Oregon DEQ: Historical Timeline

This timeline highlights key environmental milestones for Oregon beginning in 1889 and chronicles DEQ's history of environmental challenges and successes since its formation in 1969. See our series of success stories too.

Timeline index by decade:

	1889-1969 1970-79 1980-89 1990-99 2000-present

1980		DEQ Issues First Hazardous Waste Permit DEQ begins issuing hazardous waste permits under rules established by the federal Resource Conservation & Recovery Act. First instituted in 1976, the law was updated in 1980 giving states the authority to regulate disposal of hazardous waste. DEQ oversees permitting requirements for Chemical Waste Management of the Northwest (of Arlington, OR), the only commercial hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facility in the Pacific Northwest.
1983		New Law Requires Certified Woodstoves A bill restricting uncertified woodstove sales passes in the Oregon Legislature, signaling the beginning of Oregon’s woodstove certification program. Later, EPA would use Oregon’s certification program as a model to reduce pollution of new woodstoves nationwide. (Learn more about controlling woodstove pollution).
1983		Curbside Recycling Starts Oregon’s first Opportunity to Recycle Act is passed, requiring communities of 4,000 or more to provide curbside collection of recyclables. (Check out the fact sheet on Oregon Recycling Laws.)
1985		Portland Air Gains New Level of Clean Portland records its last violation of federal carbon monoxide limits. Much of the credit goes to cleaner-burning vehicles from auto manufacturers and vehicle emissions testing to ensure that cars and trucks are properly maintained and running clean. (Visit DEQ's Vehicle Inspection Program page.)
1985		Leaking Underground Storage Tanks Addressed Oregon develops and launches the Underground Storage Tank Program to help clean up and remove old, leaking underground tanks and to monitor existing tanks. To date, the state has removed or filled in place more than 25,000 underground tanks. Oregon has one of the highest rates nationally of cleaning up leaking tanks. (Learn more about how DEQ prevents and cleans up tank pollution.)
1986		Assessing Groundwater Contamination DEQ undertakes regional groundwater assessments and finds many wells throughout the state exceeding arsenic and nitrate drinking water standards. Other contaminants found include pesticides and volatile organic compounds. (Learn more about how DEQ protects groundwater.)
1986		Vehicle Inspections Begin in Medford Vehicle inspections begin in Medford in response to a federal “non-attainment” designation given to the Rogue Valley area for exceeding health standards for carbon monoxide, a precurser to ozone (smog).
1987		Clean Water Fund Helps Oregon Communities Oregon’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund is established by the federal Water Quality Act of 1987, providing cities, counties and districts with low-cost loans for the design, construction or repair of sewage treatment plants and water pollution control projects. (Learn more about the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loan program.)
1987		Environmental Cleanup Law Established The Oregon Legislature establishes the first environmental cleanup law, requiring reimbursement from responsible parties when the state starts a cleanup. (Learn more about DEQ's Environmental Cleanup program.)
1989		Oregon Leads Nation in Toxic Use Reduction Oregon enacts the Toxics Use and Hazardous Reduction Act, becoming the one of the first states in the nation, along with Massachusetts, to require businesses to prepare pollution prevention plans to reduce the use of toxic substances and the generation of hazardous waste.
1989		Oregon Environmental Laws Get Teeth The Oregon Environmental Quality Commission requires enforcement for every environmental violation and sets up standards and formulas for calculating penalties. Two years later, the state legislature grants DEQ the authority to issue penalties up to $100,000 for flagrant violations. (Find out more about DEQ's Compliance and Enforcement program.)
1989		Groundwater Protection Enacted for Oregon The state Legislature passes the Groundwater Protection Act to protect and restore the quality of Oregon’s groundwater resources and orders DEQ to conduct a groundwater assessment and protection program for Oregon. (See Groundwater Protection page for progress reports.)

	1889-1969 1970-79 1980-89 1990-99 2000-present