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”
Tag Archives: #Oregon
J.H. Baxter contaminated soil cleanup in Eugene reaches milestone
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 theContinue reading “J.H. Baxter contaminated soil cleanup in Eugene reaches milestone”
DEQ welcomes Mark Webb to the Environmental Quality Commission
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”
DEQ staff greet and inform the public at two weekend events
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality staff and managers participated in two significant and successful public outreach events over the weekend of July 9-10: tabling at an Active Bethel Community event in Eugene and staffing a booth at The Big Float in Portland.
Enforcement at work: Owens-Brockway installs pollution controls at glass recycling plant
After DEQ issued the Owens-Brockway glass recycling plant a $1 million fine in June 2021 for air quality violations, the company signed an agreement in October 2021 resolving the enforcement action and giving Owens-Brockway two options: install pollution controls or shut down.
Oregon DEQ launches new Lab web page
Harris Beach State Park Beach Monitoring Program, Shane Bennett, 2021 Did you ever want to learn more about the part of DEQ collecting the data that produces the Air Quality Index or analyzing drinking water samples for Cyanobacteria Harmful Algal Blooms? Well, head on over to our new web page and meet the Laboratory andContinue reading “Oregon DEQ launches new Lab web page”
DEQ submits comprehensive water quality report to EPA
Warm water continues to be the top source of pollution in Oregon’s rivers and streams, according to the latest and most detailed report produced by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. The 2022 Integrated Report on state water quality, as it is called, is now in the hands of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, whichContinue reading “DEQ submits comprehensive water quality report to EPA”
Oregon DEQ releases 2021 Oregon Water Quality Index
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has released the 2021 Oregon Water Quality Index. It assesses water quality at 160 ambient monitoring stations across the state. The goal is to determine the status and identify trends in waters of the state for ambient water quality conditions. The OWQI is the only water quality key performanceContinue reading “Oregon DEQ releases 2021 Oregon Water Quality Index”
Air Quality Awareness Week: How do I make my air quality data count?
It’s Air Quality Awareness Week and the DEQ Laboratory and Environmental Assessment Division (You may know us as “The Lab”) thought it a great time to address one of the most common questions we receive: What is the difference between air quality data collected by DEQ and that collected by people with low-cost sensors? As scientists, we might frame the question as so: How do I collect data of known quality?
Planting roots: Lessons from my parents in sustainable living
My parents were depression-era Oklahoma farm kids who came of age at a time and place that required men and women to have practical knowledge about a bit of everything. They were carpenters, hunters, farmers, seamstresses, veterinarians and mechanics. They grew or raised their own food and preserved it for lean times.