When legislators passed SB5703 last week, giving Oregon Health and Science University $200 million to build the Knight Cancer Center, it was with an ironic amendment: the requirement that OHSU prioritize clean diesel - a practice that dramatically reduces this known carcinogen - when constructing its state-of-the art cancer fighting facility.

We applaud state legislators for requiring clean diesel be included as a condition of public investment in OHSU's cancer center, but Oregon should be pursuing legislation to catch up to our cleaner neighbors. One easy step is to adopt California's more health protective diesel emission programs, as we were green lighted to do when EPA approved the California program last fall.  Instead, Oregon leaders appear content to sit back while our state becomes the dumping ground for older, dirtier engines being outlawed and cast off by our greener neighbors to the north and south. Nearly 40% of the region's diesel pollution is related to non-road equipment (like construction equipment).  Both California and Washington have moved way ahead of us with strong health protective regulations that require the phase-out or retrofit of the dirtier diesel engines - not a per-project request that gambles with public health. Why we're in this unfortunate position is a political, not a technological, problem.  That's why today, we are launching a new petition, to send the message to our Governor and state legislators that Oregonians deserve to know why our state is not choosing the most health protective standards when the technology is available, very effective, and becoming the norm for our neighbors.

If Oregon legislators can green light a $200 million investment in a cancer center, we should know that it is also committing dollars where they are most effective in the fight against cancer: prevention.

Last week the legislature approved a $375,000 General Fund appropriation to conduct air toxics monitoring in the Swan Island area. The funds will be used to operate a new air toxics monitor to better understand what air toxics people are exposed to in the vicinity of Swan Island.

If you wonder why the state would take up such a limited monitoring scope of work, consider this data that DEQ staff presented at the last Swan Island Industry Air Pollution Forum:

For 2013, there were 3625 total DEQ complaints (air, land, water, etc...) statewide.  Out of that number

66% were air complaints (or 2393 air complaints in 2013) in the whole state of Oregon.  Out of that 2393, 511 were from NORTH PORTLAND.

This means 20-21% of ALL AIR COMPLAINTS MADE IN ALL OF OREGON are from NORTH PORTLAND residents who primarily live above Swan Island.  In two years (2012 and 2013),  DEQ received 969 odor complaints from just three North Portland (zip codes 97203, 97217, 97227).  Folks can't always name the source of odors they smell, but of those 969 here is the breakdown of the biggest offenses:

Daimler - 403 complaints

Vigor - 84 complaints

Bushwacker - 54 complaints

Malarkey Roofing - 17 complaints