Newsletter: Oregon Rural Action Organizing for Clean Water in Rural Communities
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As another large corporate dairy seeks a permit to operate near Boardman, ORA members raise concerns about the ongoing and cumulative impact of large scale agriculture on the water and health or rural communities in Morrow and Umatilla counties.
On August 21st, in public comment before the state’s Environmental Justice Task Force (EJTF), ORA Board Chair Mitch Wolgamott wrote, “For decades, our area has been known to regulators to have elevated nitrate levels due to massive water and fertilizer applications on the dry and porous soils in the area.” “We experience, and I have seen first hand, how the agricultural industrial complex has disproportionately affected our minority, low-income, and tribal communities in rural Eastern Oregon.”
In response, the Environmental Justice Task Force passed a resolution calling on the Oregon Department of Agriculture to extend the public comment period in the permitting process for Easterday Farms to allow directly impacted residents, including Spanish and indigenous-speaking community members, the full opportunity to be heard.
In the coming weeks, as a part of a statewide coalition effort, Oregon Rural Action’s Board members Obdulia “Abby” Munoz and Ana Maria Rodriguez will speak directly with the Governor. Eastern Oregon needs economic investment and good jobs, but not by causing additional harm and adding to the decades-long problem.
Your signature counts. Join us by signing our petition to urge Governor Brown to protect our rural communities' clean water and long-term health by denying the permit for Easterday Farms.
Oregon Rural Action está organizándose para tener Agua Limpia en las Comunidades Rurales
Como otra gran empresa lechera busca un permiso para operar cerca de Boardman, Los miembros de ORA están preocupados acerca del impacto continuo a gran escala en la agricultura en el agua, la salud en nuestras comunidades rurales de los condados de Morrow y Umatilla.
El 21 de Agosto, en los comentarios públicos ante el grupo de trabajo de Justicia Ambiental (EJTF) del estado, el presidente de la junta de ORA, Mitch Wolgamott, escribió: “ Durante décadas, los reguladores han sabido que nuestra área tiene niveles elevados de Nitratos debido a los suelos secos y porosos de la zona”.
“ Experimentamos, y he visto de primera mano, como el complejo agrícola industrial ha afectado de manera desproporcionada a nuestras comunidades minoritarias, de bajos ingresos y de las tribus en las zonas rurales del este de Oregon.
En la respuesta, en relación al grupo de trabajo de Justicia Ambiental, se aprobó una resolución pidiendo al departamento de Agricultura de Oregon, que extienda el periodo de los comentarios públicos, para permitir a los residentes, incluidos los miembros de la comunidad de habla hispana e indigena, que tuvieran la oportunidad de ser escuchados.
En las últimas semanas, como parte de un esfuerzo de la coalición en todo el estado de Oregon, los miembros de la Junta de Oregon Rural Action, Obdulia “ Abby” Munoz y Ana Maria Rodriguez hablaran directamente con la gobernadora. El este de Oregon necesita inversión económica y buenos empleos, pero no causando daño adicional o antes de solucionar el problema de décadas.
Su firma cuenta. Únase a nosotros firmando nuestra petición para instar a la gobernadora Borwn a proteger la salud de nuestras comunidades rurales negando el permiso a la productora de leche Easterday.
ORA Spotlight
Highlighting the stories of ORA leaders
Jan was recently elected to the ORA Board at the Annual meeting in April. She owns Almosta Farm in Cove, OR, where she lives with her wife and two children. Jan has a passion for food systems and teaching people how to grow their own food and offers a unique perspective on urban/rural life.
Click the link below to read Jan’s full story!
Oregon Rural Action- Spotlight
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