AIR, LAND & WATER

Climate Protection Program back in action in Oregon

Graphic for GreenState podcast episode 31 CPP Reloaded

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 said on the podcast. “It’s about reducing climate pollution.”

The Climate Protection Program will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon by 50% by 2035 and 90% by 2050. The first compliance period starts Jan. 1, 2025 and covers emissions through the end of 2027.

Ep 31. CPP reloaded

Posted: Jan. 31, 2025

Guest: Nicole Singh

Cohosts: Dylan Darling, Whitney Dorer

DEQ Director Leah Feldon told the EQC, the governing body for the agency, that the Climate Change Program is another example of Oregon’s environmental leadership.

“Our state has a relatively long history, as many of you, taking seriously our obligations to address Oregon’s contributions to climate change,” she said. “And helping our communities adapt and respond.”

Whitney Dorer, climate policy community engagement coordinator in DEQ’s Office of Greenhouse Gas Programs, cohosts the episode with Dylan Darling, a DEQ public affairs specialist and regular GreenState host.

Listen to the podcast on: SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

GreenState DEQ podcast · 31. CPP Reloaded

SHOW NOTES

Introduction
- DEQ’s Climate Protection Program webpage
Remarks: Director Leah Feldon at EQC meeting [5:30]
- Nov. 21, 2024 Meeting, see Item D
Interview: Nicole Singh [8:30]
Takeaways [24:30]

Hear more about DEQ’s programs taking on climate change in Ep 25. Waste Not, Want Not and Ep 29. Return of the EV Rebate.

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State agencies celebrate 100,000 registered electric vehicles in Oregon

Oregon DEQ Director Leah Feldon speaks at OMSI about 100,000 state-registered EVs.

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 from each agency and the president and CEO of OMSI spoke about the state’s progress to electrify transportation and reduce air pollution from transportation, which accounts for about 35% of the state’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Other event attendees included State Senator Janeen Sollman, a representative from Sen. Aaron L. Woods’ office and members of Portland electrification nonprofit Forth.

Oregon’s Climate Protection Program: Cutting Emissions by 90% by 2050

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.

Protected: THIS IS A DRILL: Shore Terminals Diesel Release response in Portland

Servant leadership: from the military to DEQ

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.

Oregon’s CAAP initiative, a new approach to community air monitoring

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.

J.H. Baxter contaminated soil cleanup in Eugene reaches milestone

Oregon DEQ Director Leah Feldon at an EPA-led tour of the J.H. Baxter cleanup site on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Eugene. Feldon stands in front of a tank farm at the former wood treatment facility. Photo by DEQ

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.”

Sunken vessel at Port of Arlington along Columbia River

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.

See current update.

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

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Oregon’s efforts to address climate change get nearly $200M boost in federal funds

Funds will advance Oregon’s efforts to meet climate goals

five people wearing multi colored clothing posing for a photo in front of a dark building with large windows. — 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.”

Updates to the AQI

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.