The number of unhealthy air quality days caused by wildfires are increasing across Oregon. In 2020, those living here experienced the worst air quality ever recorded in the state.
Author Archives: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
From landfill to housing: Cleanup begins at Stevens Ranch in Bend
Meandering through the sagebrush and juniper trails at the Stevens Road Tract in southeast Bend, a hiker might never suspect they are walking over acres of buried trash. Decades-old tires, building materials containing asbestos and household trash fill in former holes and collapsed lava tubes on about 40 acres of the newly planned 382-acre mixed-useContinue reading “From landfill to housing: Cleanup begins at Stevens Ranch in Bend”
Jackson Dougan’s background and experience bring a unique perspective to DEQ
Jackson Dougan arrived at DEQ a little over two years ago, after completing a Master of Science in Global Change: Ecosystem Science & Policy from the University College Dublin in Ireland, as well as working in the New York State’s Office of the Attorney General and at the Environmental Defense Fund, among other places. HeContinue reading “Jackson Dougan’s background and experience bring a unique perspective to DEQ”
Gov. Brown signs bill to continue, expand EV rebates
Gov. Kate Brown signed legislation to expand electric vehicle rebates and remove the sunset on funding.
Your DEQ Online update: All systems go!
Three weeks into the launch of Your DEQ Online, DEQ’s new data management system, the response by users has been overwhelmingly positive.
Introducing the new and improved Oregon Smoke Blog
For years, the Oregon Smoke Blog has been the go-to resource for anyone wanting to learn the latest and best information on smoke conditions during wildfire season. And now, the blog is even better. In preparation for the upcoming summer months, DEQ has revamped the blog to give it a cleaner design and make itContinue reading “Introducing the new and improved Oregon Smoke Blog”
Include old electronics in your next spring cleaning purge
No matter how hard we work at “spring cleaning.” there’s often one area that’s overlooked – our old, unused electronics. A recent survey found that most of us in Oregon have broken or obsolete TVs, computers, printers or other electronics hiding in plain sight at home. These electronics languish in closets or under sofas, in attics or storage and generally evade our spring cleaning efforts.
DEQ water quality analyst selected for national board
DEQ’s own Martina Frey has been chosen to serve on a national board that is working to modernize the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s database for permit compliance and enforcement data.
Air Quality Awareness Week Q&A with Oregon DEQ’s Air Quality Division Administrator Ali Mirzakhalili
Ali Mirzakhalili has worked as Oregon DEQ’s Air Quality Division administrator since 2018, but he has been involved with environmental issues for much longer. For Air Quality Awareness Week, we thought it was a good time to ask him about what drew him to this work and how he feels about Oregon’s environmental future.
DEQ Lab releases groundwater quality report for Harney County
A new report from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Laboratory shows water quality data for groundwater in Harney County.