Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is the chief regulatory agency of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon responsible for protecting and enhancing the state's natural resources and managing sanitary and toxic waste disposal. The agency employs approximately 700 scientists, engineers, technicians, administrators, and environmental specialists. It has headquarters are in Portland, regional administrative offices in Bend, Eugene, and Portland; and field offices in Coos Bay, Grants Pass, Hermiston, Medford, Pendleton, Roseburg, Salem, and The Dalles. It operates an environmental laboratory in cooperation with Portland State University on the university's campus. The agency's director has the authority to impose fines for violations of the state's anti-pollution laws. [1] In addition to its state mandate, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has delegated authority to DEQ to administer federal environmental programs including the Federal Clean Air, Clean Water, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Acts within the state. [2]
DEQ was established by the Oregon Legislative Assembly in 1969 when it dissolved its predecessor, State Sanitary Authority, which was created in 1938 in response to public outcry for cleanup of the Willamette River. It administers the state's pollution laws, the first of which were enacted in 1889.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Department of Environmental Quality - Present Duties and Responsibilities (HTML). Oregon Blue Book (Online). Salem, Oregon: Oregon Secretary of State (2006). Retrieved on 2006-12-24.
- ^ About us (HTML). Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (Official website). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (2006). Retrieved on 2006-12-24.
- ^ Department of Environmental Quality -- Administrative Overview (PDF). Oregon Blue Book. Salem, Oregon: Oregon Secretary of State (March, 2003). Retrieved on 2006-12-24.
