Legislation will Protect Oregon’s Air and Water from Federal Backsliding
PORTLAND — Governor Kate Brown today announced the Oregon Environmental Protection Act, legislation that adopts the standards of the federal Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act into state law. The legislation ensures the federal environmental standards of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts that were in place and effective as of January 19, 2018, before President Trump took office, shall remain in effect and be enforceable under state law even if the federal government rolls the standards back.
“Over the past two years, Oregonians have witnessed an unprecedented and aggressive attack on clean air standards, clean water standards, and federal efforts to fight climate change. In Oregon, that rollback stops now. Under my leadership, Oregon will stand for clean air and clean water, and we will defend the health of our children and our children’s children,” said Governor Brown.
Governor Brown called on her elected colleagues across the country to take similar action to protect the nation’s air and water. States are well positioned to take a leadership role in preventing the erosion of core environmental standards protecting water and air. States have a clear interest in protecting clean air and clean water, and their legislatures and administrative agencies have implemented elements of clean air and water legislation since the 1970s.
