State of Oregon

09/09/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/09/2026 11:28

DEQ Announces Pre-approved Supplemental Environmental Project Information Session

DEQ Announces Pre-approved Supplemental Environmental Project Information Session
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026

Starting this fall, DEQ will begin accepting applications for pre-approved Supplemental Environmental Projects. Supplemental Environmental Projects are public health and environmental projects that are funded by a person or entity that has been assessed a civil penalty by DEQ for environmental law violations. The funding for these projects can range up to 80 percent of the civil penalty, depending on the project's cost and the types of benefits derived from the project.

SEPs are not a grant program. SEPs are projects that are negotiated during settlement of a specific enforcement case. Each person or organization that is subject to a civil penalty can decide if they would like to pursue a SEP. DEQ maintains a list of organizations interested in managing SEPs; to date, that contact list has been the primary tool to identify potential projects and partners.

These new pre-approved applications will allow third party organizations (i.e. non-profit or government entities) to apply for pre-approval of a project which they would like to have funded, helping to connect those that have received a civil penalty with organizations that have projects that have already been vetted and pre-approved by DEQ.
Nonprofit and government organizations that have potential qualifying projects in need of funding are encouraged to attend a virtual listening session on September 17, 2026, at 10 a.m. to learn how to apply for pre-approval of its project.

Considerations for Applicants:
The project must primarily benefit public health or the environment in Oregon.

DEQ must approve the project with respect to a specific enforcement case before funded work can begin.
If a person or organization that has been issued a civil penalty by DEQ chooses a pre-approved SEP, the organization receiving the funds will need to submit a streamlined secondary application that specifies how the funds provided by the civil penalty recipient will be spent.

Projects will be pre-approved for a period of one year but are eligible for renewal. Projects that have not been renewed prior to the expiration of the one-year period will be removed from DEQ's website.

DEQ will review and approve projects semiannually. Projects submitted by the fall application deadline and subsequently approved will be posted on the website in January; projects submitted by the spring application deadline and subsequently approved will be posted on the website in June.

The projects must not be an activity or result that is already required by law or is set to become a future legal requirement.

The portion of the project attributable to the SEP cannot be funded by government contracts, loans or grants.

The project cannot result in DEQ controlling the funds or implementing the project.

A SEP cannot fulfill DEQ statutory obligations nor circumvent statutory provisions.

The project must not create a significant market or economic advantage for the person or organization that has been fined. At the conclusion of the project, the organization who received the SEP funds must submit to DEQ a final report certifying that the project is complete and specifying what the funds were used for. Organizations that fail to prepare a report or fail to complete the project may be disqualified from receiving future SEP funds.

Next steps:
DEQ will be hosting a virtual information session on Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 10 a.m. to provide information regarding SEPs and the new pre-approved application process. No registration needed

Applications for the fall review cycle are due by October 30, 2026; approved projects will be posted to DEQ's website in early January 2027. Application instructions will be posted on DEQ's website on or around September 17, 2026.

Applications submitted to DEQ thereafter will be reviewed as part of the spring review cycle and, if approved, will be posted on DEQ's website in June 2027.

Media contact:
Chris Varley, 503-933-0514, [email protected]







State of Oregon published this content on September 09, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 09, 2026 at 17:28 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]