Bill > HB3814

This bill allows the Environmental Quality Commission and the Department of Environmental Quality to permit seafood processing facilities to use a mixing zone (a designated area where wastewater is initially discharged and allowed to mix with the receiving water body) when discharging wastewater effluent, provided that the mixing zone does not adversely affect public health. The department must base this determination on clear evidence that the mixing zone would not pose a public health risk. Additionally, seafood processing facilities must implement best management practices to prevent bacteria from external fecal sources from entering their wastewater effluent, with these practices to be developed based on a site-specific investigation of bacteria sources. The bill will take effect on the 91st day after the 2025 regular session of the Oregon Legislative Assembly adjourns, and it will be added to the existing Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) chapter 468B, which covers environmental quality regulations.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB3814