DEQ/NW Portland - Town Hall Meeting: “What’s in Our Air?”

In December, 2008, USA Today published an article that identified 15 Portland area schools as being in the top 2% of the worst air of any schools nationwide. Chapman Elementary, Cathedral School, Metropolitan Learning Center and other schools in the NW Portland area were ranked in this highest percentile. This USA Today report further substantiated a long-term concern and effort by the NW Neighborhood's Health and Environment Committee for permanent
monitoring and stricter air standards.

A group of concerned residents have taken action. With the renewal of a Title V permit for the closest industrial neighbor looming, they have been passing a petition asking the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for stronger regulations of industrial emissions. The DEQ is responsible for
monitoring our air, land and water, and regulating polluters.

They have invited the DEQ and neighbors to a town hall meeting on May 21st at 7:00 PM at Chapman Elementary School along with other political leaders in our community to ask questions and present the petition that already has amassed hundreds of signatures. According to Mary Peveto, a spokesperson for the
neighborhood group, “We have a lot more questions than answers. Our goal is to gain more information about the pollutants in the air of Northwest Portland and to work together to improve the quality of the air."

The first step, according to Peveto, is to engage with DEQ and other stakeholders in a productive and proactive fashion to see what can be done to be on par with the best clean technologies available – to be the green city that Portland leans so heavily on promoting.

“We have trees, parks and streetcars and are one of the most livable cities in the world. But, according to at least one national publication based on EPA reports, we have some of the dirtiest air in the country. Something is wrong with this picture and we hope to get to get some clarity within the next few weeks.”