Our Work:

Field Burning

Gypsy Moth Spraying


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Why donate to OTA? The Eugene Weekly tells it like it is...
"OTA works its rear end off to protect people, especially but not only kids and low-income and rural folks, from harmful pollutants. No cute kittens or other charismatic macrofauna can convey the depth of OTA’s commitment to cleaning up and keeping safe our land, waterways and air."

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This month, the Oregon Legislature will consider legislation to ban the harmful chemical Bisphenol-A (BPA) in children’s products.

Your email can make the difference! (Read more about what you can do...)

(Read the Feb. 4, 2010 Eugene Register-Guard article on the issue )

Reversing itself, FDA expresses concerns over health risks from BPA
By Lyndsey Layton, Washington Post, January 16, 2010

 

Commentary (Eugene Weekly, Dec. 24, 2009 issue):
Flawed Biomass Permit... Critical errors demand community input
by Lisa Arkin & Josh Vincent

NEWS link: BIOMASS Linked to Greenhouse Pollution
(Eugene Weekly - Dec. 10th, 2009)


Read the latest issue of Oregon Updater, the Fall 2009 OTA Newsletter

Are Your Child's Toys Toxic?
(see HealthyToys.org for more...)

News:

 
Testing children’s products for toxins
Representatives from the Oregon Toxics Alliance tested toys, jewelry, and household items such as dishes for unsafe levels of lead and hazardous chemicals at The Science Factory in Eugene.

Join us at the Science Factory this Saturday!

We tested for unsafe levels of lead and other hazardous chemicals, using a hand-held instrument called a Niton Analyzer, donated for the day by Thermo Fischer Scientific. The testing equipment can give quick and accurate on-the-spot screenings.

If you missed the event on Saturday and still want to test your toys, OTA will continue to have the equipment needed through the following weekend. Call us to set up an appointment: 465-8860...we invite you to bring in toys to be tested for $2 each.
Testing proceeds will benefit Oregon Toxics Alliance.

Read the Press Release from the Science Factory

Josh Vincent, OTA Staff, was interviewed on KMTR-TV News (Eugene). Read the news article...


November News...

Eugene Register-Guard - Oct. 26, 2009
GUEST VIEWPOINT: Myths cloud the truth about biomass energy generation By Rodolfo Oliviera and Suzana Radivojevic
(Rodolfo Oliviera, a chemical engineer, and Suzana Radivojevic, a wood engineer, are consultants for the Oregon Toxics Alliance in Eugene.)


Visit OTA's blog

visit OTA's blog on toxics!


MORE on the Seneca biomass power plant...

Read OTA's submitted testimony...

Read the new OTA fact sheet: "Seneca’s Proposed Power Plant – Is it Green?" (PDF file)

Our testimony at the July 30th LRAPA hearing in Eugene

MORE background...

video of Seneca slide show presentation

See OTA's video presentation
by Lisa Arkin, Exec. Dir. of OTA
(Flash video clip opens in a new window)


Special Report

pesticide report

Pesticides in Our Schools

Oregon Toxics Alliance's report, WARNING! Hazards to Children: Pesticides in Our Schools, uncovers an on-going pattern of pesticide exposure to school children in classrooms, on playgrounds, on ball fields, and at bus stops. Forty-three cases have been reported in the past ten years. Fourteen cases were serious enough to result in evacuation, require medical attention, and/or result in a citation from the state. Read More...


NEWS FLASH!

Oregon Toxics Alliance Appeals Biomass Plant Air Permit

November 6th
Press Release

On 11/6/09, OTA filed an appeal under the rules governing the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency to ask the LRAPA Board to reconsider the air permit to the Seneca Biomass Plant. The Board will decide if they will consider our appeal, or not. The appeal is a public document. You may contact OTA if you would like to help us pursue our goal of ensuring the strongest air pollution controls and protecting public health under LRAPA’s permitting process for new industries in Lane County. You may also contact LRAPA to express your concerns.

Hear OPB's news story
(mp3 file requires a media player)

Oregon Toxics Alliance challenges conditions of the pollution permit and lack of responsiveness to public health concerns in the case of the Seneca biomass energy plant.

Citing problems with the process and the stipulations, Oregon Toxics Alliance is appealing to the Board of Directors of the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency for a reconsideration of the recently issued air discharge permit. The appeal was filed on Friday, November 6 under Section 14 of the Agency’s rules on appeals.

The appeal questions five conditions in the air pollution permit that the Agency awarded to Seneca Sustainable Energy, LLC on October 7, 2009 for the construction of their co-generation biomass plant. The Alliance contends many conditions of the permit were improperly applied or were arbitrary about how pollution data is collected and the consequences of excess pollution.

The Alliance is using an avenue provided by Agency rules that allows an interested party to ask the Board to issue a declaratory ruling as to the applicability of any facts related to the permit.

“OTA’s team of experts have determined that the air pollution permit issued by LRAPA does not require adequate control equipment or monitoring protocols,” said Alliance Executive Director Lisa Arkin. “The permit determines how well a polluting industry can reduce their contribution to unhealthy air and excess greenhouse gas emissions.”

Apart from the air pollution that is normally covered under the Clean Air Act, there is also the question of reducing greenhouse gases. The US EPA has determined that carbon dioxide is an air pollutant. The biomass co-generation plant will emit at least 234,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year.

“That is the equivalent of adding the emission from 26,175 extra cars to the Eugene-Springfield area every year, which is not the best way to reduce our carbon footprint,” said Arkin.

November 6th
Press Release

(PDF)


What's New
12/10/09 : BIOMASS Linked to Greenhouse Pollution (Eugene Weekly)
12/09/09 : LRAPA Board: Seneca permit stands (R-G)
11/14/09 : Curbs on Seneca generator sought | Environmentalists want tighter pollution control at the wood-fired plant (R-G)
11/10/09 : OTA files an appeal under the rules governing the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency
11/08/09 : Oregon Toxics Alliance joins Science Factory for Toxics Toys Testing Event
11/08/09 : Oregon Toxics Alliance joins national groups to support a call for FDA Protection from BPA in Canned Food
09/20/09 : Victory Celebration a smashing success! (Report from the Exec. Director...)
08/06/09 : Eugene Weekly article: AIR OUTCRY CONTINUES
07/01/09 : DEQ Rule Goes into Effect: Topping off gas tanks now banned in Oregon
06/30/09 : SB 528: measure to end field burning passes both Oregon House and the Senate!
06/10/09 : Oregon House passes pest management for schools!
06/10/09 : Summer 2009 Newsletter now available for download
06/04/09 : Eugene Register-Guard Editorial Supports Passage of SB637
05/19/09 : OTA’s Call to Reduce Pesticides is nearing VICTORY!!
05/14/09 : Senate approves pest management bill for Oregon schools
05/11/09 : Senate Bill 637 – IPM in Schools - Coming to Senate Wednesday!
05/11/09 : Support Attorney General’s Request for an Environmental Crimes Enforcement Unit
04/03/09 : Power Plant Raises Questions About Environmental Costs
02/25/09 : Speak Out for Safer Children's Toys
   
   
   

Our Mission

The Oregon Toxics Alliance works for all Oregonians to expose root causes of toxic pollution and help communities find solutions that protect human and environmental health.

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