Main Menu

Useful Links

User Login

Create new account Request new password

Local Activist Organizes a Field Burning Protest

A local activist, Ellen Singer, organized a protest to express her feelings about field burning on July 6th. Yesterday marked the last day the Olympic Trials would be in town. A last ditch effort to reach out to the community to remind them that the field burning will now start since the Trials are over. She is trying to get as much attention on the issue to put pressure on the Governor to utilize his executive power to ban the practice once and for all.

"Fewer than 1,000 people benefit financially from field burning, yet more than 400,000 suffer — is that fair? He even said he supports a ban. So what’s stopping him?" questioned Ellen, in The Register Guard editorial section (July 7th, 2008.)

Some members and volunteers from Oregon Toxics Alliance showed up as well to show their support.

The idea behind the energy is to put pressure on the Governor from people writing editorials and getting more media attention. Many opponents to field burning feel that Olympic athletes and spectators were getting better treatment than local residents.

More

Last Updated on: Mon, 07/07/2008 - 19:09.


 

Stand-up Against Field Burning this Sunday (7/6/08)

Stand-up Against Field Burning this Sunday

More

Last Updated on: Mon, 07/07/2008 - 19:09.


 

New Vehicle Emissions Standard in Oregon and Washington

In 2005, the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission adopted
California’s emissions standards for light and medium duty vehicles. The new requirements were adopted as the Oregon Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) program and will take effect beginning with 2009 model year vehicles.

Washington also adopted California's emissions standards which will also begin for 2009 models. At least fourteen other states have already adopted the California standard for vehicle emissions.

The main reason for adopting the new rules was to reduce greenhouse gases. Another added benefit is a reduction in smog and toxic compounds like benzene and formaldehyde. The benefits in the long run as cited by the DEQ for Oregon:

• Greenhouse gases will be cut 30% by 2016.
• Smog-forming emissions will be lowered 12% to 33% by 2020.
• Hazardous air pollutants (including benzene) will be reduced 22% to 38% by 2020.

More

Last Updated on: Fri, 07/04/2008 - 00:53.


 

CA - One Step Closer to listing Teflon as Carcinogenic

We have all heard of the potential health risk associated with teflon on our cooking pans, right? In case you haven't, read the highlights from a recent press release by the Sierra Club below about steps being taken to make it known by the state of California:

California is one step closer to adding Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) to the Proposition 65 list of substances that can cause cancer. A legal challenge by a coalition of organizations cites the state’s failure to list PFOA, a chemical manufactured by DuPont and associated with Teflon and grease and stain repellants.

PFOA is a pervasive, synthetically-produced compound used in consumer and industrial products, including many non-stick surfaces found on cookware and stain-resistant, durable or all-weather clothing. It is prevalent in industries such as aerospace, automotive, building and construction, chemical processing, and electrical. PFOA’s use in popular consumer and industrial products has led to near universal exposure to the chemical.

More

Last Updated on: Thu, 07/03/2008 - 04:04.


 

Pesticides Kill

More

Last Updated on: Mon, 06/23/2008 - 23:21.


 

Field Burning on Halt for Olympic Trials in Eugene

Click Here, for the latest Field Burning news.

One of OTA's major campaigns is to ban the practice of field burning in the state of Oregon. Since the Olympic Trials are going to be in Eugene starting next week on June 27th, grass seed farmers have agreed to not burn for the sake of the elite athletes that will be in town.

However, the Oregonian reported today that "The Eugene-based Western Environmental Law Center has asked Gov. Ted Kulongoski for a broader burning ban, using the logic that if it's good for athletes, why isn't it good for regular folk too?"

"It's not fair to protect only elite athletes," said Charlie Tebbutt, staff attorney at the law center. "Those of us who live here the rest of the time deserve the same protection."

More

Last Updated on: Sat, 06/21/2008 - 00:15.


 

Lane County Keeps Ban on Roadside Weedkillers

Oregon Toxics Alliance and its partners are claiming a victory with the Wednesday unanimous decision made by Lane County commissioners to ban indefinitely the use of roadside herbicide spray on county roads. OTA has played a large role in urging the public to write their commissioners in support of the ban.

The commissioners, acting as the Lane County Board of Health, will hire two workers to battle weeds and other destructive plants.

More

Last Updated on: Fri, 06/20/2008 - 23:38.


 

California Stops Aerial Sprays in Bay Area After Protests

This is a huge victory for Santa Cruz and Monterey counties in the southern part of the bay area in California. Residents from those counties protested and fought the state of California through law suits after they were aerially sprayed last year with the chemical called CheckMate LBAM-F.

Health advocates that ration on the side of the precautionary principal argue that the health effects of the spray are not known. Hundreds of people last year complained of respiratory problems as well as other ailments after the spraying in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties.

Instead, the chemical CheckMate LBAM-F, which is a chemical phermone to distract male moths from mating, will be aerially sprayed over agricultural or undeveloped land only. A paste containing the same pheromone will be applied to trees and telephone poles, also to confuse male moths.

More

Last Updated on: Fri, 06/20/2008 - 19:24.


 

OSU seeks money to study Colony Collapse Disorder

Honeybees all over the world are dying off. The causes are as of yet unknown, but some researchers are attributing the problem to a cocktail of sublethal doses of pesticides. The mysterious die off is being called colony collapse disorder.

Here in Oregon, beekeepers have not experienced significant losses as the some on the east coast; however, Oregon beekeepers have noticed fewer bees throughout the state.

The problem is dire enough that Oregon State University has requested $250,000 in emergency funds from the state to study the problem. Honeybees are key pollinators for crops such as blueberries, cherries, and pears. If there are too few bees to pollinate these key crops, then yield losses can be seen as high as 25% to 100% in a single season according to OSU.

More

Last Updated on: Wed, 06/18/2008 - 00:53.


 

Pesticide Free Highways

Did you know that driving on our state highways can expose you to pesticides?
Here's your chance to make our highways safe!

Please write to the Oregon Transportation Commission and ODOT by May 9th to urge their support (and funding) for more “no-spray” highways. Contact information below.

The Oregon Department of Transportation and many counties routinely spray the sides of highways, roads, streets and right-of-ways with toxic herbicides throughout the spring and summer. Many of these chemicals are known or suspected carcinogens and also harm our internal hormone systems. When you drive, bike or walk on these roads, you can be exposed to pesticides from soil contamination, eating sprayed wild berries, and drifting vapors. Some herbicides are toxic to aquatic plants, fish and other organisms, so any application near ditches or streams behind guardrails can harm environment and contaminate our water.

More

Last Updated on: Wed, 04/30/2008 - 18:24.