The Climate Protection Program will reduce climate pollution from fossil fuels by 90% by 2050.
The Environmental Quality Commission, the governing body for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, unanimously adopted the Climate Protection Program at its meeting on Nov. 21, 2024. The program sets enforceable and declining limits, or caps, on greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels used throughout Oregon. The program will reduce emissions in Oregon by 50% by 2035 and 90% by 2050.
As Veterans Day approaches, I ordinarily take this time to reflect on my military service, its influence on my life journey and where I am today. This will be my second Veterans Day since separating from the Air Force and my first Veterans Day at DEQ. Although I often measure periods of my life by milestones and patterns of cause-and-effect, the influence of effective leadership is a recurring theme in nearly all aspects of my personal and professional life.
Community Air Action Planning, or CAAP, is a new pilot program led by DEQ’s Air Quality Division. This pilot program takes a place-based approach to improving communities’ air quality knowledge and capacity for collective action. DEQ worked with a steering committee of advocates, community-based organizations, and state and local government representatives to design the program’s framework.
EUGENE – Oregon DEQ Director Leah Feldon on Tuesday joined Casey Sixkiller – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 Administrator – to celebrate milestones for the J.H. Baxter cleanup in west Eugene.
Earlier this month, the EPA proposed the addition of J.H. Baxter to the Superfund National Priorities List. This past June, DEQ finished the cleanup of seven residential properties north of the facility, a wood treatment plant that had been in operation from the early 1940s until 2022. Dioxins leaked from the facility contaminated nearby yards.
“These contaminated yards were where people gardened, and children played,” Feldon said. “The people living at these seven properties can now feel safe spending time in their yards again.”
ARLINGTON – The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and other agencies responded Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, to a sunken 60-foot vessel at the Port of Arlington along the Columbia River about 55 miles east of The Dalles and visible from Interstate 84.
DEQ, the Washington Department of Ecology, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as well as local authorities, coordinated the response. The Mermaid, a trawler converted into a recreational vessel, had a 1,000-gallon tank that was holding 900 gallons of diesel when it sank.
The Port of Arlington reported that the boat was sinking in its marina around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13. Cause of the sinking has not been determined.
Updates will be posted here as new information becomes available.
QUICK FACTS Date of incident: Aug. 13, 2024 Location: Port of Arlington Product: Diesel Cause: Sunken vessel Agencies responding: DEQ, U.S. EPA
Status Updates
Aug. 30 at 2:45 p.m
The Port of Arlington marina and boat launch have officially opened to the public. The port maintains possession of the salvaged vessel and is coordinating with Waste Management for transportation and disposal of the vessel.
Cleanup crews were able to recover more than 550 gallons of diesel. The tanks were discovered to contain mostly water after the vessel was lifted, indicating that the remaining diesel likely dissipated or was unrecoverable.
The emergency response, which ended on Wednesday, Aug. 28, consisted of over 30 DEQ, EPA, and contractor personnel.
With the emergency response concluded, this will be the last post from DEQ.
Aug. 28 at 1:45 p.m.
DEQ and EPA on Wednesday ended their emergency response to the diesel spill that resulted from the sinking of the Mermaid.
The Port of Arlington has taken possession of the salvaged vessel and is coordinating with DEQ’s solid waste management team to determine the best course of action for breaking up the ship and disposing of it.
Aug. 27 at 3 p.m.
The Mermaid is out of the water and cleanup crews are wrapping up their efforts at the Port of Arlington marina.
A pair of cranes – one on a barge and another on land – moved the wooden vessel Monday evening from a barge in the marina and onto a nearby parking lot.
The floating crane had lifted the Mermaid on Saturday from where it sank.
The marina remains closed but plans to reopen once the floating crane leaves.
Aug. 20 at 3:30 p.m.
Cleanup crews estimate that they have recovered about 450 gallons of diesel. More fuel recovery details and improved estimates will likely be available later this week.
Responders are still considering next steps for the sunken vessel. Options include lifting the vessel, dewatering it, and removing oil aboard.
Aug. 16 at 5 p.m.
DEQ and EPA continue to oversee operations to recover diesel fuel and prepare for the next phase of the removal process.
The Mermaid is no longer actively leaking at this time. Responders are monitoring the boat and maintaining containment booms around the clock. As of this update, there is 2,800 feet of boom around the boat. Although fuels tend to evaporate quickly, particularly in warm water and weather, additional absorbent boom is available.
The marina and launch area are closed to the general public. Monitoring of wildlife and Earl Snell Park are ongoing. To date, there are no signs of negative impacts.
Responders are considering next steps with the sunken vessel.
Public Information Officers will be unavailable over the weekend to discuss the event.
Aug. 14 at 3 p.m.
The Mermaid is actively leaking but emergency response crews have contained the source by placing boom in the water.
An environmental contractor has placed 1,000 feet of hard boom at the marina and another 3,000 feet of boom arrived in Arlington Wednesday afternoon from Portland. Hard boom stops fuel from spreading in water so cleanup crews can collect it. A vacuum truck with a skimmer pack and a diver are also set to join the cleanup response.
Information on this site is considered to be accurate at the time of posting but is subject to change as new information becomes available.
Media contacts
Dylan Darling, DEQ public affairs specialist, 541-600-6119, dylan.darling@deq.oregon.gov
Jennifer Flynt, DEQ public affairs specialist, 503-730-5924, jennifer.flynt@deq.oregon.gov
Funds will advance Oregon’s efforts to meet climate goals
DEQ Director (center) and members of DEQ’s Office of Greenhouse Gas Programs celebrate with Karin Power Natural Resources and Climate Policy Advisor for Gov. Tina Kotek (fourth from left) at the Governor’s press conference. (Left to right) GHG Program Manager Colin McConnaha, Climate Pollution Investments Coordinator Morgan Schafer, Director Leah Feldon, Karin Powers and Climate Policy Community Engagement Coordinator Whitney Dorer.
On July 22, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the State of Oregon will receive $197 million from the federal Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program.
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Director Leah Feldon said, “This is an immense honor and demonstration of trust from EPA to provide so many resources to our state. Led by DEQ’s Office of Greenhouse Gas Programs, this work was a multi-media and multi-agency effort to address climate change across Oregon.”
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has made adjustments to the Air Quality Index, or AQI. So Dylan and Jennifer Horton discuss how to use the tool during wildfire smoke season in Oregon. And DEQ air monitoring expert Matt Shrensel goes deeper into what the changes to the AQI mean and why they were made.
It’s a phenomenon that features amazing colored light displays that reminds us the world is beautiful and full of wonder. The Northern Lights, officially known in the Northern hemisphere as Aurora Borealis, are produced by millions of explosions of magnetic energy.
In May 2024, the lights danced around the Pacific Northwest skies in dazzling hues. If you didn’t get a glimpse, here are a few stunning displays from DEQ staff that capture the beauty of the Aurora Borealis.
There aren’t too many things like witnessing the Aurora dance across the sky with your own eyes over Trillium Lake, OR, by Brad S., DEQ’s Western Region Cleanup Program Manager.Phil D. said he had an “Epic night!” Not only did he catch the Pearl Jam concert at the Moda Center, he caught nature’s light show after walking home. Phil is DEQ’s Northwest Region Petroleum Cleanup Section Manager.Stephanie S. took a few photos at the view point around I-84 mile marker 24 – River Highway Historic Point. Stephanie is the Fuels Sector Reporting Specialist for the Office of Greenhouse Gas Programs at DEQ Headquarters. Stephanie S. took this shot of the Northern Lights near Rooster Rock State Park. Stephanie is the Fuels Sector Reporting Specialist for the Office of Greenhouse Gas Programs at DEQ Headquarters. The colors of the northern lights vary: Here, blues, purples, maroons, greens and other hues paint the night sky. Tina E., Springfield, OR 2024. Tina is the Cleanup Project Manager for the Western Region Environmental Cleanup Program. Annie R. was on the beach when she saw the mesmerizing Northern Lights. Annie is a public affairs specialist for the Cleanup Program at DEQ Headquarters.Beth M. took this dramatic photo in Lake Oswego at the top of a hill. Beth is the Water Quality General Permit Coordinator at Headquarters.Even alone, seeing the northern lights is a memorable experience, but it’s special to share the moment with a friend — even if it’s not in Oregon. Andrea M. shared her son’s view from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. Andrea is the Lower Willamette Basin Coordinator/Watersheds Team Lead, DEQ Northwest Region.
