Or. Admin. Code § 340-272-0420 - Site Visits

(1) Verification services must include site visit(s) that meet the requirements of this rule.

(2) Site visit(s) conducted as part of verification services for verification of CFP reports and fuel pathway applications submitted under OAR chapter 340, division 253 must meet the requirements of this section:

(a) Site visits must occur after all data and CFP reports for the previous calendar year have been attested to and submitted to DEQ, except that a site visit may be conducted as part of a quarterly review if:

(A) No aspects of the data management systems or accounting practices change following the site visit; and

(B) There are no significant changes to the fuel production process or facility when the verification is for an annual fuel pathway report;

(b) At least one DEQ-approved lead verifier on the verification team, including the sector specific verifier, if applicable, must at a minimum make one site visit to each facility during each year full verification is required under OAR 340-272-0100(4). If the responsible entity keeps records supporting a report or fuel pathway application subject to verification under this division in a location that is different from the fuel production facility, then such verifier(s) must at a minimum make one site visit to the location where those records are stored;

(c) A separate site visit is required if a responsible entity elects to engage the services of a verification body to provide verification services for validation of a fuel pathway application;

(d) For aggregators and network service providers for electric vehicle supply equipment, the verifier(s) must make at least one site visit to the location where the aggregator's records are stored. Additional site visits to the entities using an aggregator are to be performed at the verifier's discretion and must follow the requirements for sampling outlined in OAR 340-272-0425; and

(e) The following must be conducted during a site visit:

(A) Review supporting evidence used to develop CFP reports submitted to DEQ;

(B) Review and understand the data management systems and accounting practices used by the responsible entity to acquire, process, track, and report CFP data. Evaluate the uncertainty and effectiveness of these systems; and

(C) Carry out tasks that, in the professional judgment of the verification team, are needed in the verification process, including the following, at minimum:

(i) Conduct interviews with key personnel, such as process engineers, metering experts, accounting personnel, and project operators, as well as staff involved in compiling data and preparing the CFP reports;

(ii) Make direct observations of production equipment, confirming diagrams for processes, piping, and instrumentation; measurement system equipment; and accounting systems for data types determined in the sampling plan to be high risk;

(iii) Assess conformance with measurement accuracy, data capture, temporary measurement method requirements, and the monitoring plan for consistency with the requirements of OAR chapter 340, division 253; and

(iv) Review financial transactions to confirm complete and accurate reporting.

(3) Site visit(s) conducted as part of verification services for verification of GHG Reporting Program emissions data reports submitted under OAR chapter 340, division 215 must meet the requirements of this section:

(a) Site visits must occur after all data and emissions data reports for the previous calendar year have been attested to and submitted to DEQ;

(b) At least one approved verifier in the verification team, including the sector specific verifier, if applicable, must at a minimum make one site visit to each facility for which an emissions data report is submitted during each year full verification is required under OAR 340-272-0100(4). The headquarters or other location of central data management must be visited when the responsible entity is an electricity supplier or fuel supplier, including natural gas suppliers; and

(c) The following must be conducted during a site visit:

(A) Check that all sources specified under OAR 340-215-0030, as applicable to the responsible entity are identified appropriately;

(B) Review and understand the data management systems used by the responsible entity to track, quantify, and report greenhouse gas emissions and, when applicable, electricity and fuel transactions. Evaluate the uncertainty and effectiveness of these systems; and

(C) Carry out tasks that, in the professional judgment of the verification team, are needed in the verification process, including the following, at minimum:

(i) Conduct interviews with key personnel, such as process engineers and metering experts, as well as staff involved in compiling data and preparing the emissions data report;

(ii) Make direct observations of equipment for data sources and equipment supplying data for sources determined in the sampling plan to be high risk;

(iii) Assess conformance with measurement accuracy, data capture, and missing data substitution requirements for consistency with the requirements of OAR chapter 340, division 215, as applicable; and

(iv) Review financial transactions to confirm fuel and electricity purchases and sales, and to confirm the complete and accurate reporting of required data such as facility fuel suppliers, fuel quantities delivered, and the entity from which fuel was received.

Notes

Or. Admin. Code § 340-272-0420

DEQ 14-2020, adopt filed 05/07/2020, effective 5/7/2020; DEQ 2-2025, amend filed 01/09/2025, effective 1/9/2025

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 - 468A.277 & 468A.280