Community Involvement

"This Cannot Wait" Say Participants at Toxics Reduction Opportunities Workshop

Oregon DEQ hosted a workshop Nov. 17, 2009 to openly explore and document opportunities for toxics reduction in Oregon. Over 150 people participated in the workshop, including representatives from the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Oregon Departments of Human Services, Agriculture, Forestry, tribal governments, Oregon State University, the US Geological Survey, manufacturing and natural resource industries, municipalities and special districts,  environmental and public health advocacy organizations, and community groups. 

DEQ Director Dick Pedersen opened the meeting with a call to action. "The time is now for Oregonians to come together to reduce toxics in the environment," he said.
 
Throughout the day-long workshop attendees listened to three panel presentations by industry, agricultural, municipal, non-profit representatives and policy-makers on innovative approaches and ideas for the next steps forward. Attendees participated in lively facilitated breakout sessions, organized into three sectors:  Community/Municipal, Agriculture/Forestry, and Industry/Commercial.
 
Panelists wrapped up the day with an appeal promoting comprehensive and urgent action.
 
Head of Oregon State University’s School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering and Environmental Quality Commission member Ken Williamson thanked "tribes and soccer moms" for bringing concerns about toxic pollutants to the public arena. He then urged participants to take immediate action, saying, "This cannot wait. We must all take bold measures to reduce toxics in the environment."

Kathleen Feehan of the Confederated Tribe of the Umatilla Indian Reservation echoed this theme, saying, "We have to [reduce toxics] now. We cannot wait for perfect information." She voiced the Tribe’s optimism about this "unique constellation of opportunities" for how Oregon deals with toxics. Specifically, she referenced the alignment of the water quality toxics standards revision (based on the new, more protective fish consumption rate), the Senate Bill 737 Persistent Pollutant Program for surface water, and DEQ’s development of an agency-wide toxics reduction strategy. 
 
Oregon Senator Jackie Dingfelder, Chair of the Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources, committed to lead the Legislature toward progressive toxic reduction legislation. She stressed the need for everyday citizens to bring ideas and concerns to their legislators.
 
DEQ will evaluate results from this meeting to identify and refine short- and long-term action items for potential inclusion in its agency-wide toxics reduction strategy. DEQ intends to publish a public review draft of the strategy in Spring 2010.

DEQ will use ideas generated at this workshop in its agency-wide toxics reduction strategy and its report to the Legislature on reducing priority persistent pollutants in Oregon’s waters.

[print version]