NWEA Highlights Oregon’s Failure to Control Agricultural Pollution

With Oregon staring down a November 15, 2013 date on which two federal agencies must issue a proposed decision on the State’s coastal nonpoint pollution program, NWEA’s more recent letter describes Oregon’s nonpoint program failure to control agricultural pollution. The letter makes three points. First, NWEA discusses the failure of Oregon Department of Agriculture rules to prevent water pollution. Next, the letter talks about the relevance of a recent letter on agricultural buffers needed for salmon protection in western Washington. And, finally, NWEA explains how its March 2013 letter to EPA regarding Oregon’s improper temperature trading programs demonstrates that Oregon does not have sufficient agricultural pollution controls in place to warrant a federal approval of its coastal nonpoint program.