Author Archives: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

DEQ’s Cory-Ann Wind inducted into Clean Cities Hall of Fame

We’re thrilled to announce Cory-Ann Wind, manager of Oregon’s Clean Fuels Program, is the recipient of the 2023 Hall of Fame Award from the Columbia-Willamette Clean Cities Coalition, a coalition committed to reducing petroleum consumption in the transportation sector through education and outreach.

The award recognizes Wind’s leadership developing and implementing one of the nation’s only clean fuels programs. California has had a similar program for the last 12 years and Washington started a program this year. Wind has worked at DEQ for 29 years, the last 13 overseeing the Clean Fuels Program.

Staff Spotlight on Emil Hnidey, DEQ’s Rulemaking Coordinator 

Emil and his family at Faragut State Park in Athol, Idaho Emil has been a fixture at DEQ for a few years and helped a lot of our staff and programs through their rulemakings.   For our readers who might not have had the chance to work with you yet, what does the Rulemaking Coordinator do?  Continue reading “Staff Spotlight on Emil Hnidey, DEQ’s Rulemaking Coordinator “

Klamath Tribes, Chiloquin leaders welcome Eastern Region management team

“You picked a great day to visit,” said Chiloquin City Councilor Robert Cowie to the group of Eastern Region managers gathered at Chiloquin City Hall on a crisp, clear, sunny February afternoon.

The DEQ team traveled from The Dalles, Bend and Klamath Falls to meet leaders from the Klamath Tribes and City of Chiloquin to discuss local environmental concerns.

Rulemaking: From laws to environmental regulation

Bills become laws and state legislators design some Oregon laws to protect the environment. Most people understand that process. But what about rules that put environmental protection into action? That’s where DEQ comes in through rulemaking. DEQ proposes rules that define how the public and industry interact with the environment in an effort to benefitContinue reading “Rulemaking: From laws to environmental regulation”

Environmental Quality Commission selects Leah Feldon as new DEQ director

The Oregon Environmental Quality Commission today selected Leah Feldon as the new director of the Department of Environmental Quality. The commission’s vote was unanimous. The commission’s decision came after a seven-month nationwide search and included extensive input from the public and DEQ staff.

Out of the ashes – EWEB, DEQ join effort to rebuild after Holiday Farm Fire along McKenzie River

Photo provided by EWEB. This photo was taken in May 2021 on an EWEB Commissioners and local leaders tour of the damage of the Holiday Farm Fire. The Holiday Farm Fire destroyed more than 500 homes in the McKenzie River Valley, like this one pictured in May 2021. As the community continues to rebuild, EWEBContinue reading “Out of the ashes – EWEB, DEQ join effort to rebuild after Holiday Farm Fire along McKenzie River”

GUEST POST: Why do we encounter poor air quality in winter? LRAPA’s Travis Knudsen explains.

Oregon has some of the most beautiful and pristine skies in the United States. However, we can also experience poor air quality, and not just during wildfire season. In winter months, there are times when DEQ’s Air Quality Index indicates anything from “Moderate” to “Very Unhealthy” air, often due to stagnant air and inversions. Thankfully,Continue reading “GUEST POST: Why do we encounter poor air quality in winter? LRAPA’s Travis Knudsen explains.”

DEQ Laboratory launches survey to prioritize locations for new SensORs™

On Jan. 12, 2023, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality launched a public survey to help its Air Quality Monitoring Team determine and prioritize 20 locations for new SensORs to measure air quality from wildfire smoke across the state. SensORs, which were first developed by DEQ’s Laboratory in 2019, are lower-cost monitors that collect timely particulate matter 2.5 dataContinue reading “DEQ Laboratory launches survey to prioritize locations for new SensORs™”