The Oregon State Sanitary Authority (OSSA) was the first agency in the U.S. state of Oregon that was charged with protecting the environment.[1] In 1938, Oregon voters, by a three-to-one margin, approved an initiative to regulate water pollution and to create an enforcement agency under the jurisdiction of the Oregon State Board of Health. Political pressure that led to the initiative had begun as early as the 1920s, when the Board of Health, the U.S. Public Health Service, the Izaak Walton League, and others had expressed concerns about water pollution and its threats to human health.[2] Pollution had caused many fish kills on the Willamette River in the 1920s, and Portland, on the lower river, had often closed its part of the Willamette to swimming because of sewage in the water.[3]
Since many of the biggest polluters were along the Willamette, OSSA focused its efforts there.[2] Raw domestic sewage from cities and wastes from pulp mills, paper mills, and other industrial sites produced the greatest volumes of pollutants.[3] By the late 1940s, OSSA had induced communities along the river to install sewage treatment plants. However, the agency had less success with mill owners, who resisted pollution controls on grounds of the expense.[3] Of particular concern were sulfite process mills that discharged plumes of waste that were deadly to many aquatic plants and animals.[2] As late as 1969, low oxygen levels related to pollution were preventing upstream migration of salmon on the Willamette. The fish were able to continue only after Governor Tom McCall, the OSSA chairman, ordered the temporary closure of four sulfite mills along the river.[2]
In 1969, the Oregon Legislative Assembly replaced OSSA with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Its responsibilities include protecting the state's air quality as well as its water quality; managing solid- and hazardous-waste disposal; helping with contamination cleanup, and enforcing the state's environmental laws.[4]
Referencesedit
^"Oregon DEQ History Timeline". Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
^ abcdCarter, Glen D. (Summer 2006). "Pioneering Water Pollution Control in Oregon". Oregon Historical Quarterly. 107 (2). Oregon Historical Society: 254–72. ISSN 0030-4727. JSTOR 20615637.
^ abcWilliams, Travis (2009). The Willamette River Field Guide. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. pp. 128–32. ISBN978-0-88192-866-2.
^"Department of Environmental Quality: Present Duties". Oregon State Archives. 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
April 14, 2024
oregon, state, sanitary, authority, ossa, first, agency, state, oregon, that, charged, with, protecting, environment, 1938, oregon, voters, three, margin, approved, initiative, regulate, water, pollution, create, enforcement, agency, under, jurisdiction, orego. The Oregon State Sanitary Authority OSSA was the first agency in the U S state of Oregon that was charged with protecting the environment 1 In 1938 Oregon voters by a three to one margin approved an initiative to regulate water pollution and to create an enforcement agency under the jurisdiction of the Oregon State Board of Health Political pressure that led to the initiative had begun as early as the 1920s when the Board of Health the U S Public Health Service the Izaak Walton League and others had expressed concerns about water pollution and its threats to human health 2 Pollution had caused many fish kills on the Willamette River in the 1920s and Portland on the lower river had often closed its part of the Willamette to swimming because of sewage in the water 3 Oregon State Sanitary AuthorityAgency overviewFormed1938Dissolved1969Superseding agencyOregon Department of Environmental QualitySince many of the biggest polluters were along the Willamette OSSA focused its efforts there 2 Raw domestic sewage from cities and wastes from pulp mills paper mills and other industrial sites produced the greatest volumes of pollutants 3 By the late 1940s OSSA had induced communities along the river to install sewage treatment plants However the agency had less success with mill owners who resisted pollution controls on grounds of the expense 3 Of particular concern were sulfite process mills that discharged plumes of waste that were deadly to many aquatic plants and animals 2 As late as 1969 low oxygen levels related to pollution were preventing upstream migration of salmon on the Willamette The fish were able to continue only after Governor Tom McCall the OSSA chairman ordered the temporary closure of four sulfite mills along the river 2 In 1969 the Oregon Legislative Assembly replaced OSSA with the Department of Environmental Quality DEQ Its responsibilities include protecting the state s air quality as well as its water quality managing solid and hazardous waste disposal helping with contamination cleanup and enforcing the state s environmental laws 4 References edit Oregon DEQ History Timeline Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Retrieved January 16 2012 a b c d Carter Glen D Summer 2006 Pioneering Water Pollution Control in Oregon Oregon Historical Quarterly 107 2 Oregon Historical Society 254 72 ISSN 0030 4727 JSTOR 20615637 a b c Williams Travis 2009 The Willamette River Field Guide Portland Oregon Timber Press pp 128 32 ISBN 978 0 88192 866 2 Department of Environmental Quality Present Duties Oregon State Archives 2011 Retrieved January 16 2012 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Oregon State Sanitary Authority amp oldid 1214361019, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
