On May 9, DEQ Director Leah Feldon, celebrated Public Service Recognition Week nominees during the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission meeting in Bend, Oregon. This year, DEQ selected three Public Service Ambassadors: Amanda Ingmire, Kara Master and Erica Timm out of a total of eight nominees.
Author Archives: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
How the AQI Helps Oregonians Stay Safe
Last week we celebrated National Air Quality Awareness Week. Today, the air in Oregon is “good,” according to the air quality index. That wasn’t always the case. Even outside of wildfire season, there have been times throughout Oregon’s history when the air was hazardous to breathe. In fact, in 1980, only 30% of Oregonians livedContinue reading “How the AQI Helps Oregonians Stay Safe”
Celebrate Earth Day: Reflecting on Our Planet’s Beauty
Today, as we celebrate Earth Day, I encourage everyone to take a moment to reflect on the beauty of our planet in all its diverse, interconnected and natural wonder – we really do live in a remarkable place. I hope you will connect with nature today, whether that means taking a walk in a park,Continue reading “Celebrate Earth Day: Reflecting on Our Planet’s Beauty”
Oregon Celebrates Food Waste Prevention Week 2025 with events and community partnerships
New events added April 4, 2024, 4:15 p.m. For the fourth year in a row, Oregon leads the way nationally throughout Food Waste Prevention Week, April 7-13, 2025. This annual campaign brings together communities, businesses, schools, and individuals to tackle food waste through education, action, and celebration.
Oregon DEQ Announces New Food Systems Strategic Plan
The newly adopted Reducing Food Impacts: A Strategic Plan for Oregon (2025) establishes an updated vision for Oregon’s Materials Management Program. The plan emphasizes a whole-systems, equity-centered approach to food. This plan outlines the three key priority areas for DEQ’s future work in food systems: Sustainable Food Production, Sustainable Food Consumption and Sustainable Food Waste Management.Continue reading “Oregon DEQ Announces New Food Systems Strategic Plan”
Estacada clean water infrastructure project wins EPA award for innovation, backed by DEQ funding
The City of Estacada received a WATERS award Tuesday from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in recognition of its innovative and effective use of its Oregon Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is loaning the city $5.5 million through this low-interest loan program to replace its 1963 wastewater treatmentContinue reading “Estacada clean water infrastructure project wins EPA award for innovation, backed by DEQ funding”
Water Quality Trading Part 1 – Innovative Approaches
Warm water from wastewater treatment plants can cause pollution problems downstream. Enter water quality trading, an innovative approach to improving water quality by restoring streambank vegetation around Oregon. Brian Creutzburg, an alternative compliance specialist at DEQ, joins Dylan Darling for the first of two episodes about water quality trading. You’ll hear some of Brian’s appearanceContinue reading “Water Quality Trading Part 1 – Innovative Approaches”
Meet Yulia Shipulina: Championing Pollution Prevention at DEQ
Yulia Shipulina has joined the Department of Environmental Quality as a temporary fellow, in partnership with Oregon Sea Grant, to further develop our pollution prevention, or P2, projects in DEQ’s Land Quality Division. The P2 projects she’ll work on are funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and managed by Lisa Cox, our Senior ToxicsContinue reading “Meet Yulia Shipulina: Championing Pollution Prevention at DEQ”
Climate Protection Program back in action in Oregon
Oregon has reinstated its Climate Protection Program. The Environmental Quality Commission adopted the Climate Protection Program in November 2024. So, DEQ Climate Protection Manager Nicole Singh joined the GreenState podcast to explain how the program aims to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon over the next 25 years. “It’s an ambitious program,” Singh saidContinue reading “Climate Protection Program back in action in Oregon”
State agencies celebrate 100,000 registered electric vehicles in Oregon
This past summer, Oregon got a big boost in its efforts to achieve a greener future when the state surpassed 100,000 registered electric vehicles. Oregon DEQ celebrated the major milestone with the Oregon Departments of Transportation and Energy and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry at a media event on Nov. 18. Directors fromContinue reading “State agencies celebrate 100,000 registered electric vehicles in Oregon”