Department of Energy
Energy Facility Siting Council - Chapter 345
Division 22
GENERAL STANDARDS FOR SITING FACILITIES
345-022-0040
Protected Areas
(1) To issue a site certificate, the Council must find:
(a) The proposed facility will not be located within the boundaries of a protected area designated on or before the date the application for site certificate or request for amendment was determined to be complete under OAR 345-015-0190 or 345-027-0363;
(b) The design, construction and operation of the facility, taking into account mitigation, are not likely to result in significant adverse impact to a protected area designated on or before the date the application for site certificate or request for amendment was determined to be complete under OAR 345-015-0190 or 345-027-0363.
(2) Notwithstanding section (1)(a), the Council may issue a site certificate for:
(a) A facility that includes a transmission line, natural gas pipeline, or water pipeline located in a protected area, if the Council determines that other reasonable alternative routes or sites have been studied and that the proposed route or site is likely to result in fewer adverse impacts to resources or interests protected by Council standards; or
(b) Surface facilities related to an underground gas storage reservoir that have pipelines and injection, withdrawal or monitoring wells and individual wellhead equipment and pumps located in a protected area, if the Council determines that other alternative routes or sites have been studied and are unsuitable.
(3) The provisions of section (1) do not apply to:
(a) A transmission line routed within 500 feet of an existing utility right-of-way containing at least one transmission line with a voltage rating of 115 kilovolts or higher; or
(b) A natural gas pipeline routed within 500 feet of an existing utility right of way containing at least one natural gas pipeline of 8 inches or greater diameter that is operated at a pressure of 125 psig.
(4) The Council shall apply the version of this rule adopted under Administrative Order EFSC 1-2007, filed and effective May 15, 2007, to the review of any Application for Site Certificate or Request for Amendment that was determined to be complete under OAR 345-015-0190 or 345-027-0363 before the effective date of this rule. Nothing in this section waives the obligations of the certificate holder and Council to abide by local ordinances, state law, and other rules of the Council for the construction and operation of energy facilities in effect on the date the site certificate or amended site certificate is executed.
Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 469.470 & 469.501
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 469.501
History:
EFSC 5-2022, amend filed 12/19/2022, effective 12/19/2022
EFSC 1-2007, f. & cert. ef. 5-15-07
EFSC 1-2003, f. & cert. ef. 9-3-03
EFSC 1-2002, f. & cert. ef. 4-3-02
EFSC 2-2000, f. & cert. ef. 11-20-00
EFSC 2-1999, f. & cert. ef. 4-14-99
EFSC 3-1995, f. & cert. ef. 11-16-95
EFSC 5-1994, f. & cert. ef. 11-30-94
EFCS 2-1994, f. & cert. ef. 5-6-94
EFCS 1-1994, f. & cert. ef. 1-28-94
EFCS 5-1993(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 8-16-93
EFSC 1-1993, f. & cert. ef. 1-15-93, Renumbered from 345-079-0030, 345-080-0060, 345-100-0040, 345-111-0035, 345-115-0040 & 345-125-0070
EFSC 7-1986, f. & cert. ef. 9-18-86
EFSC 4-1986, f. & cert. ef. 9-5-86
EFSC 4-1982, f. & cert. ef. 5-3-82
EFSC 2-1981, f. & cert. ef. 1-19-81
EFSC 1-1981, f. & cert. ef. 1-19-81
EFSC 9-1980, f. & cert. ef. 12-22-80
EFSC 6-1980, f. & cert. ef. 8-26-80
EFSC 1-1980, f. & cert. ef. 2-28-80