The issue of transparency was another hot topic during the most recent rules meeting. While it’s a common move for industry associations and manufacturers to refuse to provide transparency on chemical ingredients and safety assessments, it’s less common to see it from state agencies.
The heart of the matter under consideration by OHA relates to how much transparency the agency will provide around exceptions to the law that it may grant manufacturers. Under the law, OHA may grant a “waiver” to the requirement that a manufacturer replaces a toxic chemical in a product with a safer alternative. Whether or not the agency grants a waiver to the law is based on the results of an assessment performed by the manufacturer or trade association.
Since OHA may allow a manufacturer to continue using a toxic chemical in a kid’s product based on the results of these assessments, it’s critical that the agency be transparent about the process and grant exceptions to Oregon’s law only if there is a strong scientific basis.
However, at this point OHA has not committed to providing the transparency for the waiver process necessary to ensure accountability and maintain public trust. Oregon Environmental Council and our partners are urging the agency to make this process accessible to the public by providing some basic information about these assessments and how the agency evaluates them.
Providing this transparency will provide a variety of benefits and can be done in a way that protects legitimate business concerns about protecting confidential information. Stay tuned for more updates as the rulemaking process draws to a close in the coming months.
Effective groundwater quality management is crucial for ensuring clean, reliable water for millions of Oregonians, and countless ecosystems. But as things stand, our state lacks the means to manage it effectively. By making much-needed revisions to the 1989 Groundwater Quality Management Act, SB 1154 will improve the process of identifying and reducing groundwater contamination to keep this vital resource safe. Tell your legislators to support SB 1154, and
Lawmakers are finalizing the state budget for the next two years. Now is the time to speak up for a strong Climate Justice Budget that protects the environment, uplifts communities, lowers energy bills, and creates clean energy jobs across the state. Use the form below to email your state legislators and urge them to invest in proven programs that deliver for Oregonians.
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Oregon is about to make some big transportation decisions that will affect us for decades. Unfortunately, lawmakers are starting from a framework that falls dramatically short on what we need. We need fair funding, accountability, and more robust investments in safety, transit, and pollution reduction.
Tell your legislators that the stakes are too high to settle for less.
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Today, Oregon’s Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule was delayed by two years. Predictably, oil and gas interests orchestrated a multi-state campaign to derail similar policies in other states. Their successful attacks now include Oregon’s ACT rules.
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by Meagan Golec, Major Gifts Officer
When I was hired at OEC three years ago, I had a lot of nonprofit experience but had never worked in the environmental sphere. I came equipped with a deep love and appreciation for wild spaces, and a strong belief that we need a healthy environment to thrive. I knew that Oregon was considered an
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