‘No more dog and pony’: Portland area lawmakers hear from nitrate-affected Oregonians
Oregon Public Broadcasting - By Antonio Sierra - Nov. 30, 2023
Members of the state Legislature’s BIPOC Caucus visited Boardman this week to hear about nitrate pollution.
It’s been more than a year since Morrow County declared an emergency over nitrate contamination in the Lower Umatilla Basin. But residents are still learning that their water is unsafe to drink.
Gloria Muñoz, 19, said she had just heard about the Boardman area’s nitrate pollution earlier that day. Her Monday night audience included three Oregon state legislators and about 30 residents whose patience in the government’s ability to clean their drinking water was quickly waning.
Oregon Public Broadcasting - By Antonio Sierra - Nov. 30, 2023
Members of the state Legislature’s BIPOC Caucus visited Boardman this week to hear about nitrate pollution.
It’s been more than a year since Morrow County declared an emergency over nitrate contamination in the Lower Umatilla Basin. But residents are still learning that their water is unsafe to drink.
Gloria Muñoz, 19, said she had just heard about the Boardman area’s nitrate pollution earlier that day. Her Monday night audience included three Oregon state legislators and about 30 residents whose patience in the government’s ability to clean their drinking water was quickly waning.
House Representatives discuss Boardman water issue
East Oregonian - By Rick Haverinen - Nov. 29, 2023
BOARDMAN — Residents of Boardman sensed increased interest from the Oregon Legislature in the community’s water pollution issues as three members of the House of Representatives visited the city Monday, Nov. 27, for a tour and a public meeting with locals.
The officials — Annessa Hartman, Gladstone, Ricki Ruiz, Gresham, and Khanh Pham, southeast Portland, all Democrats — made the trip from Salem to sense what the nitrate pollution problem was about and the frustration locals face enduring slow government action to help.
Hartman is vice chair of the House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources and Water.
“I found out about this issue when I first got elected as the vice chair of my committee and immediately was surprised this issue had gone on for so long,”
Hartman commented between a community tour and the following meeting at the Boardman campus of Blue Mountain Community College.
East Oregonian - By Rick Haverinen - Nov. 29, 2023
BOARDMAN — Residents of Boardman sensed increased interest from the Oregon Legislature in the community’s water pollution issues as three members of the House of Representatives visited the city Monday, Nov. 27, for a tour and a public meeting with locals.
The officials — Annessa Hartman, Gladstone, Ricki Ruiz, Gresham, and Khanh Pham, southeast Portland, all Democrats — made the trip from Salem to sense what the nitrate pollution problem was about and the frustration locals face enduring slow government action to help.
Hartman is vice chair of the House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources and Water.
“I found out about this issue when I first got elected as the vice chair of my committee and immediately was surprised this issue had gone on for so long,”
Hartman commented between a community tour and the following meeting at the Boardman campus of Blue Mountain Community College.
Boardman community organizer’s truck catches fire; labeled ‘suspicious’
Oregon Public Broadcasting - By Antonio Sierra - Nov. 28, 2023
A truck belonging to an organizer against nitrate pollution in Eastern Oregon burned at a Boardman home shortly after three state legislators visited the home Monday as a part of a tour.
The Boardman Fire Rescue District considers the fire “suspicious” but closed its investigation without determining a cause. No one was injured by the fire, nor did the fire spread beyond the vehicle before firefighters extinguished it.
Oregon Rural Action, a group based out of La Grande that has been active in pushing state officials to address decades of groundwater pollution in Morrow and Umatilla counties, announced the fire in a press release Monday. The group called on local and state authorities to fully investigate the fire and protect its employees.
Oregon Public Broadcasting - By Antonio Sierra - Nov. 28, 2023
A truck belonging to an organizer against nitrate pollution in Eastern Oregon burned at a Boardman home shortly after three state legislators visited the home Monday as a part of a tour.
The Boardman Fire Rescue District considers the fire “suspicious” but closed its investigation without determining a cause. No one was injured by the fire, nor did the fire spread beyond the vehicle before firefighters extinguished it.
Oregon Rural Action, a group based out of La Grande that has been active in pushing state officials to address decades of groundwater pollution in Morrow and Umatilla counties, announced the fire in a press release Monday. The group called on local and state authorities to fully investigate the fire and protect its employees.
Oregon counties receive $1.7M to address nitrate contamination
Capital Press - By George Plaven - October 11, 2023
Two counties in northeast Oregon are getting $1.7 million in federal aid to address nitrate contamination in residential wells.
The funding, part of a $1.7 trillion congressional spending bill, will go to Umatilla and Morrow counties where officials are seeking long-term solutions for elevated nitrates in the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area, or LUBGWMA.
Capital Press - By George Plaven - October 11, 2023
Two counties in northeast Oregon are getting $1.7 million in federal aid to address nitrate contamination in residential wells.
The funding, part of a $1.7 trillion congressional spending bill, will go to Umatilla and Morrow counties where officials are seeking long-term solutions for elevated nitrates in the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area, or LUBGWMA.
Morrow, Umatilla counties get $1.7M for nitrate contamination solutions
Hermiston Herald - By Travis Snell - October 12, 2023
UMATILLA COUNTY — Umatilla and Morrow county officials learned Tuesday that the counties will receive $1.7 million in federal aid to address nitrate contamination in private wells.
According to a press release from Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, Environmental Protection Agency funding will help find long-term solutions to a water crisis in the Lower Umatilla Basin.
Hermiston Herald - By Travis Snell - October 12, 2023
UMATILLA COUNTY — Umatilla and Morrow county officials learned Tuesday that the counties will receive $1.7 million in federal aid to address nitrate contamination in private wells.
According to a press release from Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, Environmental Protection Agency funding will help find long-term solutions to a water crisis in the Lower Umatilla Basin.
All water well owners in the Lower Umatilla Basin offered nitrate testing, Oregon officials say
Oregon Public Broadcasting - By Antonio Sierra - October 4, 2023
“It’s a matter of public health,” he said. “For some folks, it’s a matter of life and death.”
"Es una cuestión de salud pública", afirmó. "Para algunas personas, es una cuestión de vida o muerte".
Oregon Public Broadcasting - By Antonio Sierra - October 4, 2023
“It’s a matter of public health,” he said. “For some folks, it’s a matter of life and death.”
"Es una cuestión de salud pública", afirmó. "Para algunas personas, es una cuestión de vida o muerte".
State coalition, ORA differ on well-testing outcomes
By TRAVIS SNELL Hermiston Herald - By Travis Snell - October 6, 2023
"There's still a lot of work to do here, and we need state personnel to start working with a sense of urgency sooner, not later.”
"Todavía queda mucho trabajo por hacer aquí y necesitamos que el personal estatal comience a trabajar con sentido de urgencia pronto, no después”.
By TRAVIS SNELL Hermiston Herald - By Travis Snell - October 6, 2023
"There's still a lot of work to do here, and we need state personnel to start working with a sense of urgency sooner, not later.”
"Todavía queda mucho trabajo por hacer aquí y necesitamos que el personal estatal comience a trabajar con sentido de urgencia pronto, no después”.
deadline passes for Oregon State efforts to test wells for nitrate contamination
BOARDMAN, Ore.- According to Oregon Rural Action, the majority of well owners in the lower Umatilla Basin remain unsure if their drinking water is safe.
It is estimated that 3,300 wells domestic wells exist in the lower Umatilla Basin.
The September 30 deadline set by Governor Tina Kotek, has passed with only 1,001 domestic wells being tested.
Fox41 - By Kaitlyn Smock Digital Content Producer - Oct. 2, 2023
BOARDMAN, Ore.- According to Oregon Rural Action, the majority of well owners in the lower Umatilla Basin remain unsure if their drinking water is safe.
It is estimated that 3,300 wells domestic wells exist in the lower Umatilla Basin.
The September 30 deadline set by Governor Tina Kotek, has passed with only 1,001 domestic wells being tested.
Most well-water users in northeast Oregon counties still in the dark about toxic contamination
The Oregon Health Authority has failed to meet Gov. Tina Kotek’s expectation on well water testing for harmful contamination in northeast Oregon, rural advocates said.
Local organizers with the nonprofit environmental and social justice group Oregon Rural Action said the state’s testing campaign failed to meet Kotek’s expectations set in May that all wells would be tested by the end of September.
“The governor came out and looked people in the eye and said this would be dealt with, that testing would be done by Sept. 30,” said Kaleb Lay, an organizer for the group.
Oregon Capital Chronicle - By Alex Baumhardt - Oct. 3, 2023
The Oregon Health Authority has failed to meet Gov. Tina Kotek’s expectation on well water testing for harmful contamination in northeast Oregon, rural advocates said.
Local organizers with the nonprofit environmental and social justice group Oregon Rural Action said the state’s testing campaign failed to meet Kotek’s expectations set in May that all wells would be tested by the end of September.
“The governor came out and looked people in the eye and said this would be dealt with, that testing would be done by Sept. 30,” said Kaleb Lay, an organizer for the group.