In This Issue

Oregon Scenic Vistas to Get Clearer 

Great news for people who enjoy Oregon’s scenic vistas and wilderness areas: Oregon is now on track to improve visibility thanks to the recent adoption by the Environmental Quality Commission of Oregon’s Regional Haze Plan.

Most notably, the plan requires Portland General Electric (PGE) to reduce haze-causing pollutants at its coal-fired power plant in Boardman, Ore., by installing additional pollution controls. The PGE Boardman facility is one of the largest single sources of air pollution contributing to visibility degradation in both Oregon and Washington national parks and wilderness areas. The plan calls for elimination of about 21,000 tons of combined sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen pollution per year. Both pollutants contribute to haze, acid rain and acid deposition. 

Learn more by visiting DEQ’s Regional Haze page.

Filling Up? New Law Bans Topping Off 

The next time you “fill up,” your service station attendant won’t be topping your tank off. Oregon’s ban on topping off the tank at the pump takes effect July 1. Why the law? Topping off during fueling can cause gasoline to spill and release benzene and other toxic pollutants into the air. That’s unhealthy for both drivers and station attendants.

There are many myths around the practice of topping off. You might think you’re getting more gas in your tank by filling past the “click” but in fact this is rarely the case. One of three things actually happens:

  1. The extra gas fills your tank's vapor control system, clogging it and rendering it inoperable. Gas in the vapor control chamber evaporates eventually.
  2. The extra gas is actually captured and pumped back into the gas station's underground holding tank. In this case, you're paying for gas you don't receive!
  3. The gas simply overflows and spills on the ground or down the side of your vehicle. That's not a good thing for anyone. 

Learn more about Oregon's No Topping Off law by visiting DEQ's Gasoline Vapor Recovery Program web page.

Toxics in Oregon Waters Get the Spotlight 

There’s a big, complex world of toxic pollutants out there, and Oregon DEQ plans to get a better handle on them. 

One way is through the agency’s list of 140 persistent priority pollutants found in Oregon waterways. These toxics, which have a documented effect on human health, wildlife and aquatic life, range from ingredients in personal care products to long-banned pollutants such as DDT to substances used in synthetic pesticides.

On June 1, DEQ delivered the list to the Legislature as directed by a 2007 Senate bill. After further refining the list this fall, DEQ will identify sources of these pollutants and, in late 2009, begin examining ways to reduce the amount that reaches Oregon’s waters.

For the current list of pollutants and to learn more about how you can help reduce these toxics in Oregon’s rivers and streams, see Addressing Priority Persistent Pollutants in Oregon’s Waters.


 

DEQ at the Legislature

The 2009-2011 state legislative session brought many environmental wins to Oregon. New legislation will help DEQ address climate change issues, reduce toxics in our air, land and water, eliminate most field burning in the Willamette Valley, combat invasive species, and establish water reuse programs that promote sustainability.

New environmental laws include: 

- Expanding greenhouse gas reporting in Oregon to include electricity and fuels, both significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions (SB 38)

- Accelerating the turnover of old, polluting, uncertified wood stoves by requiring their removal upon sale of a home  (SB 102)

- Allowing DEQ to set a low carbon fuel standard and several other greenhouse gas reduction measures (HB 2186)

- Requiring old, diesel polluting school buses to be retrofitted or replaced with clean diesel technology (HB 2795), and
 
- Banning most field burning in the Willamette Valley by 2010 (SB 528).

For a complete list of environmental bills and outcomes, visit DEQ’s 2009 Environmental Legislation web page.

Stay tuned for updates on these topics as DEQ moves forward with rulemaking efforts and policy implementation involving diverse participation from public advisory committees.

 

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