after the substantial loss of the steam host unless an application for a site certificate has been filed in accordance with the provisions of ORS 469.300 to 469.563.

      (7) As used in this section:

      (a) "Total energy output" means the sum of useful thermal energy output and useful electrical energy output.

      (b) "Useful thermal energy" means the verifiable thermal energy used in any viable industrial or commercial process, heating or cooling application.

      SECTION 2. ORS 469.401 is amended to read:

      469.401. (1) Upon approval, the site certificate or any amended site certificate with any conditions prescribed by the Energy Facility Siting Council shall be executed by the chairperson of the council and by the applicant. The certificate or amended certificate shall authorize the applicant to construct, operate and retire the [proposed] facility subject to the conditions set forth in the site certificate or amended site certificate. The duration of the site certificate or amended site certificate shall be the life of the facility.

      (2) The site certificate or amended site certificate shall contain conditions for the protection of the public health and safety, for the time for completion of construction, and to ensure compliance with the standards, statutes and rules described in ORS 469.501 and 469.503. The site certificate or amended site certificate shall require both parties to abide by local ordinances and state law and the rules of the council in effect on the date the site certificate or amended site certificate is executed, except that upon a clear showing of a significant threat to the public health, safety or the environment that requires application of later-adopted laws or rules, the council may require compliance with such later-adopted laws or rules. For a permit addressed in the site certificate or amended site certificate, the site certificate or amended site certificate shall provide for facility compliance with applicable state and federal laws adopted in the future to the extent that such compliance is required under the respective state agency statutes and rules.

      (3) Subject to the conditions set forth in the site certificate or amended site certificate, any certificate or amended certificate signed by the chairperson of the council shall bind the state and all counties and cities and political subdivisions in this state as to the approval of the site and the construction and operation of the [proposed] facility. After issuance of the site certificate or amended site certificate, any affected state agency, county, city and political subdivision shall, upon submission by the applicant of the proper applications and payment of the proper fees, but without hearings or other proceedings, promptly issue the permits, licenses and certificates addressed in the site certificate or amended site certificate, subject only to conditions set forth in the site certificate or amended site certificate. After the site certificate or amended site certificate is issued, the only issue to be decided in an administrative or judicial review of a state agency or local government permit for which compliance with governing law was considered and determined in the site certificate or amended site certificate proceeding shall be whether the permit is consistent with the terms of the site certificate or amended site certificate. Each state or local government agency that issues a permit, license or certificate shall continue to exercise enforcement authority over the permit, license or certificate.

      (4) Nothing in ORS chapter 469 shall be construed to preempt the jurisdiction of any state agency or local government over matters that are not included in and governed by the site certificate or amended site certificate. Such matters include but are not limited to employee health and safety, building code compliance, wage and hour or other labor regulations, local government fees and charges or other design or operational issues that do not relate to siting the [proposed] facility.

      SECTION 3. ORS 469.402 is amended to read:

      469.402. If the Energy Facility Siting Council elects to impose conditions on a site certificate or an amended site certificate, that require subsequent review and approval of a future action, the council may delegate the future review and approval to the Office of Energy if, in the council's discretion, the delegation is warranted under the circumstances of the case.

      SECTION 4. ORS 469.403 is amended to read:

      469.403. (1) Any party to a contested case proceeding may apply for rehearing within 30 days from the date the approval or rejection is served. The date of service shall be the date on which the Energy Facility Siting Council delivered or mailed its approval or rejection in accordance with ORS 183.470. The application for rehearing shall set forth specifically the ground upon which the application is based. No objection to the council's approval or rejection of an application for a site certificate or a site certificate amendment shall be considered on rehearing without good cause shown unless the basis for the objection is urged with reasonable specificity before the council in the site certificate or amended site certificate process. Upon such application, the council shall have the power to grant or deny rehearing or to abrogate or modify its order without further hearing. Unless the council acts upon the application for rehearing within 30 days after the application is filed, the application shall be considered denied. The filing of an application for rehearing shall not, unless specifically ordered by the council, operate as a stay of the site certificate or amended site certificate for the facility.

      (2) Any party to a contested case proceeding on a site certificate or amended site certificate application may appeal the council's approval or rejection of the site certificate or amended site certificate application. Issues on appeal shall be limited to those raised by the parties to the contested case proceeding before the council.

      (3) Jurisdiction for judicial review of the council's approval or rejection of an application for a site certificate or amended site certificate is conferred upon the Supreme Court. Proceedings for review shall be instituted by filing a petition in the Supreme Court. The petition shall be filed within 60 days after the date of service of the council's final order or within 30 days after the date the petition for rehearing is denied or deemed denied. Date of service shall be the date on which the council delivered or mailed its order in accordance with ORS 183.470.

      (4) The filing of the petition for judicial review shall stay the order, except that the Supreme Court may lift the stay upon a showing that:

      (a) The delay in construction will result in substantial economic injury to the applicant; and

      (b) Construction will not result in irreparable harm to resources protected by applicable council standards or applicable agency or local government standards.

      (5) No bond or other undertaking shall be required for operation of the stay under subsection (4) of this section.

      (6) Except as otherwise provided in ORS 469.320 and this section, the review by the Supreme Court shall be the same as the review by the Court of Appeals described in ORS 183.482. The Supreme Court shall give priority on its docket to such a petition for review.

      SECTION 5. ORS 469.405 is amended to read:

      469.405. (1) A site certificate may be amended with the approval of the Energy Facility Siting Council. The council may establish by rule the type of amendment that must be considered in a contested case proceeding. Judicial review of an amendment to a site certificate shall be as provided in ORS 469.403.

      (2) Notwithstanding ORS 34.020 or 197.825, or any other provision of law, the land use approval by an affected local government of a proposed amendment to a facility and the recommendation of the special advisory group of applicable substantive criteria shall be subject to judicial review only as provided in ORS 469.403. If the applicant elects to show compliance with the statewide planning goals by demonstrating that the facility has received local land use approval, the provisions of this section shall apply only to proposed projects for which the land use approval by the local government occurs after the date an application for amendment is submitted to the Office of Energy.

      (3) An amendment to a site certificate is not required for a pipeline less than 16 inches in diameter and less than five miles in length that is proposed to be constructed to test or maintain an underground gas storage reservoir. If the proposed pipeline will connect to a council certified surface facility related to an underground gas storage reservoir or to a council certified gas pipeline, whether the proposed pipeline is to be located inside or outside the site of a council certified facility, the certificate holder must obtain, prior to construction, the approval of the Office of Energy for the construction, operation and retirement of the proposed pipeline. The Office of Energy shall approve such a proposed pipeline if the pipeline meets applicable council substantive standards. Notwithstanding ORS 469.503 (3), the Office of Energy may not review the proposed pipeline for compliance with other state standards. Notwithstanding ORS 469.503 (4), or any council rule addressing compliance with land use standards, the Office of Energy shall not review such a proposed pipeline for compliance with land use requirements. Notwithstanding ORS 469.401 (3), the approval by the Office of Energy of such pipeline shall not bind any state or local agency. The council may adopt appropriate procedural rules for the Office of Energy review. The Office of Energy shall issue an order approving or rejecting the proposed pipeline. Judicial review of an Office of Energy order under this section shall be as provided in ORS 469.403.

      SECTION 6. ORS 469.421 is amended to read:

      469.421. (1) Subject to the provisions of ORS 469.441, any person submitting a notice of intent, a request for exemption under ORS 469.320, a request for an expedited review under ORS 469.370, a request for the Office of Energy to approve a pipeline under ORS 469.405 (3), an application for a site certificate or a request to amend a site certificate shall pay all expenses incurred by the Energy Facility Siting Council, the Office of Energy and the Oregon Department of Administrative Services related to the review and decision of the council. These expenses may include legal expenses, expenses incurred in processing and evaluating the application, issuing a final order or site certificate, commissioning an independent study by a contractor, state agency or local government under ORS 469.360, and changes to the rules of the council that are specifically required and related to the particular site certificate [application].

      (2) Every person submitting a notice of intent to file for a site certificate, a request for exemption or a request for expedited review shall submit the fee required under the fee schedule established under ORS 469.441 to the Office of Energy when the notice or request is submitted to the council. To the extent possible, the full cost of the evaluation shall be paid from the fee paid under this subsection. However, if costs of the evaluation exceed the fee, the person submitting the notice or request shall pay any excess costs shown in an itemized statement prepared by the council. In no event shall the council incur evaluation expenses in excess of 110 percent of the fee initially paid unless the council provides prior notification to the applicant and a detailed projected budget the council believes necessary to complete the project. If costs are less than the fee paid, the excess shall be refunded to the person submitting the notice or request.

      (3) Before submitting a site certificate application, the applicant shall request from the Office of Energy an estimate of the costs expected to be incurred in processing the application. The Office of Energy shall inform the applicant of that amount and require the applicant to make periodic payments of such costs pursuant to a cost reimbursement agreement. The cost reimbursement agreement shall provide for payment of 25 percent of the estimated costs when the applicant submits the application. If costs of the evaluation exceed the estimate, the applicant shall pay any excess costs shown in an itemized statement prepared by the council. In no event shall the council incur evaluation expenses in excess of 110 percent of the fee initially estimated unless the council provided prior notification to the applicant and a detailed projected budget the council believes is necessary to complete the project. If costs are less than the fee paid, the council shall refund the excess to the applicant.

      (4) Any person who is delinquent in the payment of fees under subsections (1) to (3) of this section shall be subject to the provisions of subsection (11) of this section.

      (5) Subject to the provisions of ORS 469.441, each holder of a certificate shall pay an annual fee, due every July 1 following issuance of a site certificate. For each fiscal year, upon approval of the Office of Energy's budget authorization by a regular session of the Legislative Assembly or as revised by the Emergency Board, the administrator of the Office of Energy promptly shall enter an order establishing an annual fee based on the amount of revenues that the administrator estimates is needed to fund the cost of assuring that the facility is being operated consistently with the terms and conditions of the site certificate, any order issued by the Office of Energy under ORS 469.405 (3) and any applicable health or safety standards. In determining this cost, the administrator shall include both the actual direct cost to be incurred by the council, the Office of Energy and the Oregon Department of Administrative Services to assure that the facility is being operated consistently with the terms and conditions of the site certificate, any order issued by the Office of Energy under ORS 469.405 (3) and any applicable health or safety standards, and the general costs to be incurred by the council, the Office of Energy and the Oregon Department of Administrative Services to assure that all certificated facilities are being operated consistently with the terms and conditions of the site certificates, any orders issued by the Office of Energy under ORS 469.405 (3) and any applicable health or safety standards that cannot be allocated to an individual, licensed facility. Not more than 20 percent of the annual fee charged each facility shall be for the recovery of these general costs. The fees for direct costs shall reflect the size and complexity of the facility and its certificate conditions.

      (6) Each holder of a site certificate executed after July 1 of any fiscal year shall pay a fee for the remaining portion of the year. The amount of the fee shall be set at the cost of regulating the facility during the remaining portion of the year determined in the same manner as the annual fee.

      (7) When the actual costs of regulation incurred by the council, the Office of Energy and the Oregon Department of Administrative Services for the year, including that portion of the general regulation costs that have been allocated to a particular facility, are less than the annual fees for that facility, the unexpended balance shall be refunded to the site certificate holder. When the actual regulation costs incurred by the council, the Office of Energy and the Oregon Department of Administrative Services for the year, including that portion of the general regulation costs that have been allocated to a particular facility, are projected to exceed the annual fee for that facility, the administrator may issue an order revising the annual fee.

      (8) In addition to any other fees required by law, each energy resource supplier shall pay to the Office of Energy annually its share of an assessment to fund the activities of the Energy Facility Siting Council, the Oregon Department of Administrative Services and the Office of Energy, determined by the administrator in the following manner:

      (a) Upon approval of the budget authorization of the Energy Facility Siting Council, the Oregon Department of Administrative Services and the Office of Energy by a regular session of the Legislative Assembly, the administrator shall promptly enter an order establishing the amount of revenues required to be derived from an assessment pursuant to this subsection in order to fund the activities of the Energy Facility Siting Council, the Oregon Department of Administrative Services and the Office of Energy, including those enumerated in ORS 469.030 and others authorized by law, for the first fiscal year of the forthcoming biennium. On or before June 1 of each even-numbered year, the administrator shall enter an order establishing the amount of revenues required to be derived from an assessment pursuant to this subsection in order to fund the activities of the Energy Facility Siting Council, the Oregon Department of Administrative Services and the Office of Energy, including those enumerated in ORS 469.030 and others authorized by law, for the second fiscal year of the biennium which order shall take into account any revisions to the biennial budget of the Energy Facility Siting Council, the Office of Energy and the Oregon Department of Administrative Services made by the Emergency Board or by a special session of the Legislative Assembly subsequent to the most recently concluded regular session of the Legislative Assembly.

      (b) Each order issued by the administrator pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection shall allocate the aggregate assessment set forth therein to energy resource suppliers in accordance with paragraph (c) of this subsection.

      (c) The amount assessed to an energy resource supplier shall be based on the ratio which that supplier's annual gross operating revenue derived within this state in the preceding calendar year bears to the total gross operating revenue derived within this state during that year by all energy resource suppliers. The assessment against an energy resource supplier shall not exceed five-tenths of one percent of the supplier's gross operating revenue derived within this state in the preceding calendar year. The administrator shall exempt from payment of an assessment any individual energy resource supplier whose calculated share of the annual assessment is less than $250.

      (d) The administrator shall send each energy resource supplier subject to assessment pursuant to this subsection a copy of each order issued, by registered or certified mail. The amount assessed to the energy resource supplier pursuant to the order shall be considered to the extent otherwise permitted by law a government-imposed cost and recoverable by the energy resource supplier as a cost included within the price of the service or product supplied.

      (e) The amounts assessed to individual energy resource suppliers pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subsection shall be paid to the Office of Energy as follows:

      (A) Amounts assessed for the first fiscal year of a biennium shall be paid not later than 90 days following the close of the regular session of the Legislative Assembly; and

      (B) Amounts assessed for the second fiscal year of a biennium shall be paid not later than July 1 of each even-numbered year.

      (f) An energy resource supplier shall provide the administrator, on or before May 1 of each year, a verified statement showing its gross operating revenues derived within the state for the preceding calendar year. The statement shall be in the form prescribed by the administrator and is subject to audit by the administrator. The statement shall include an entry showing the total operating revenue derived by petroleum suppliers from fuels sold that are subject to the requirements of section 3, Article IX of the Oregon Constitution, ORS 319.020 with reference to aircraft fuel and motor vehicle fuel, and ORS 319.530. The administrator may grant an extension of not more than 15 days for the requirements of this subsection if:

      (A) The energy supplier makes a showing of hardship caused by the deadline;

      (B) The energy supplier provides reasonable assurance that the energy supplier can comply with the revised deadline; and

      (C) The extension of time does not prevent the Energy Facility Siting Council, the Oregon Department of Administrative Services or the Office of Energy from fulfilling their statutory responsibilities.

      (g) As used in this section:

      (A) "Energy resource supplier" means an electric utility, natural gas utility or petroleum supplier supplying electricity, natural gas or petroleum products in Oregon.

      (B) "Gross operating revenue" means gross receipts from sales or service made or provided within this state during the regular course of the energy supplier's business, but does not include either revenue derived from interutility sales within the state or revenue received by a petroleum supplier from the sale of fuels that are subject to the requirements of section 3, Article IX of the Oregon Constitution, ORS 319.020 or 319.530.

      (C) "Petroleum supplier" has the meaning given that term in ORS 469.020.

      (h) In determining the amount of revenues which must be derived from any class of energy resource suppliers by assessment pursuant to this subsection, the administrator shall take into account all other known or readily ascertainable sources of revenue to the Energy Facility Siting Council, the Oregon Department of Administrative Services and the Office of Energy, including, but not limited to, fees imposed under this section and federal funds, and may take into account any funds previously assessed pursuant to ORS 469.420 (1979 Replacement Part) or section 7, chapter 792, Oregon Laws 1981.

      (i) Orders issued by the administrator pursuant to this section shall be subject to judicial review under ORS 183.484. The taking of judicial review shall not operate to stay the obligation of an energy resource supplier to pay amounts assessed to it on or before the statutory deadline.

      (9)(a) In addition to any other fees required by law, each operator of a nuclear fueled thermal power plant or nuclear installation within this state shall pay to the Office of Energy annually on July 1, an assessment in an amount determined by the administrator to be necessary to fund the activities of the state and the counties associated with emergency preparedness for a nuclear fueled thermal power plant or nuclear installation. The assessment shall not exceed $461,250 per year. Moneys collected as assessments under this subsection are continuously appropriated to the Office of Energy for this purpose.

      (b) The Office of Energy shall maintain and shall cause other state agencies and counties to maintain time and billing records for the expenditure of any fees collected from an operator of a nuclear fueled thermal power plant under paragraph (a) of this subsection.

      (10) Reactors operated by a college, university or graduate center for research purposes and electric utilities not connected to the Northwest Power Grid are exempt from the fee requirements of subsections (5), (8) and (9) of this section.

      (11)(a) All fees assessed by the administrator against holders of site certificates for facilities that have an installed capacity of 500 megawatts or greater may be paid in several installments, the schedule for which shall be negotiated between the administrator and the site certificate holder.

      (b) Energy resource suppliers or applicants or holders of a site certificate who fail to pay a fee provided under subsections (1) to (9) of this section or the fees required under ORS 469.360 after it is due and payable shall pay, in addition to that fee, a penalty of two percent of the fee a month for the period that the fee is past due. Any payment made according to the terms of a schedule negotiated under paragraph (a) of this subsection shall not be considered past due. The administrator may bring an action to collect an unpaid fee or penalty in the name of the State of Oregon in a court of competent jurisdiction. The court may award reasonable attorney fees to the administrator if the administrator prevails in an action under this subsection. The court may award reasonable attorney fees to a defendant who prevails in an action under this subsection if the court determines that the administrator had no objectively reasonable basis for asserting the claim or no reasonable basis for appealing an adverse decision of the trial court.

      SECTION 7. ORS 469.430 is amended to read:

      469.430. The Energy Facility Siting Council has continuing authority over the site for which the site certificate is issued and may inspect, or direct the Office of Energy to inspect, or request another state agency or local government to inspect, the site at any time in order to assure that the facility is being operated consistently with the terms and conditions of the site certificate or any order issued by the Office of Energy under ORS 469.405 (3). The council shall avoid duplication of effort with site inspections by other state and federal agencies and local governments that have issued permits or licenses for the facility.

      SECTION 8. ORS 469.440 is amended to read:

      469.440. Pursuant to the procedures for contested cases in ORS 183.310 to 183.550, a site certificate or an amended site certificate may be revoked or suspended:

      (1) For failure to comply with the terms or conditions of the site certificate or amended site certificate;

      (2) For violation of the provisions of ORS 469.525 to 469.563, 469.590 to 469.619, 469.930 and 469.992 or rules adopted pursuant to ORS 469.525 to 469.563, 469.590 to 469.619, 469.930 and 469.992; or

      (3) If the site certificate was executed prior to July 2, 1975, for violation of the provisions of ORS 469.300 to 469.520 or rules adopted pursuant to ORS 469.300 to 469.520 or for failure to comply with applicable health or safety standards.

      SECTION 9. ORS 469.441 is amended to read:

      469.441. (1) All expenses incurred by the Energy Facility Siting Council and the Office of Energy under ORS 469.360 (1) and 469.421 that are charged to or allocated to the fee paid by an applicant or the holder of a site certificate shall be necessary, just and reasonable. Upon request, the Office of Energy or the council shall provide a detailed justification for all charges to the applicant or site certificate holder. Not later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year, the council by order shall establish a schedule of fees which those persons submitting a notice of intent, a request for an exemption, a request for a pipeline described in ORS 469.405 (3) or a request for an expedited review must submit under ORS 469.421 at the time of submitting the notice of intent, request for exemption, request for pipeline or request for expedited review. The fee schedule shall be designed to recover the council's actual costs of evaluating the notice of intent, request for exemption, request for pipeline or request for expedited review subject to any applicable expenditure limitation in the council's budget. Fees shall be based upon actual, historical costs incurred by the council and Office of Energy to the extent historical costs are available. The fees established by the schedule shall reflect the size and complexity of the project for which a notice of intent, request for exemption, request for pipeline or request for expedited review is submitted, whether the notice of intent, request for exemption, request for pipeline or request for expedited review is for a new or existing facility and other appropriate variables having an effect on the expense of evaluation.

      (2) If a dispute arises regarding the necessity or reasonableness of expenses charged to or allocated to the fee paid by an applicant or site certificate holder, the applicant or holder may seek judicial review for the amount of expenses charged or allocated in circuit court as provided in ORS 183.480, 183.484, 183.490 and 183.500. If the applicant or holder establishes that any of the charges or allocations are unnecessary or unreasonable, the council or the Office of Energy shall refund the amount found to be unnecessary or unreasonable. The applicant or holder shall not waive the right to judicial review by paying the portion of the fee or expense in dispute.

      SECTION 10. ORS 469.504 is amended to read:

      469.504. (1) A proposed facility shall be found in compliance with the statewide planning goals under ORS 469.503 (4) if:

      (a) The facility has received local land use approval under the acknowledged comprehensive plan and land use regulations of the affected local government; or

      (b) The council determines that:

      (A) The facility complies with applicable substantive criteria from the affected local government's acknowledged comprehensive plan and land use regulations that are required by the statewide planning goals and in effect on the date the application is submitted, and with any Land Conservation and Development Commission administrative rules and goals and any land use statutes directly applicable to the facility under ORS 197.646 (3);

      (B) For an energy facility or a related or supporting facility that must be evaluated against the applicable substantive criteria pursuant to subsection (5) of this section, that the proposed facility does not comply with one or more of the applicable substantive criteria but does otherwise comply with the applicable statewide planning goals, or that an exception to any applicable statewide planning goal is justified under subsection (2) of this section; or

      (C) For a facility that the council elects to evaluate against the statewide planning goals pursuant to subsection (5) of this section, that the proposed facility complies with the applicable statewide planning goals or that an exception to any applicable statewide planning goal is justified under subsection (2) of this section.

      (2) The council may find goal compliance for a facility that does not otherwise comply with one or more statewide planning goals by taking an exception to the applicable goal. Notwithstanding the requirements of ORS 197.732, the statewide planning goal pertaining to the exception process or any rules of the Land Conservation and Development Commission pertaining to an exception process goal, the council may take an exception to a goal if the council finds:

      (a) The land subject to the exception is physically developed to the extent that the land is no longer available for uses allowed by the applicable goal;

      (b) The land subject to the exception is irrevocably committed as described by the rules of the Land Conservation and Development Commission to uses not allowed by the applicable goal because existing adjacent uses and other relevant factors make uses allowed by the applicable goal impracticable; or

      (c) The following standards are met:

      (A) Reasons justify why the state policy embodied in the applicable goal should not apply;

      (B) The significant environmental, economic, social and energy consequences anticipated as a result of the proposed facility have been identified and adverse impacts will be mitigated in accordance with rules of the council applicable to the siting of the proposed facility; and

      (C) The proposed facility is compatible with other adjacent uses or will be made compatible through measures designed to reduce adverse impacts.

      (3) If compliance with applicable substantive local criteria and applicable statutes and state administrative rules would result in conflicting conditions in the site certificate or amended site certificate, the council shall resolve the conflict consistent with the public interest. A resolution may not result in a waiver of any applicable state statute.

      (4) An applicant for a site certificate shall elect whether to demonstrate compliance with the statewide planning goals under subsection (1)(a) or (b) of this section. The applicant shall make the election on or before the date specified by the council by rule.

      (5) Upon request by the Office of Energy, the special advisory group established under ORS 469.480 shall recommend to the council, within the time stated in the request, the applicable substantive criteria under subsection (1)(b)(A) of this section. If the special advisory group does not recommend applicable substantive criteria within the time established in the Office of Energy's request, the council may either determine and apply the applicable substantive criteria under subsection (1)(b) of this section or determine compliance with the statewide planning goals under subsection (1)(b)(B) or (C) of this section. If the special advisory group recommends applicable substantive criteria for an energy facility described in ORS 469.300 (9)(a) or a related or supporting facility that does not pass through more than one local government jurisdiction or more than three zones in any one jurisdiction, the council shall apply the criteria recommended by the special advisory group. If the special advisory group recommends applicable substantive criteria for an energy facility described in ORS 469.300 (9)(a)(C) to (E) or a related or supporting facility that passes through more than one jurisdiction or more than three zones in any one jurisdiction, the council shall review the recommended criteria and determine whether to evaluate the proposed facility against the applicable substantive criteria recommended by the special advisory group, against the statewide planning goals or against a combination of the applicable substantive criteria and statewide planning goals. In making its determination, the council shall consult with the special advisory group and shall consider:

      (a) The number of jurisdictions and zones in question;

      (b) The degree to which the applicable substantive criteria reflect local government consideration of energy facilities in the planning process; and

      (c) The level of consistency of the applicable substantive criteria from the various zones and jurisdictions.

      (6) The council is not subject to ORS 197.180 and a state agency may not require an applicant for a site certificate to comply with any rules or programs adopted under ORS 197.180.

      (7) On or before its next periodic review, each affected local government shall amend its comprehensive plan and land use regulations as necessary to reflect the decision of the council pertaining to a site certificate [application] or amended site certificate.

      (8) Notwithstanding ORS 34.020 or 197.825 or any other provision of law, the affected local government's land use approval of a proposed facility under subsection (1)(a) of this section and the special advisory group's recommendation of applicable substantive criteria under subsection (5) of this section shall be subject to judicial review only as provided in ORS 469.403. If the applicant elects to comply with subsection (1)(a) of this section, the provisions of this subsection shall apply only to proposed projects for which the land use approval of the local government occurs after the date a notice of intent or an application for expedited processing is submitted to the Office of Energy.

      (9) The Office of Energy, in cooperation with other state agencies, shall provide, to the extent possible, technical assistance and information about the siting process to local governments that request such assistance or that anticipate having a facility proposed in their jurisdiction.

      SECTION 11. ORS 469.505 is amended to read:

      469.505. (1) In making a determination regarding compliance with statutes, rules and ordinances administered by another agency or compliance with requirements of ORS 469.300 to 469.563 and 469.590 to 469.619 where another agency has special expertise, consultation with the other agency shall occur during the notice of intent and site certificate application process. Any permit application for which the permitting decision has been delegated by the Federal Government to a state agency other than the Energy Facility Siting Council shall be reviewed, whenever feasible, simultaneously with the council's review of the site certificate application. Any hearings required on such permit applications shall be consolidated, whenever feasible, with hearings under ORS 469.300 to 469.563 and 469.590 to 469.619.

      (2) Before resolving any conflicting conditions in site certificates or amended site certificates under ORS 469.503 (3) and 469.504, the council shall notify and consult with the agencies and local governments responsible for administering the statutes, administrative rules or substantive local criteria that result in the conflicting conditions regarding potential conflict resolution.

      SECTION 12. ORS 469.563 is amended to read:

      469.563. Without prior administrative proceedings, a circuit court may issue such restraining orders, and such temporary and permanent injunctive relief as is necessary to secure compliance with ORS 469.320, 469.405 (3), 469.410, 469.421, 469.430, 469.440, 469.442, 469.507, 469.525 to 469.559, 469.560, 469.561, 469.562, 469.590 to 469.619, 469.930 and 469.992 or with the terms and conditions of a site certificate.

      SECTION 13. ORS 469.992 is amended to read:

      469.992. (1) The administrator of the Office of Energy or the Energy Facility Siting Council may impose civil penalties for violation of ORS 469.300 to 469.619 and 469.930, for violations of rules adopted under ORS 469.300 to 469.619 and 469.930, [or] for violation of any site certificate or amended site certificate issued under ORS 469.300 to 469.601 or for violation of an Office of Energy order issued pursuant to ORS 469.405 (3). A civil penalty in an amount of not more than $25,000 per day for each day of violation may be assessed.

      (2) Violation of an order entered pursuant to ORS 469.550 is punishable upon conviction by a fine of $50,000. Each day of violation constitutes a separate offense.

      (3) A civil penalty in an amount not less than $100 per day nor more than $1,000 per day may be assessed by the administrator or the Energy Facility Siting Council for a willful failure to comply with a subpoena served by the administrator pursuant to ORS 469.080 (2).

      (4) A civil penalty in an amount of not more than $25,000 per day for each day in violation of any provision of ORS 469.603 to 469.619 may be assessed by the circuit court upon complaint of any person injured by the violation.

      SECTION 14. ORS 469.992, as amended by section 17, chapter 653, Oregon Laws 1991, is amended to read:

      469.992. (1) The administrator of the Office of Energy or the Energy Facility Siting Council may impose civil penalties for violation of ORS 469.300 to 469.619 and 469.930, for violations of rules adopted under ORS 469.300 to 469.619 and 469.930, [or] for violation of any site certificate or amended site certificate issued under ORS 469.300 to 469.601 or for violation of an Office of Energy order issued pursuant to ORS 469.405 (3). A civil penalty in an amount of not more than $25,000 per day for each day of violation may be assessed.

      (2) Violation of an order entered pursuant to ORS 469.550 is punishable upon conviction by a fine of $50,000. Each day of violation constitutes a separate offense.

      (3) A civil penalty in an amount not less than $100 per day nor more than $1,000 per day may be assessed by the administrator or the Energy Facility Siting Council for a willful failure to comply with a subpoena served by the administrator pursuant to ORS 469.080 (2).

      (4) A civil penalty in an amount of not more than $25,000 per day for each day in violation of any provision of ORS 469.603 to 469.619 or section 14, chapter 653, Oregon Laws 1991, may be assessed by the circuit court upon complaint of any person injured by the violation.

      SECTION 15. Nothing in the amendments to ORS 469.992 by section 13 or 14 of this 1999 Act affects the provisions of section 18, chapter 653, Oregon Laws 1991.

 

Approved by the Governor June 28, 1999

 

Filed in the office of Secretary of State June 29, 1999

 

Effective date October 23, 1999

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