Reducing Toxics in Oregon 

Content on this page includes:

Toxics Reduction Strategy Links to DEQ Toxics Reduction and Assessment Programs What Can You Do?

Contact Information Toxics Stakeholder Group Community Involvement

Protecting Oregonians from the impacts of toxic pollutants is a strategic priority for DEQ. There are thousands of chemicals used in the state by residents and businesses. Whether used in their raw form or in products, they can be released into Oregon's air, water and land as toxic pollutants in a variety of ways. Once in the environment, toxic pollutants can adversely affect the health of people and ecological life.

DEQ has air, land and water quality programs designed to prevent and reduce toxic pollutant releases, as well as to assess, clean up and reduce risks from toxics already in our environment. DEQ partners with a diverse range of state and local agencies, business and community organizations to reduce toxics in Oregon’s environment.  

DEQ Toxics Reduction Strategy

DEQ is committed to taking a comprehensive, strategic and integrated approach to reducing toxic chemicals and pollutants in the environment. An integrated approach is essential because these pollutants readily transfer from one environmental media to another (e.g., mercury can be released to the air, deposit on the land, and run off to the water). DEQ's Toxics Reduction Strategy will help ensure that toxics are addressed in the most effective and efficient way. The primary objectives of this strategy are to:

• Optimize agency resources by focusing on the highest priority toxic chemicals in a coordinated way.
• Implement actions that reduce toxics at the source whenever feasible.
• Establish partnerships with other agencies and organizations to increase the effective use of public and private resources. 
• Use environmental outcome metrics to measure the effectiveness of strategy implementation where feasible.

DEQ developed a “Focus List” of priority toxic chemicals, and consulted with an external stakeholder group on establishing the framework for developing this Strategy. Draft Strategy information is now available for public review.  The following two documents provide information on the draft Toxics Reduction Strategy: (1) A short summary of the draft toxics reduction and assessment actions, and (2) More detailed (1-2 page) descriptions of each of the draft actions.

• Summary of Draft Toxics Reduction Strategy Actions PDF 
• Descriptions of Draft Toxics Reduction Strategy Actions PDF 

DEQ plans to share this draft strategy informaton with the Environmental Quality Commission at their December 16, 2011 meeting to receive initial feedback and direction.  DEQ will then conduct public involvement activities related to the draft Strategy in early 2012, and finalize the Strategy later in the year.

Additional information on DEQ’s Toxics Focus List and existing toxics programs can be found in the following documents:

• Detailed DEQ Toxics Focus List PDF
• Source Lists for the DEQ Focus List PDF
• Summary of existing DEQ toxics-related programs PDF

Links to DEQ Toxics Reduction and Assessment Programs

Air Toxics		Geographically Focused Programs
Air Toxics Program Burning and Smoke      Clean Diesel Mercury Controls at Ash Grove Cement Co. Woodstoves		Columbia River Toxics Reduction Portland Harbor Cleanup Portland Air Toxics Solutions Willamette Toxics Monitoring
Household		Water Toxics
Household Hazardous Waste Electronic Waste (E-Cycles) Product Stewardship Woodstoves		Drinking Water Protection Groundwater Protection Persistent Pollutants Water Quality Standards
Industry		Cleanup
Dry Cleaner Program Gasoline Vapor Recovery Oregon's Utility Mercury Rule PDF Toxics Use and Hazardous Waste Reduction Waste Prevention Strategy		Emergency Response Environmental Cleanup Leaking Underground Storage Tanks
Voluntary Partnerships
Pesticide Stewardship Partnerships PDF Inter-Agency Water Quality Pesticide Management Team Eco-Logical Business Program

What Can You Do?

You can reduce your exposure to toxic pollutants and reduce the toxics you contribute to your environment. Here are some resources to get you started:

• Oregon E-Cycles – Information about free recycling of computers, monitors and TVs.
• Healthy Lawns, Healthy Families – Learn about natural alternatives for lawn and garden care.
• Household Hazardous Waste – How to identify, minimize and dispose of hazardous waste in your home.
• Oregon Dept of Human Services Environmental Public Health Toxicology Program – Information on environmental contaminants and ways to mitigate and/or prevent health risks to the public.
• Children's Health in the Home – Keeping kids safe at home, school and play. Hosted by the Oregon Dept of Human Services Environmental Toxicology Program.
• Household Products Database – General information about ingredients in household products. Hosted by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
• EPA Design for the Environment – A list of products that are good for the environment. Hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Contact Information

For more information about DEQ's agency-wide toxics reduction strategy, contact Kevin Masterson at 503-229-5615.

 

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