Policy
Core category for content relating to policy, legislation, etc. and will feed on the policy page.
Who cares about diesel pollution?
Dozens of Oregonians turned out to testify on the dirty diesel bill (HB 2007) in March. The crowd prompted lawmakers to extend the public hearing over two days. The bill’s sponsors and other champions made it clear: old engines pose a big health threat, and it’s time to get serious about replacing them with far cleaner solutions.Legislators also heard from people arguing against a deadline to retire old, dirty engines.The health, justice and environmental arguments for cutting diesel pollution are impossible to ignore—but will legislators agree that ...
5 things 2 know about #CEJ: March edition
There will be a few dozen elderly Oregonians, several decades from now, who will tell their grandchildren about the great debate of 2019.
Know what’s in your well
Nearly one in four people living in Oregon get their drinking water from a well.If you are one of them, you have the right to know what’s in your water. Domestic well water can be contaminated by bacteria, nitrates, and arsenic, among other things—all of which can have serious health impacts. Oregon Environmental Council supports legislation in Salem to ensure that renters who depend on well water at their homes for drinking, cooking and bathing have information about contaminants so they can take action to protect their families.Why should you be concer...
Oregon Environmental Council: Andrea Durbin to transition to City of Portland leadership
Oregon Environmental Council: Andrea Durbin to transition to City of Portland leadership
CLEAN ENERGY JOBS BILL SHOWS GOOD PROGRESS TOWARD HISTORIC ACTION
Oregon Environmental Council applauds the Clean Energy Jobs bill released by the Gov. Kate Brown and legislative leaders this week."We deeply appreciate the hard work that has gone into the Clean Energy Jobs bill and look forward to working with state leaders to strengthen and pass a cap-and-invest program," said Andrea Durbin, Oregon Environmental Council Executive Director. The bill will cap greenhouse gas levels from the state’s largest polluters and makes those companies accountable for every ton of pollution they emit.“The Clean Energy Jobs draft includes ...
Oregon Values Held Strong on the 2018 Ballot
Oregon Environmental Council staff and board are feeling both grateful and energized to see how Oregonians voted on critical ballot measures in the 2018 midterm election. With 69.06% of eligible voters turning out across the state, Oregonians stood by healthy and safe communities as a priority. And Portland’s clean energy measure showed that Oregon is among the many states taking bold action to address climate change. The outcomes, as of 11/09/2018: Measure 102: PASSED with 56.77% of the vote. This measure will help Oregon respond to the unprecedented ...
Untangling Measure 104
Hundreds of programs statewide that protect our favorite outdoor activities and our basic necessities, like air and water, rely on taxes and fees for those protections. But there’s a sneaky ballot measure on Tuesday’s election that threatens to do enormous harm to the Oregon Constitution
Oregon Environmental Council’s voting guide for 2018 ballot measures
At Oregon Environmental Council, we believe civic engagement is important. Just as important as supporting healthy communities for Oregon's future. That's why we're taking a stand on these important ballot measures for the 2018 election.
Don't forget to vote on NOVEMBER 6, 2018!
NO ON MEASURE 103
This constitutional amendment would permanently block taxes on so-called “groceries” and is so broadly written that it would exempt a wide range of transactions (e.g., food processing, trucking, fast food chains) from any taxes or fees. As one example, ...
Jars full of air and other lessons
By Sabrina Cerquera, Environmental Health Intern“If you want to learn about the health of a population, look at the air they breathe, the water they drink, and the places where they live.” — HippocratesAs an environmental studies and political science student at Lewis & Clark College, I held this ancient quote in the forefront of my mind to remind me of two things: we all share the same land, air and water; and we must reflect on the past in order to move forward with change. In the past six weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to put these theories, as ...
Vigilance must remain, despite departure of EPA chief
When Scott Pruitt was first appointed to head the Environmental Protection Agency, I was asked in an interview with Jefferson Public Radio whether he was really the worst ever pick for the agency. I replied “yes.”But even then, I could hardly imagine the damage the now former EPA chief would do. While ignoring decades of scientific research, Scott Pruitt gutted proposed rules for reviewing chemical safety (while rubber-stamping hundreds of new chemicals); rolled back a regulation that requires factories to run their air pollution control systems; was instrumental ...
