Or. Admin. Code § 340-272-0220 - DEQ Review and Approval of Verification Bodies and Verifiers

(1) DEQ application review and approval process for verification bodies and verifiers.

(a) After receipt of an application under OAR 340-272-0210, DEQ will inform the applicant either that a submitted application is complete or that additional specific information is required to make the application complete. If the application is incomplete, DEQ will not consider the application further until the applicant provides the additional information requested by DEQ.

(b) DEQ will review submitted applications to prescreen and ensure all requirements are met. DEQ will notify an applicant in writing which verification training(s) and exam(s) are required to be completed according to OAR 340-272-0210(8). An applicant may choose to take trainings and exams in addition to those required by DEQ.

(c) DEQ will not consider or issue final approval until DEQ finds an application for approval as a verification body or verifier is complete and meets all applicable requirements under OAR 340-272-0210(1) and all required verification training(s) and exam(s), as deemed applicable by DEQ under subsection (b), have been completed according to OAR 340-272-0210(8).

(d) Following completion of the application process and all applicable training and examination requirements, DEQ will notify the applicant in writing if approval has been granted or denied.

(A) DEQ may issue approval to verification bodies, verifiers, lead verifiers, and sector specific verifiers that apply and meet the criteria under OAR 340-272-0210 and successfully complete verification training(s) and exam(s) as required under OAR 340-272-0210(8).

(B) DEQ approval will be limited to certain report types, data types, sources of emissions, or sectors, according to the information in the application and the qualifications of the applicant, and based on DEQ's determination of whether the applicant demonstrates, to DEQ's satisfaction, sufficient knowledge of the relevant methods and requirements in this division, OAR chapter 340, division 215, and OAR chapter 340, division 253, as applicable.

(C) DEQ will maintain a current list of approved verification bodies, verifiers, lead verifiers, and sector specific verifiers on DEQ's website.

(e) DEQ approval is valid for a period of three years from the date the approval is issued by DEQ. The applicant may re-apply for approval as a verification body, verifier, lead verifier, or sector specific verifier following the same application procedures according to OAR 340-272-0210 and must satisfy all DEQ training and examination requirements applicable at the time of re-application.

(2) Requirements to maintain DEQ approval.

(a) Except as provided under subsection (c) below, a verification body, verifier, lead verifier, or sector specific verifier must notify DEQ within 30 calendar days of when it no longer meets the requirements for approval under OAR 340-272-0210, as applicable.

(b) A verification body must notify DEQ of any verifier staffing changes within 30 calendar days of any such change as these changes are considered an amendment to the verification body's approval.

(c) DEQ must be notified immediately if a verification body or verifier loses or withdraws from accreditation under any program specified or approved under OAR 340-272-0210(2)(a).

(d) Within 20 calendar days of being notified of any nonconformance in another voluntary or mandatory greenhouse gas emissions reporting program or fuels program, a DEQ-approved verification body or verifier must provide written notice to DEQ of the non-conformance, including a copy of any written notification of nonconformance from the agency or body that administers the program, and information about any corrective actions taken by the verification body or verifier. That notification must include reasons for the corrective action and the type of corrective action. The verification body or verifier must provide additional information to DEQ upon request.

(e) Verification bodies and verifiers must provide in a reasonably timely manner any and all information that DEQ reasonably requires for the purpose of evaluating continued compliance with the requirements of this division, including the criteria for approval.

(3) Modification, suspension, or revocation of DEQ approval.

(a) DEQ may modify, suspend, or revoke an approval to perform verification if a verification body or verifier:

(A) Fraudulently obtained or attempted to obtain accreditation under any program specified under OAR 340-272-0210(2)(a);

(B) Fraudulently obtained or attempted to obtain approval from DEQ under this division;

(C) Failed at any time to satisfy the eligibility criteria and requirements specified under OAR 340-272-0210;

(D) Does not satisfy the requirements to maintain approval according to section (2);

(E) Provided verification services that failed to meet the requirements under OAR 340-272-0300(1) and (3);

(F) Violated the conflict of interest requirements under OAR 340-272-0500; or

(G) Knowingly or recklessly submitted false or inaccurate information or verification statement(s) to DEQ.

(b) A verifier or verification body that is subject to a DEQ action to modify, suspend, or revoke an approval to perform verification may contest DEQ's action by providing DEQ with a written request for a hearing within 20 calendar days of being notified of DEQ's action.

(A) The hearing will be conducted as a contested case under ORS 183.413 through 183.470 and OAR chapter 340, division 11.

(B) Any DEQ action taken in subsection (a) will remain in place pending the outcome of the contested case.

(c) A verification body or verifier that has had approval to perform verification revoked may re-apply according to OAR 340-272-0210 after the applicant demonstrates to DEQ that the cause of the revocation has been resolved.

(4) Voluntary withdrawal from DEQ approval. An approved verification body or verifier may request to voluntarily withdraw its approval by providing a written notice to DEQ requesting such withdrawal.

Notes

Or. Admin. Code § 340-272-0220

DEQ 14-2020, adopt filed 05/07/2020, effective 5/7/2020; DEQ 17-2023, amend filed 11/16/2023, effective 11/16/2023

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 468.020, 468A.050, 468A.266, 468A.271, 468A.277 & 468A.280

Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 468A.010, 468A.015, 468A.050, 468A.265 through 468A.277 & 468A.280