{"id":3188,"date":"2021-10-19T16:08:09","date_gmt":"2021-10-19T23:08:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rogueclimate.org\/?p=3188"},"modified":"2021-10-19T16:55:43","modified_gmt":"2021-10-19T23:55:43","slug":"major-issues-climate-protection-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rogueclimate.org\/es\/major-issues-climate-protection-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00daLTIMA HORA: Miles piden a Oreg\u00f3n que resuelva problemas importantes en nuevas reglas para reducir la contaminaci\u00f3n por combustibles f\u00f3siles"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.4.4″ custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.4.4″ custom_margin=”-2px|auto||auto||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.4″]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:\u00a0
<\/b>September 30, 2021 <\/span><\/p>\n

CONTACT:
<\/b>Allie Rosenbluth, Campaigns Director, Rogue Climate, <\/span>allie@rogueclimate.org<\/span><\/a>, 541.816.2240
<\/span>Damon Motz-Storey, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, <\/span>damon@oregonpsr.org<\/span><\/a>, 303.913.5634
<\/span>Erin Saylor, Senior Attorney, Columbia Riverkeeper, <\/span>erin@columbiariverkeeper.org<\/span><\/a>, 541.399.4775<\/span><\/p>\n

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Thousands Call on Oregon to Fix Major Issues in New Rules for Reducing Fossil Fuel Pollution<\/strong><\/b><\/h2>\n

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\u00a0Communities From Across the State Urge Oregon\u2019s Environmental Quality Commission and Department of Environmental Quality To Rework and Strengthen Greenhouse Gas Pollution Rules in the State\u2019s Proposed Climate Protection Program
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[SALEM, OR]<\/span><\/b> — <\/span><\/span>This week, the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) continued to receive thousands of comments urging the EQC to revise the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality\u2019s (DEQ) draft rules for addressing major sources of climate-changing pollution. Tonight, dozens of concerned Oregonians gave testimony during the EQC\u2019s three-hour hearing on the draft rules.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The proposed Climate Protection Program has drawn criticism for prioritizing exemptions and loopholes for polluters over pollution reductions in vulnerable Oregon communities. In hours of public testimony at last week\u2019s and today\u2019s public hearings, people from across Oregon expressed frustration that DEQ\u2019s proposed rules failed to match the urgency of the climate crisis.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cathy Sampson-Kruse<\/b>, testifying from eastern Oregon, a mother of eight and elder of the <\/span>Waluulapum<\/span> band of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, told the EQC:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat about the brown and black families who live near the area of the four fracked gas power plants near Hermiston: Carty, Coyote Springs, Hermiston Power Project and Hermiston Generating Station, all among the biggest polluters in the state? Governor Brown gave a clear mandate: don\u2019t just get the job done, get the job done right. The rule needs to reflect stringent regulation on fracked gas power plants. EQC should protect the sacred, if not for the sake of my grandchildren, then for theirs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Representative Khanh Pham, <\/b>Oregon State Representative from House District 46 in Portland, said:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAs a member of Oregon\u2019s House Energy & Environment Committee, I want to work with DEQ to ensure Oregon\u2019s Climate Protection Program is a step forward for Oregon climate action. The development of this program is an incredible opportunity for climate action and to immediately reduce the health impacts environmental justice communities living near polluters experience every day. I am concerned that the draft rules do not achieve either of these goals to the furthest extent they could. DEQ should revise the Climate Protection Program to meet this climate moment with the boldness that Oregon demands and deserves.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Allie Rosenbluth<\/b>, Campaigns Director at Rogue Climate and member of DEQ\u2019s Greenhouse Gas Rulemaking Advisory Committee, said:\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThese rules are meant to protect communities from the devastating impacts of climate change and harmful pollution caused by fossil fuels. However, as currently drafted, DEQ\u2019s \u201cClimate Protection Program\u201d fails to meet its emissions reduction and equity goals. The Environmental Quality Commission must direct DEQ to fix the major issues in the draft rules to ensure the health and safety of communities is prioritized over corporate profit.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Molly Tack-Hooper<\/b>, Senior Attorney at Earthjustice, said:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe new rules for greenhouse gas polluters fall far short of meeting the goals set out by Governor Brown in Executive Order 20-04. DEQ has the authority to regulate more sources, and to have a greater impact on reducing climate pollution in Oregon, and it should use that authority to help us avoid climate disaster.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Today\u2019s EQC meeting marked the second of two public hearings on Oregon\u2019s proposed Climate Protection Program. To date, the vast majority of testimony given in over five hours of oral comments support major improvements to DEQ\u2019s proposed plan to cover major pollution sources and prioritize environmental justice. In a public meeting earlier this week, DEQ reported having received thousands of comments already, an unusually large outpouring of concern for an EQC rulemaking process. The public comment period has been extended and will now end on October 25.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here is a summary of the some of the key changes requested by community groups:<\/span><\/p>\n