On the Resignation of DEQ Director Dick Pedersen:

The safety net we rely on to prevent dangerous pollution in our water, air and communities is torn. For many years, Oregon Environmental Council has called on the Department of Environmental Quality to fully enforce our anti-pollution laws and hold companies and local governments accountable for their pollution.

We call on the Governor to appoint a Director of the DEQ who will prioritize the strong enforcement of our environmental laws and will bring attention to changes in the law that are needed to protect the health and well being of our families, our communities and our environment.  We also call on the Legislature to fully fund the DEQ, so that the next Director will have the resources they need to prevent pollution across Oregon.