4 results for tag: EPA

The Inflation Reduction Act for Oregon

Only a few months ago, things were not looking good for federal climate action. The Supreme Court had just voted to strike down the Clean Power Plan. Senator Manchin of West Virginia had just announced he would not support a reconciliation package with new spending on climate change. And, after decades of denial, delay, and failed attempts, everyone’s hope was wearing thin.  Then, seemingly out of thin air, Senate Democrats announced they had struck a deal on a new package that would inject an unprecedented $370 billion in climate and clean energy programs nationwide. Weeks later, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into ...

Just How Essential Is the EPA Anyway?

It isn’t just federal protections that are at stake. The EPA has been an essential partner working to protect the environment here in Oregon.

Toxics in Washington (D.C.)

We all deserve to live, work and play in healthy, safe environments. That’s why Oregon Environmental Council brings Oregonians together to reduce harmful chemicals in our air, water, food and in our homes and buildings. We promote policies to protect Oregonians from unnecessary toxics and unite health experts and caregivers to create safer places to learn and grow. The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), one of the main federal laws that regulates chemical safety in the U.S., is woefully out of date. Created in 1976, TSCA desperately needs to be overhauled to reflect the latest health science and medical knowledge about chemicals that we come ...

5 Useful Lessons from the VW Scandal

Clearing the Air on Volkswagen’s diesel debacle You’ve probably heard by now that beginning in 2009, Volkswagen decided to secretly equip its diesel automobiles with emission control devices designed to operate only when the automobiles were being tested. This incredible deception allowed the German automaker to claim that its diesel cars were fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly and also fun to drive. Over the next six years, VW would sell 11 million diesel automobiles worldwide, including nearly 500,000 in the United States. On September 18, just two months after it had reached the pinnacle of global automobile sales, VW admitted that ...