A new voice to advance DEQ’s mission to protect, maintain and restore Oregon’s environment The Oregon Senate confirmed Sept. 29 Governor Tina Kotek’s appointment of Eastern Oregon nonprofit director Mark Webb to the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission. EQC Chair, Kathleen George said, “I am honored to welcome Mark and confident he’s a solid addition to ourContinue reading “DEQ welcomes Mark Webb to the Environmental Quality Commission”
Author Archives: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Director Leah Feldon joins the GreenState DEQ podcast for a conversation
Leah Feldon has a long history with DEQ – nearly two decades – starting in the Office of Compliance and Enforcement and later serving as deputy director. The Oregon Environmental Quality Commission, which oversees DEQ, selected Feldon as the agency’s new director in February. Director Feldon had a conversation with outgoing Communications manager Harry EsteveContinue reading “Director Leah Feldon joins the GreenState DEQ podcast for a conversation”
Frequently Asked Questions: Kmart Fire and Asbestos
Updated: July 27, 5 p.m. Back to main Kmart Fire Asbestos Response page. What happened? Debris and ash from a large fire on July 19 in Portland’s Parkrose neighborhood blew into the surrounding neighborhood. One out of nine samples of debris collected by the City of Portland at Luuwit View Park contained asbestos, raising concernContinue reading “Frequently Asked Questions: Kmart Fire and Asbestos”
Kmart Fire Asbestos Response – NE Portland
Updates on NE Portland Kmart fire response.
Sounds of water: DEQ hydrologists teach at outdoor school in Eastern Oregon
For more than 20 years a pair of DEQ hydrologists have been sharing their knowledge of surface water and groundwater with outdoor school students in Eastern Oregon. Laura Gleim, DEQ’s Eastern Region public affairs specialist, visited an outdoor school near Pendleton to learn along with the kids. She brought along a field recorder and aContinue reading “Sounds of water: DEQ hydrologists teach at outdoor school in Eastern Oregon”
Oregon’s first major railroad oil spill training a success
More than 150 people from federal, state, tribal, and local governments and BNSF Railroad convened at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center in The Dalles on June 13 to practice responding to a large-scale railroad oil spill. In the imaginary scenario, 23 tank cars carrying 540,000 gallons of crude oil derail along the Deschutes River nearContinue reading “Oregon’s first major railroad oil spill training a success”
DEQ managers visit Harney County, discuss local development and recycling challenges
Sprawling pastures and desertscapes pop with various shades of spring green outside Burns in eastern Oregon’s Harney County—the state’s largest county by land mass but one of the smallest by population, at 7,515 people. DEQ’s Eastern Region management team traveled from The Dalles, Klamath Falls, and Bend to meet with representatives from the cities ofContinue reading “DEQ managers visit Harney County, discuss local development and recycling challenges”
Tanker spill cleanup and roadway repair along Highway 38 near Drain
Updates on emergency response.
Seven Oregon sites receive $8 million for brownfield redevelopment projects
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced seven sites in Oregon that will receive $8.2 million in brownfield funding for environmental assessment and cleanup projects. The grants will help transform the sites into community assets, attract jobs and promote economic revitalization.
Staff Spotlight on Blair Adams
This week we turn our spotlight on Blair Adams at DEQ’s Laboratory in Hillsboro. Blair serves on DEQ’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council and the Wellness Committee in addition to her regular duties. She also just won Oregon’s Public Service Award for 2023 in recognition of her efforts her at the agency.