ORS 468B.110
Authority to establish and enforce water quality standards by rule or order

  • limitation on authority
  • instream water quality standards

(1)

Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, as necessary to achieve and maintain standards of water quality or purity adopted under ORS 468B.048 (Rules for standards of quality and purity), the Environmental Quality Commission or Department of Environmental Quality may, by rule or order, impose and enforce limitations or other controls which may include total maximum daily loads, wasteload allocations for point sources and load allocations for nonpoint sources, as provided in the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321) and federal regulations and guidelines issued pursuant thereto.

(2)

Unless required to do so by the provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, neither the Environmental Quality Commission nor the Department of Environmental Quality shall promulgate or enforce any effluent limitation upon nonpoint source discharges of pollutants resulting from forest operations on forestlands in this state. Implementation of any limitations or controls applying to nonpoint source discharges or pollutants resulting from forest operations are subject to ORS 527.765 (Best management practices to maintain water quality) and 527.770 (Good faith compliance with best management practices not violation of water quality standards). However, nothing in this section is intended to affect the authority of the commission or the department provided by law to impose and enforce limitations or other controls on water pollution from sources other than forest operations.

(3)

When the Environmental Quality Commission establishes instream water quality standards to protect designated beneficial uses in the waters of the state, it shall consider, where applicable, available scientific information including, but not limited to, streamflow, geomorphology and other factors representing the variability and complexity of hydrologic systems and intrinsic water quality conditions.

(4)

When the Environmental Quality Commission establishes instream water quality standards, it will also issue guidelines describing how the department and the commission will determine whether water quality standards in waters affected by nonpoint source activities are being met. In developing these guidelines, the commission shall include, where applicable, those physical characteristics such as streamflow, geomorphology, seasons, frequency, duration, magnitude and other factors which represent the variability and complexity of forested and other appropriate hydrologic systems. [1991 c.919 §24; 2003 c.14 §302]
(Motorized In-Stream Placer Mining)

Source: Section 468B.110 — Authority to establish and enforce water quality standards by rule or order; limitation on authority; instream water quality standards, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors468B.­html (accessed May 26, 2025).

468B.005
Definitions for water pollution control laws 468B.010
Authority of commission over water pollution 468B.015
Policy 468B.020
Prevention of pollution 468B.025
Prohibited activities 468B.030
Effluent limitations 468B.032
Alternative enforcement proceeding 468B.035
Implementation of Federal Water Pollution Control Act 468B.037
Federal Water Pollution Control Act 468B.038
Federal Water Pollution Control Act 468B.039
Procedures for developing methodologies for assessment of water quality 468B.040
Certification of hydroelectric power project 468B.045
Certification of change to hydroelectric power project 468B.046
Reauthorization of hydroelectric project not to limit authority of department related to certification of project for water quality purposes 468B.047
Fees for state certification under Federal Water Pollution Control Act 468B.048
Rules for standards of quality and purity 468B.050
Water quality permit 468B.051
Fees for water quality permits and programs 468B.053
Alternatives to obtaining water quality permit 468B.055
Plans and specifications for disposal, treatment and sewerage systems 468B.060
Liability for damage to fish or wildlife or habitat 468B.062
Use attainability analysis of certain waters of state 468B.064
Follow-up assessments of waters of state that exceed numeric temperature criteria 468B.070
Prohibited activities for certain municipalities 468B.075
Definitions for ORS 468B.080 468B.080
Prohibitions relating to garbage or sewage dumping into waters of state 468B.083
When motor vehicle parts may be placed in waters of state 468B.085
Depositing vehicles or manufactured structures into water prohibited 468B.090
Permit authorized for discharge of shrimp and crab processing by-products 468B.093
General permit for discharge of geothermal spring water to surface water 468B.095
Use of sludge on agricultural, horticultural or silvicultural land 468B.100
Definitions for ORS 468B.105 and 468B.110 468B.105
Review of water quality standard affecting forest operations 468B.110
Authority to establish and enforce water quality standards by rule or order 468B.112
Definitions 468B.114
Motorized in-stream placer mining 468B.116
Permit application 468B.118
Fees 468B.120
Definitions for ORS 468B.120 to 468B.135 468B.125
Policy to reduce phosphorous pollution 468B.130
Prohibition on sale or distribution of cleaning agents containing phosphorus 468B.135
Exemptions 468B.138
Definitions for ORS 468B.138 to 468B.144 468B.139
Report 468B.140
Plans to reduce discharges of persistent pollutants 468B.141
Rules 468B.142
Order compelling compliance with rules 468B.143
Persistent Pollutant Control Account 468B.144
Moneys received under ORS 468B.142 468B.150
Definitions for ORS 468B.150 to 468B.190 468B.155
State goal to prevent ground water contamination 468B.160
Ground water management and use policy 468B.162
Coordination of ground water activities 468B.164
Encouragement of federal actions 468B.165
Ground water contaminants 468B.166
Technical advisory committee 468B.167
Ground water resource protection strategy 468B.169
Requests for funding, advice or assistance for ground water projects 468B.171
Awarding grants 468B.175
Declaration of area of ground water concern 468B.177
Actions of department after declaration of area of ground water concern 468B.179
Ground water management committee 468B.180
Declaration of ground water management area 468B.182
Alternative appointment of ground water management committee 468B.183
Duties of ground water management committee after declaration of ground water management area 468B.184
Designation of lead agency for development of action plan 468B.186
Comment on plan 468B.187
Acceptance or rejection of action plan 468B.188
Repeal of declaration of ground water management area 468B.190
Ground water monitoring and assessment 468B.195
Underground injection control program of federal Safe Drinking Water Act 468B.197
Subsurface Injection Fluids Account 468B.200
Legislative findings 468B.203
Applicability of 468B.200 to 468B.230 468B.205
Definition of confined animal feeding operation 468B.210
Maximum number of animals per facility 468B.212
Land use compatibility statement 468B.213
Authority of city or county to require setback or buffer for new large confined animal feeding operation 468B.215
Fees 468B.216
Water supply plan 468B.217
Memorandum of understanding with Department of Agriculture 468B.219
Nutrient application permit 468B.220
Civil penalty for violation of permit requirement 468B.225
Prerequisite for investigation 468B.230
Department of Agriculture civil penalty authority 468B.300
Definitions for ORS 468B.300 to 468B.500 468B.305
Entry of oil into waters of state prohibited 468B.310
Liability for violation of ORS 468B.305 468B.315
Duty to collect and remove oil 468B.320
Action by state 468B.325
Director’s right of entry in response to spill or release of oil or hazardous material 468B.330
Action to collect costs 468B.335
Effect of federal regulations of oil spillage 468B.337
Liquefied natural gas 468B.340
Legislative findings and intent 468B.345
Oil spill contingency plan required to operate facility or covered vessel in state or state waters 468B.350
Standards for contingency plans 468B.355
Contingency plans 468B.360
Review of contingency plan 468B.365
Plan approval 468B.370
Determination of adequacy of plan 468B.375
Inspection of facilities and vessels 468B.380
Tank vessel inspection program 468B.385
Modification of approval of contingency plan 468B.390
Compliance with federal Oil Pollution Act of 1990 468B.395
Department duties 468B.400
Wildlife rescue training program 468B.405
Fees 468B.410
Oil Spill Prevention Fund 468B.412
Report regarding fees and oil spill prevention activities 468B.415
Oregon coast safety committee 468B.420
Safety committee recommendations 468B.425
Exemption from liability for removal costs or damages 468B.427
Oil spill contingency plan required for high hazard train routes in state 468B.429
Requirements for contingency plans 468B.431
Review of contingency plan 468B.433
Financial responsibility statement 468B.435
High Hazard Train Route Oil Spill Preparedness Fund 468B.437
Rules 468B.450
Willful or negligent discharge of oil 468B.455
Oil Spillage Control Fund 468B.460
Rules 468B.475
Legislative finding 468B.485
Methods of establishing financial assurance 468B.495
Interagency response plan for oil or hazardous material spills 468B.500
Contents of plan 468B.510
Seismic vulnerability assessment required for bulk oils or liquid fuels terminal 468B.513
Seismic risk mitigation implementation program 468B.516
Confidential business information 468B.519
Whistleblower protection for employees 468B.522
Federally preempted requirements not applicable 468B.525
Seismic Risk Mitigation Fund 468B.550
Short title 468B.555
Trading program development 468B.600
Harmful algal bloom monitoring and response strategy

Current through early 2026

§ 468B.110. Auth. to establish & enforce water quality standards by rule or order's source at oregon​.gov