About OTA's Programs & Activities

Oregon Toxics Alliance is taking a leading role to systematically challenge the root causes of toxic pollution in Oregon and to provide direct-action on local projects to empower citizens to actively protect themselves and their communities. We provide the scientific and organizational resources to confront the assumption that regulatory agencies can predict the capacity of children and all living organisms to withstand relentless toxic exposures.

An example of how these commitments can intersect occurred in the late 1990’s when OTA’s founders successfully passed the model Community Toxics Right to Know law in the city of Eugene (which requires polluters to report their emissions to the Fire Marshall for posting on a public website), and also helped win a successful legal challenge against Hyundai, Inc. for violations of the Clean Water Act at their Eugene fabrication plant.

OTA’s strategy has always been this double-pronged approach. We build advocacy for changes in statewide guidelines by supporting grassroots partnerships on local toxics issues. OTA reaches out through sponsorships and organizational assistance to community-based groups who are opposing local environmental destruction and public health threats. The OTA Board of Directors chooses among requests for fiscal support from community groups by evaluating the project’s potential to involve affected residents and create public support for fundamental changes in toxics use policy.

Another example of this “big picture – local action” approach is OTA’s partnership with CHEJ on the Precautionary Principle project, or “Be Safe” campaign. In 2003, OTA served as Oregon’s lead organization for Be Safe and assembled a coalition of environmental and public health groups. The locally-focused work of coalition members continues to build the foundation for a statewide precautionary policy shift. We are continuing this work with our Vinyl Out of Oregon campaign, an effort to help agencies adopt vinyl-avoidance initiatives. One city built two vinyl-free fire stations. Two of OTA’s Habitat partners are building multiple-unit vinyl-free housing projects in 2007-2008. And a number of contractors and architects are using OTA’s brochures to help educate their clients.

Another example of “big picture – local action” was our 2005 strategy to stop two fossil-fueled power plants from being constructed in the Willamette Valley. Not only did OTA help rural communities organize to stop out-of-state interests from building large power plants on farmland, we were also successful in bringing the issue of local control and renewable energy investment to the legislative table. By creating bi-partisan support for energy issues, OTA's Fair Energy bill passed unanimously in the Oregon Senate (although it was ultimately stalled in the House).

OTA’s grassroots work illustrates the importance of statewide organization dedicated to reforming toxic use:

AIR

- OTA is working with petroleum distributors and Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality to convince them to adopt vapor control strategies in Lane County. OTA’s Don’t Top Off! Campaign is a 2006 project to educate consumers about how to reduce benzene exposures at gas stations. Both projects are components of OTA’s statewide campaign to require vapor control at all gas stations. This is important because benzene, a chemical in gasoline, is a Class A carcinogen. Exposure to benzene is known to cause leukemia, particularly in children.

- OTA’s sub-committee on Air Quality is taking a close look at air quality permitting in this state, comparing Oregon’s progress on reducing industrial emissions, and evaluating how this state gives away air quality exemptions to big-business agriculture. We are evaluating the potential effectiveness of legal action against counties or the State if they are endangering human health or harming pristine airsheds.

- OTA is assisting four community-based groups in Lane County to challenge chemical trespass due to pesticide drift from forestry operations. Despite the lack of action on the part of the State, OTA’s coalition of grassroots groups has been building a network of land owners to subscribe to Department of Forestry spray notifications.

Oregon Toxics Alliance Board Vice President Bob Amundson is training a Northwest Portland neighborhood how to measure lead contamination (from a local foundry) in the air and on their properties. Analysis of their bucket samples showed that levels of lead dust on home porches significantly exceed the EPA standards for human safety.

- Oregon Toxics Alliance was part of a coalition to prevent the incineration of the 7.4 million pounds of chemical weapons at the Army Depot in Eastern Oregon. OTA board members provided crucial research on alternatives to incineration and were able to demonstrate that there are proven disposal methods that are less costly and safer for the surrounding population and Oregon’s environment.

WATER

- Evidence shows that since 1995, direct discharges to the Willamette River have made the Willamette the tenth most toxic river in the nation. OTA has strongly advocated for the inclusion of toxics on the State’s criteria list for determining the river’s health. We also take the stand that all water is potential drinking water and thus must be protected to drinking quality standards.

LAND AND GROUND WATER

- OTA is working closely with several Eugene neighborhoods situated along the Union Pacific railroad tracks to stop on-going contamination in their communities. OTA is helping residents organize an effective campaign to document railroad-related contamination in the neighborhoods, to compel Union Pacific to clean up contaminated soil and ground water, and to evaluate ongoing use of toxics in railroad operations. OTA is using this project to do outreach to Spanish-speaking and low-income families about toxics use reduction and precautionary action in the home.

PRECAUTIONARY POLICY

- OTA proposed and has been a key member of the City of Eugene’s Sustainable Development Task Force, which is recommending a non-toxics purchasing policy. The 2006 recommendation will also call for the City to establish an Office of Sustainable Development that will provide technical assistance for businesses seeking to reduce toxics use.

- We are also working with Oregon Habitat for Humanity affiliates and three different faith communities under our Vinyl Out of Oregon Campaign to adopt vinyl-avoidance initiatives. One faith group will be breaking ground on their vinyl-free house of worship in September 2006. Two of OTA’s Habitat partners are building multiple-unit vinyl-free housing projects in 2007-2008.

- In April 2002, OTA hosted a Clean Production Seminar with Dr. Kenneth Geiser, Director of the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute. Over 30 Oregon environmental leaders and industry representatives attended the seminar and made the first commitments to join in coalition to gain statewide Clean Production policies. Our long-term goal is to address the presence of unnecessary industrial toxics use in Oregon through source reduction and alternative materials review programs.