Within 60 days after the Department of Environmental Quality receives notice that any federal agency is considering a permit or license application related to a change to a hydroelectric project or proposed hydroelectric project that was previously certified by the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality according to section 401 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act P.L. 92-500, as amended:

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(1) The director shall:

(a) Solicit and consider the comments of all affected state agencies relative to adverse impacts on water quality caused by changes in the project, according to sections 301, 302, 303, 306 and 307 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, P.L. 92-500, as amended.

(b) Approve or deny a certification of the proposed change after making findings that the approval or denial is consistent with:

(A) Rules adopted by the Environmental Quality Commission on water quality;

(B) Provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306 and 307 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, P.L. 92-500, as amended;

(C) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, standards established in ORS § 543.017 and rules adopted by the Water Resources Commission implementing such standards; and

(D) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, standards of other state and local agencies that are consistent with the standards of ORS § 543.017 and that the director determines are other appropriate requirements of state law according to section 401 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, P.L. 92-500, as amended.

(2) If the proposed certification is for a change to a federally licensed project, as defined in ORS § 543A.005, that has been reauthorized under ORS § 543A.060 to 543A.300, or for a change to a project that is subject to federal relicensing but that operates under a water right that does not expire, the director shall not determine consistency under subsection (1)(b)(C) and (D) of this section, but shall determine consistency with the rules and provisions referred to in subsection (1)(b)(A) and (B) of this section, standards established in ORS § 543A.025 (2) to (4), rules adopted by the Water Resources Commission implementing such standards and rules of other state and local agencies that are consistent with the standards of ORS § 543A.025 (2) to (4) and that the director determines are other appropriate requirements of state law according to section 401 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, P.L. 92-500, as amended.

(3) On the basis of the evaluation and determination under subsections (1) and (2) of this section, the director shall notify the appropriate federal agency that:

(a) The proposed change to the project is approved; or

(b) There is no longer reasonable assurance that the project as changed complies with the applicable provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, P.L. 92-500, as amended, because of changes in the proposed project since the director issued the construction license or permit certification. [Formerly 468.734; 1993 c.544 § 2; 1997 c.449 § 40a]