As the new home of OSPIRG's environmental work, Environment Oregon can be contacted regarding this news release.
SALEM—Leaders in the
Oregon Senate have introduced legislation that conservation groups are calling
a critical step in the effort to restore water quality and salmon in the Willamette
River.
Senate Bill 555 would close
a major loophole that allows industries to discharge over 30 billion gallons
a year of polluted wastewater into the Willamette River at concentrations that
state officials acknowledge exceed state toxicity standards. Groups supporting
SB 555—including Willamette Riverkeeper, Columbia Riverkeeper, OSPIRG,
Sierra Club, and the Northwest Environmental Defense Center—say it is the
single most important piece of water quality legislation introduced in 30 years.
Specifically, the bill would
require a phase-out of an Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) rule
that allows the agency to designate "toxic mixing zones" on Oregon
rivers where polluters are allowed to dump toxic chemicals at toxic concentrations.
Just one of these zones can be over 100,000 square feet in size, yet DEQ does
not even have a map of where the zones are located and does not require any
warning signs around such zones on the river.
"Most people are shocked
to learn that we're allowing facilities to dump pollutants at toxic concentrations
into the Willamette River," said Sen. Charlie Ringo, chairman of the Senate
Environment and Land Use Committee and a co-sponsor of the bill. "Anyone
arguing against SB 555 is going to have a tough time explaining why DEQ should
allow people to dump materials like mercury and lead into Oregon's rivers at
toxic levels."
"Oregonians want to
see the Willamette River cleaned up, but we cannot expect it to happen by accident,"
stated Senate President Peter Courtney. "This is a very significant bill,
but it's also a reasonable one that includes an economic waiver to make sure
clean water doesn't come at the cost of Oregon jobs."
They were joined at a news
conference on the banks of the Willamette River by Senate Majority Leader Kate
Brown, several other members of the House and Senate, and representatives of
environmental organizations.
Brent Foster, attorney for
Columbia Riverkeeper and Willamette Riverkeeper said closing the toxic mixing
zone loophole is key for protecting all of Oregon's rivers. "This bill
is critical to improving water quality in the Columbia as well as the Willamette
River. Closing the toxic mixing zone loophole would be the single biggest water
quality benefit to Oregon's rivers in decades."
"SB 555 simply clarifies
that under Oregon law you cannot dump toxic waste in toxic concentrations into
our rivers and streams," noted OSPIRG Environmental Advocate Rhett Lawrence.
"Whether you look at this from a public health, economic, or fish and wildlife
perspective, this bill makes a lot of sense."`
Travis Williams, Executive
Director and Riverkeeper for the Willamette Riverkeeper concluded: "The
fact that DEQ is allowing polluters to dump mercury, arsenic, and lead into
our rivers at concentrations even DEQ admits are toxic is difficult to understand
in light of the strong public support for improving water quality in Oregon.
If we are serious about a Willamette River cleanup, there's no justification
for opposing this bill."
Brent Foster, Columbia and Willamette Riverkeepers, (541)
380-1334
Travis Williams, Willamette Riverkeeper, (503) 890-1683
Dave Miller, Senate Majority Office, (503) 986-1074
