As the new home of OSPIRG's environmental work, Environment Oregon can be contacted regarding this article.
In
Michael Milstein's Sept. 28 article, "DEQ cuts may leave us wheezing,"
Rep. Susan Morgan, R-Myrtle Creek, implies that the Department of
Environmental Quality will have to sacrifice [other functions] to adopt
California auto-emissions standards.
This
assertion is indefensible. The clean cars program is the most effective
air quality improvement program available to Oregon. The program will
make substantial cuts in the toxic air pollutants the DEQ works to
monitor and reduce, and will decrease global-warming pollution by 30
percent from new cars.
It
is also extremely cost-effective. It will save Oregonians $8.2 million
the first year it is fully implemented, and the DEQ estimates that
enforcement will require only 1.5 employees.
ISAAC SILVERMAN, Energy associate, OSPIRG, Southeast Portland
