Author Archives: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Taking Air Quality Science to the Classroom – and Beyond

DEQ Air Quality Monitoring Engagement Coordinator Hillarie Sales and Air Quality Coordinator Morgan Schafer have been working all year with a class of middle-schoolers at Sunny Wolf Charter School who have a great interest in science and learning more about air quality and hope to develop formal curriculum from this experience for other classrooms and the general public.

Air Quality Monitoring During Wildfire Season

May is Wildfire Awareness Month, so we thought it a good idea to discuss air quality monitoring across Oregon, particularly during the summer season. The Air Quality Index, air quality advisories and the Oregon Smoke Information blog are all great resources for people looking to understand what kind of air they’re breathing, especially if they’reContinue reading “Air Quality Monitoring During Wildfire Season”

DEQ’s annual Earth Month photo contest 

The votes are in. Our photo contest to celebrate Earth Month 2023 was a huge success. DEQers submitted a lot of great images as you’ll see in the slideshow above. The theme this year was “Investing in Planet Earth.” The images show the diversity of beauty in Oregon and why investment in our natural environmentContinue reading “DEQ’s annual Earth Month photo contest “

Oregon DEQ releases 2019 – 2021 Air Toxics Summary Report

Oregon DEQ has released its 2019 – 2021 Air Toxics Summary, which provides data on air toxics that were monitored in nine locations across the state, including Bend, Eugene, La Grande, Medford and Portland. The goal is to measure air toxics across Oregon where people live, work and play. That way, DEQ and communities canContinue reading “Oregon DEQ releases 2019 – 2021 Air Toxics Summary Report”

Staff Spotlight: Megan Hendrickson 

This week we turn the DEQ staff spotlight on Megan Hendrickson. From our Eugene office, Megan works with organizations using funds to repair and replace septic systems in Oregon.  What is your favorite part of working at DEQ?  I started during the pandemic. The first three months were a blur of phone calls, Teams messages,Continue reading “Staff Spotlight: Megan Hendrickson “

Staff Spotlight: Ania Loyd

Family ski day at Mt. Hood Meadows To celebrate Earth Month this year we are turning the spotlight on several staff across the state. This week, we talked with Ania Loyd. Ania is an air quality permit writer and inspector, working from the Eastern Region office in The Dalles. What is your favorite part aboutContinue reading “Staff Spotlight: Ania Loyd”

Food Waste Prevention Week

Spoiler alert: Food waste is the second leading cause of greenhouse gases, which are a key ingredient in climate change. But there’s something you can do about it in your home, starting at your next meal – food waste prevention. Katie, a DEQ communication and outreach specialist, joins Dylan on this episode to learn aboutContinue reading “Food Waste Prevention Week”

DEQ Celebrates Earth Month 2023

April is Earth Month, and that’s a special time of year at the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. We are the state agency dedicated to protecting the quality of Oregon’s abundant rivers and lakes, its spectacular landscapes and the air we all breathe. Whether we are studying water samples under a microscope, collecting data from one of our air monitors or performing emergency cleanup up after an oil spill, DEQ staff are actively investing in the health of our communities, our state and our planet.

Public records — How it Works at DEQ

DEQ is a science-based state agency, so it generates volumes of public records. A team of two, with the support of 40 staff members, work together to guide our public record storage and response to requests. Along with discussing how and why DEQ stores records, the experts offer advice on how to best find whatContinue reading “Public records — How it Works at DEQ”