Section 468B.365 - Plan approval; change affecting plan; certificate of approval(1) The Department of Environmental Quality shall approve a contingency plan required under ORS 468B.345 only if it determines that the plan meets the requirements of ORS 468B.345 to 468B.360 and: (a) The covered vessel or facility demonstrates evidence of compliance with ORS 468B.390; and(b) If implemented, the plan is capable, to the maximum extent practicable in terms of personnel, materials and equipment, of removing oil promptly and properly and minimizing any damage to the environment.(2) An owner or operator of a covered vessel or facility shall notify the department in writing immediately of any significant change affecting the contingency plan, including changes in any factor set forth in this section or in rules adopted by the Environmental Quality Commission. The department may require the owner or operator to update a contingency plan as a result of these changes.(3) A holder of an approved contingency plan does not violate the terms of the contingency plan by furnishing to another plan holder, after notifying the department, equipment, materials or personnel to assist the other plan holder in a response to an oil discharge. The plan holder shall replace or return the transferred equipment, materials and personnel as soon as feasible.(4) The department may attach any reasonable term or condition to its approval or modification of a contingency plan that the department determines is necessary to insure that the applicant: (a) Has access to sufficient resources to protect environmentally sensitive areas and to prevent, contain, clean up and mitigate potential oil discharges from the facility or tank vessel;(b) Maintains personnel levels sufficient to carry out emergency operations; and(c) Complies with the contingency plan.(5) The contingency plan must provide for the use by the applicant of the best technology available at the time the contingency plan was submitted or renewed.(6) The department may require an applicant or a holder of an approved contingency plan to take steps necessary to demonstrate its ability to carry out the contingency plan, including:(b) Response team exercises; and(c) Verification of access to inventories of equipment, supplies and personnel identified as available in the approved contingency plan.(7) The department may consider evidence that oil discharge prevention measures such as double hulls or double bottoms on vessels or barges, secondary containment systems, hydrostatic testing, enhanced vessel traffic systems or enhanced crew or staffing levels have been implemented and in its discretion, may make exceptions to the requirements of this section to reflect the reduced risk of oil discharges from the facility or tank vessel for which the plan is submitted or being modified.(8) Before the department approves or modifies a contingency plan required under ORS 468B.345, the department shall provide a copy of the contingency plan to the State Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of the State Fire Marshal and the Department of Land Conservation and Development for review. The agencies shall review the plan according to procedures and time limits established by rule of the Environmental Quality Commission.(9) Upon approval of a contingency plan, the Department of Environmental Quality shall issue to the plan holder a certificate stating that the plan has been approved. The certificate shall include the name of the facility or tank vessel for which the certificate is issued, the effective date of the plan and the date by which the plan must be submitted for renewal.(10) The approval of a contingency plan by the department does not constitute an express assurance regarding the adequacy of the plan or constitute a defense to liability imposed under ORS chapters 468, 468A and 468B or any other state law.Amended by 2019 Ch. 581, § 11, eff. 1/1/2020.