OREGON
Tuesday, December 24, 2019
East Oregonian
A9
Oregon groups seek new pollution rules on toxic diesel emissions
By MONICA SAMAYOA
Oregon Public Broadcasting
SALEM — Environ-
mental advocates petitioned
the Oregon Environmental
Quality Commission Friday
for new regulations on diesel
emissions from construction
site vehicles and other non-
road sources.
The petition is from 21
groups, including the non-
profi ts Neighbors for Clean
Air, Northwest Environ-
mental Defense Center and
Green Energy Institute at
Lewis & Clark Law School.
It calls for a cap on toxic die-
sel emissions from construc-
tion sites, distribution centers
and rail yards. It also seeks a
new air pollution rule to reg-
ulate toxic diesel emissions
from those sources.
“When these poorly-reg-
ulated mobile sources aggre-
gate at warehouses, con-
struction sites, and other
locations, they release large
amounts of harmful black
carbon, particulate matter,
and toxic pollution,” North-
west Environmental Defense
Center Mark Riskedahl said
in an emailed statement.
Advocates for Neigh-
bors for Clean Air said die-
sel pollution is present “at
unhealthy levels throughout
the state.”
In 2010, the Department
of Environmental Quality
completed a Portland Air
Toxics Solutions project that
was intended to help iden-
tify and address the leading
causes of toxic air emissions
in the Portland metro area. It
estimated that 65% of toxic
diesel emissions come from
non-road sources. If trains
and commercial boats are
included, that fi gure rises to
73%.
“I think honestly the sin-
gle biggest diesel elephant in
our room are these construc-
tion sites. I don’t think peo-
ple have any idea how sig-
nifi cant, how high the levels
of these diesel pollution are,
especially at certain phases
of construction,” executive
director for Neighbors for
Clean Air Mary Peveto said.
This year lawmakers
passed House Bill 2007 in an
effort to reduce toxic diesel
emissions. The bill regulates
diesel trucks in the Port-
land metro area and requires
truck owners to replace die-
sel engines from before 2011
with newer models by 2025.
But Peveto said trucks are
the source of only about 15%
of toxic diesel emissions in
the Portland metro area. The
new rule would help regulate
the toxic diesel emissions
found in non-road sources
that are not being addressed
by the new law.
New Chamber Members
MERRY CHRISTMAS
FROM DAVE, DOROTHY
& TRUMAN !
CHAMBER
MEMBERS
PETROLEUM
345 N. 1st Place, Hermiston, OR 97838
541-28 9-5015 • www.mcpcoop.com
Raffles • Giveaways
Food & Drinks
Tours
Open House! Join us!
JANUARY 9TH • 5:30-7:00 PM
New Branch/Current Loan Office Location!
1475 N. 1ST STREET, HERMISTON
ChamberRibbon Cutting @ 5:40!
If you would like
to advertise on
the Hermiston
Chamber page
Complete Collection Service
HOME • COMMERCIAL
24 HOUR EMERGENCY
Please Contact
Jeanne Jewett
541-564-4531 or
Audra Workman
541-564-4538.
541-567-3781 • 1-800-238-1223
905 Diagonal • Hermiston
www.osokleen.com
Licensed • Bonded
No Collection • No Fee
461 E. Main
Hermiston, OR 97838
(541) 289-9107
www.creditsinc.com
Tim Mabry
President
Member FDIC
NOW HIRING:
Journeyman Pipefitter • Prep Cook • Bartender • Office Clerk
• CDL ‘A’ Drivers • Fence Erectors • Gas Attendants
1055 S. Hwy 395, Ste 333•Hermiston
541.567.9670
KEEP IT LOCAL!
202 N. Main St, Ste 4•Boardman
MYBBSI.COM
AFFORDABLE
FAMILY
EYEWEAR
6LQFH

:%HHEH$YH+HUPLVWRQ25
ELMER’S
IRRIGATION, INC.
541-567-6562
Hwy 395 • Hermiston
541-567-5572
190 E Main Street,
Hermiston Oregon
Our office is
located at
1055 S. Hwy 395,
Ste 111
Cornerstone Plaza
Hermiston’s Best Value in all Eyewear
541-567-3790
298 E. Gladys Ave • Hermiston, OR
www.affordablefamilyeyewear.com
P4 & MORE
COMPUTERS
“Proudly serving & investing in
the future of our communities”
541. 481.2666
541-567-6151
Complete Collection Service
Licensed • Bonded
No Collection • No Fee
Tim Mabry
President
461 E. Main
Hermiston, OR 97838
(541) 289-9107
www.creditsinc.com
Membership
has its Perks.
Find out about bill pay options,
youth programs, rebates and incentives
at www.UmatillaElectric.com.
Hermiston Office
750 W. Elm Ave.
Hermiston, OR 97838
(541) 567-6414