As of November 20, 2024, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (Oregon DEQ) is requiring that air quality related permit submittals and reports be submitted through a new online environmental data management system, Your DEQ Online (YDO). Specifically, facilities will be required to submit air quality applications (i.e., Notice of Intent to Construct, renewals), make electronic payments and track the status of projects through YDO. The transition to YDO will also reduce the need to request environmental data from Oregon DEQ staff due to the increase in public access to submittals, permits, certificates, and other public information YDO will provide. The following reports, in which the deadline is rapidly approaching, will be required to be submitted through YDO:
- Annual reports for major and minor sources due February 15th, 2025 (unless a later date is specified in a facility’s Air Contaminant Discharge Permit [ACDP])
- Annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reports due March 31st, 2025
The goal of YDO is to streamline Oregon DEQ processes and make Oregon DEQ services more accessible; however, there are account registration and consultant linking steps that need to be completed prior to gaining access to the online forms. It is important to begin the process (outlined below) early to ensure efficient and accurate reporting through YDO.
- The Responsible Official (RO) for each site must register for a YDO account following the steps outlined on page 6 of the guidance form found on the YDO website. Note that a RO account must go through a 3rd party verification process.
- Once the RO account has been approved, links must be established to sites and submittal types. The applicable submittal group or groups can be selected from the Air Quality Permitting list. The facility can be found and selected by either source number or address. The link to the selected facility must be approved by Oregon DEQ which may take 3-5 business days.
- After being approved to be linked to a facility, the RO can complete a consultant delegation link by submitting the email address associated with the consultant’s own YDO account and selecting what facility they should be associated with. This process is outlined on page 17 of the guidance form found on the YDO website. Once a consultant has been linked, they will be able to access the forms for the site they have been linked to and complete a report, application, or renewal. Any report or application initiated by a consultant may be viewed by the RO. Site personnel that do not have signature authority may have a consultant account to create reports and applications for RO review.
- Once the forms are completed, they will need to be certified and submitted by the individual with the RO account linked to the facility. No paper or emailed copies will need to be submitted for reports that are submitted through YDO.
It is highly recommended to complete the process of registering for an RO account, linking to submittal groups and applicable facilities, and establishing consultant delegation links well in advance of when submittals are due. This will ensure that reports can be submitted timely and if needed, Trinity can help assist in completing forms on YDO on your behalf as efficiently as possible.
If any issues are encountered throughout these processes, there is a Your DEQ Online Helpdesk that is staffed Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. If you have questions about the use of YDO in submitting reports electronically and how it may impact current or future projects with Trinity, or if you would like assistance in developing and submitting upcoming air quality reports, please email your current Trinity Portland Office contact or call Trinity Consultants at 503.713.5550.