Let Science Lead: Protecting Oregon’s Air Quality Standards

Federal air quality standards are being rolled back left and right . Since Trump took office, federal agencies have stripped regulations that protect us from mercury and ethylene oxide , removed protections for steelworkers from aggressive cancers , and even made exemptions to the Clean Air Act's emissions standards that benefit the chemical manufacturing industry .

With these federal protections on the chopping block, state-level protections are more critical than ever. It's up to Oregon to have strong, science-based rules that protect the air we breathe and the health of our communities - informed by unbiased, up-to-date data about the impacts of air pollution on public health.

Cleaner Air Oregon (CAO) - a program of the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) - has been working for more than a decade to close gaps in how the state regulates toxic air pollution to reduce harmful exposure. Throughout 2026, the Cleaner Air Oregon rulemaking process has been underway to give feedback and input on the Toxicity Reference Values (TRVs), the associated Risk-Based Concentrations (RBCs), and revise rules surrounding community exposure to air contaminants. Immense industry pressure to delay this necessary and legally mandated process threatens to deprioritize public health.

As the rulemaking process continues to face delays, Oregon risks leaving communities vulnerable to unregulated, dangerous pollutants. We must let science lead decision-making, not industry interests.

What Is Cleaner Air Oregon (CAO)?

Established in 2018, Cleaner Air Oregon works to understand the health risks emissions pose to communities, and regulate toxic air contaminants from industrial sources to minimize those risks. If pollution levels exceed CAO's health-based benchmarks, industrial facilities must reduce their emissions.

CAO was created under the guidance of former Governor Kate Brown, partially as a result of concerns surrounding emissions from Bullseye Glass in Portland. In 2016, testing revealed hazardous levels of cadmium in moss growing near the Bullseye facility, ultimately revealing that the industrial glass facility was emitting over 159 times the state's limit for arsenic and 49 times the state air-safety level for cadmium. These findings garnered widespread public outrage, raising alarms about potential health impacts on area residents, especially children attending a nearby daycare. The Bullseye case demonstrated that stronger monitoring and regulations are essential to reduce the health harms associated with dangerous air toxics.

Community engagement and transparency are key components of Cleaner Air Oregon. Oregon Environmental Council has been actively involved since CAO's founding and has contributed over time to advisory processes that center public health as the primary focus of the program.

What Is a Toxicity Reference Value (TRV)?

Toxicity Reference Values, also known as TRVs, are the scientific benchmarks used to determine whether air pollution regulations are truly protective of human health. These benchmarks are the foundation of Cleaner Air Oregon's health risk analysis; through establishing and updating TRVs, regulators determine how much to limit exposure to toxic air contaminants, and when emissions reductions are necessary.

Oregon law requires TRVs to be reviewed and updated every three years. DEQ is currently out of compliance with that timeline.

TRV reviews are conducted through the Air Toxics Science Advisory Committee (ATSAC) by scientific experts who are specifically chosen because they do not have a conflict of interest. Several of the air toxics currently under review have well-documented health consequences, such as diesel emissions and PFAS (or forever chemicals), which are linked to increased risk of cancer, heart disease, and developmental impacts in children.

Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied

Delays surrounding TRV updates and the CAO rulemaking raise a larger question: Will Oregon allow science to lead in protecting public health, or let industry pressure influence regulations?

Further delays could mean that updated protections won't take effect until well into 2027. During that time, industrial facilities could be permitted to operate under outdated health benchmarks, putting Oregonians at risk from prolonged exposure to harmful pollutants. Divestment in Oregon's regulatory capacity also means that updating requirements for facilities operating under less protective rules could take years.

Cleaner Air Oregon was created to protect people. Industry representatives are seeking to protect corporate financial gain. With the scientific review already complete, Oregon must let science lead and move forward with implementation of the updated TRVs. Our communities deserve regulations that protect the air we breathe.

Take Action

Cleaner Air Oregon's Rule Advisory Committee meets again on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 from 9 AM - 12 PM via Zoom . Time will be held for public comment, and community voices need to be heard.

For more ways to get involved, sign up for our Grassroots Action mailing list . We'll keep you up to date on opportunities to make an impact through public testimony, lawmaker outreach, community events, and more.