NFIB Members Help Delay Permanent Environmental Rules

May 25, 2022

NFIB Members Help Delay Permanent Environmental Rules

Thanks in part to NFIB-member response to an Action Alert sent them, the state’s Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) decided to delay adopting new permanent environmental rules until its next meeting July 21-22. According to a May 19 news release issued by the Department of Land Conservation and Development, “At their May 19, 2022 meeting, the … commission adopted rules to reduce pollution, increase housing and transportation choice, and increase equitable land use planning outcomes. The commission unanimously passed these rules on a temporary basis, with adoption of permanent rules anticipated for the commission’s July 21-22, 2022 meeting.” NFIB Oregon State Director Anthony Smith said the delay presents opportunities to make changes until then. According to a May 10 Action Alert sent to the NFIB Oregon membership: “Gov. Kate Brown issued an executive order directing the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) to do everything within its authority to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While the new rules aim to reduce Oregon’s carbon footprint, we know the new rules are also likely to:

Disrupt small business operations
Reduce visitor and employee parking in key economic centers
Limit the types of businesses available in communities
Increase the cost of housing
Eliminate single-family homes in some neighborhoods.”

NFIB and its business coalition partners are currently poring over DLCD’s proposed rules and may issue another Action Alert pointing out any of the elements harmful to small businesses.