Court Invalidates Rules for Oregon's Climate Program

State Department of Environmental Quality asserts authority to implement program despite ruling based on administrative error.

The Oregon Court of Appeals has ruled that the rules for the state's Climate Protection Program, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, are invalid.
The court's decision is based on an administrative error in the rulemaking process by the state Environmental Quality Commission.
The Department of Environmental Quality maintains that the court's decision does not question its authority to implement the program.
The department is evaluating its next steps with the state Department of Justice.
Fossil fuel companies, who brought the case to court, and environmental groups both agree that the decision does not undermine the department's authority to set emissions limits.