For More Information Contact:
Lance Robertson, 984-4716
Eugene Water & Electric Board

July 21, 2006

Meetings inform growers of chemical removal program

An innovative program to help farmers and growers to dispose of unwanted chemicals will be the subject of two informational meetings in late July.

The public meetings are part of a new project that unites Eugene Water & Electric Board and other state and local agencies to help growers in the McKenzie and Middle Fork Willamette watersheds to get rid of banned pesticides at no cost or risk to themselves through several collection events. The first-of-its-kind program is an effort to protect Eugene-Springfield area drinking water and endangered aquatic life from obsolete farm chemicals that are obsolete or illegal to use.

“Our whole approach is to make this collection event as easy as possible for growers to participate so we can remove as many chemicals as possible from these watersheds,” says EWEB Drinking Water Protection Coordinator Karl Morgenstern.

The public meetings are scheduled for:

• July 25, 6:30 p.m., Lowell Fire Hall, 389 N. Pioneer St.
• July 26, 6:30 p.m., Walterville Community Center, 39259 Camp Creek Rd. 

The meetings will provide growers with information about the collection events, including details about how to participate and safely pack and transport chemicals.

“We are hoping that growers attend the public meetings to learn more about this unique opportunity and to ask questions so they will feel more comfortable about participating in the collection events,” says Morgenstern.

The project is made possible by a grant awarded to EWEB by Gov. Ted Kulongoski. The funds are a portion of the newly created Oregon Governor’s Fund for the Environment.

EWEB is contributing nearly $24,000 in cash and in-kind assistance. The Springfield Utility Board is donating $10,000, the Department of Environmental Quality is providing $6,000 and Lane County Waste Management will provide in-kind services of $10,000. Other partners in the project are the OSU Extension Service, Oregon Health Division, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, McKenzie Fire & Rescue, Mohawk Valley Fire, Springfield Fire & Life Safety, East Lane Soil and Water Conservation District and the Region 2 HazMat team.