Our Work:

What we do
Oregon Toxics Alliance's mission is to work for all Oregonians to expose root causes of toxic pollution and help communities find solutions that protect human and environmental health. We adhere to two proactive commitments. Our first goal is to systematically challenge the root causes of toxic pollution in Oregon by changing policies and laws, and our second is to provide grassroots, direct-action on local projects to preserve the environment and protect public health. We build advocacy for changes in statewide public policy by supporting grassroots partnerships on local toxics issues. By involving affected residents, OTA creates larger public support for fundamental changes in chemical use policy.

What we believe in
Oregon Toxics Alliance believes that communities should have the right to clean air, land and water. Our organization was founded on the underlying principle that communities have a right to participate, with informed consent, in the decisions that affect their own health.

How we do our work
Communities are often confronted with a false dichotomy: choose between economic growth or a healthy environment. Oregon Toxics Alliance works to see that job growth does not, in reality, lead to pollution growth. When an Oregon community faces a potentially harmful activity or facility, we can help them address the risk for harm by:

• Working to ensure a strong consideration of environmental justice and everyone's right to clean air, water, land and food
• Exercising the community’s right-to-know about what is released into their air, water and soil
• Employing alternative assessments that lead to toxics use reduction and elimination
• Infusing the precautionary principle into all policy decisions.

Grassroots in Action

OTA is about building grassroots movements and supporting vibrant community work. This work gives legs and heart to the larger “concept” campaigns. Here are our primary campaigns:

West Eugene Industrial Corridor Environmental Justice Project
This project promises to create a new era of cooperation between environmental groups and those working for social justice in the Willamette Valley.

In close partnership with Centro LatinoAmericano, OTA launched the West Eugene Industrial Corridor Environmental Health Project. This collaborative project received an Environmental Justice grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency, one of only six awarded in the entire Northwest. The project grew out of concerns expressed from neighbors in the area of West Eugene immediately downwind from the Seneca biomass energy plant, which is scheduled to start burning forest by-products in 2011. These affected neighborhoods have higher percentages of minority, elderly, disabled and poverty level residents living there. They are disproportionally affected by higher concentrations of industrial air pollutants from surrounding industrial sources.

OTA employed five canvassers to go door-to-door gathering data about environmental health issues that concern residents. According to preliminary results, neighbors believe that they have been exposed to cumulative multiple air pollutants and suffer health consequences because of the effect of cumulative pollution. Industrial Corridor neighborhood residents will be encouraged to suggest solutions they feel will improve health conditions. Ultimately, the goal will consist of taking proactive steps towards improving the living and health conditions of the Industrial Corridor neighborhood residents. -- MORE


Safe Public Places Campaign
In 2010, OTA launched the Safe Public Places Campaign, beginning crucial negotiations with sustainable businesses, organic farmers, elected leaders and other partners to dramatically limit the use of pesticides on public land. OTA’s project calls for a 70% reduction in the amount of pesticides used in parks, in and around public buildings and on public roads – throughout the entire state!

Our idea is simply sensible. We are harkening back to 1991, when Oregon became one of the first states to reduce how much pesticide was sprayed by public agencies. That, however, all ended in 2001 due to political pressure.

OTA is calling on elected leaders to take action to bring this law back and strengthen it – because there is strong evidence that pesticides are a public and environmental health problem, linked to persistent ecosystem damage and tragic disease. What’s more, such a program is proven to save money, benefit public health and protect the environment!

Our campaign for Safe Public Places will have Oregon state agencies follow integrated pest management protocols that require less harmful chemicals, measurable objectives, scientific data and safer alternatives. We want nothing short of restoring Oregon’s leadership in children’s health and environmental protection. -- MORE


Healthy Air Oregon
Once they learn about the hefty environmental impact from idling – emissions that foul the air and increase greenhouse gases – many businesses and elected leaders are joining OTA’s Healthy Air Oregon campaign (HAO). A key component of HAO is adoption of a No Idling policy. Our HAO project is a proven solution for cleaner air in Oregon’s urban centers. Many new businesses joined up enthusiastically, from large ones–including, Northwest Community Credit Union, PeaceHealth Medical Center and the Oregon Enterprise Rent-A-Car–to small ones, including Moss Hair Studio and Elephants Deli. These businesses promise to do their part for cleaner air, including taking the No Idling pledge and educating their customers.

Finally, we continue to make great strides in working with governments to take action for better air quality. The Department of Environmental Quality has begun the Director’s No Idling Challenge! The City of Portland announced their sponsorship through Mayor Sam Adams' blog! We are taking this groundswell of support to rally for new policies to limit idling for all vehicles not in the flow of traffic. Through our efforts, we will prevent many millions of tons of hazardous air pollution and greenhouse gases from harming Oregonians. -- MORE


Oregon Pesticide Action Work Group and Pesticide Reform
2010 was a banner year for OTA’s grassroots project, the Oregon Pesticide Action Working Group (OPAWG), a network of Oregonians representing seven rural counties. OPAWG builds leadership for pesticide reform by assisting with direct action campaigns – mostly for small towns and rural communities who are fighting to stop pesticide drift and run-off. OTA believes that developing a statewide voice and supporting these grassroots efforts is critical to advancing legislative change.

OPAWG is the catalyst for many successful projects. For example, in September 2010, the Oregon Department of Transportation agreed to a ground-breaking partnership with OTA and rural neighbors to remove invasive weeds without the use of pesticides along an eight-mile stretch of Highway 36 in the Siuslaw Watershed. They also agreed to reduce pesticide use by 60% on this scenic highway. We also helped communities take on successful pesticide reduction projects in Walton, Yachats, Ashland, Eugene, Waldport and Springfield. Furthermore, OTA traveled throughout the Northwest region to present data and make recommendations in front of key agencies that have the ability to set policy to reduce pesticide use.

OTA published our new “Protecting Health in Your Community: A Guidebook for Organizing for Pesticide Reform” that is tailored toward helping Oregon residents. Let us know how we can help YOUR community! -- MORE

Together with you, our supporter, Oreon Toxics Alliance can enact a broad strategy to leave a long-lasting legacy for Oregon of clean air, healthy bodies and a toxics-free environment in 2011.

Thank you for your continuing support and for making Oregon Toxics Alliance a strong and clear voice for better environmental policies and public health protection in Oregon!

Become a member of Oregon Toxics Alliance! 2 ways available:

Contribute Online: Donate to OTA today!

or...PRINT this PDF form, fill it out and send it in with your check made out to: Oregon Toxics Alliance P.O. Box 1106 Eugene, OR 97440

OTA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all contributions are fully tax-deductible. Please consider giving a gift of an OTA membership to a friend or family member!