Contributed by: Mark Nystrom, AOC Energy, Environment & Land Use Policy Manager
May 27, 2016
The Senate Interim Committee on Environment and Natural Resources focused primarily on air quality during its 3 hour hearing on Monday. DEQ provided an overview of their air quality programs in Oregon and local representatives provided more in-depth information. Interim Director of DEQ Pete Shepherd and OHA Director Lynne Saxton then provided a high level overview of the Cleaner Air Oregon Program. Next DEQ talked about the efforts of the Wood Smoke Work Group and finally updates were provided on the Diesel Work Group. The House Interim Committee on Energy and Environment had some overlap with air quality issues but also discussed near-shore research and monitoring with presentations from Oregon Ocean Science Trust and Oregon State University. They then had an informational hearing regarding Small Scale renewable Energy Projects that included a presentation from Hood River County Commissioner Les Perkins.
AOC staff are closely following all of these issues, please contact Mark Nystrom for more information.