“Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek lays out new nitrate goals amid criticism”

By Antonio Sierra | OPB | June 24, 2024

“Two months after her return visit to the Lower Umatilla Basin, Gov. Tina Kotek has released goals on how the state can better help residents hurt by the ongoing nitrates crisis.

Kotek detailed her new plans in a Friday letter to Oregon Rural Action after the La Grande-based nonprofit led a coalition demanding the state government do more to test wells for nitrates and connect residents with clean drinking water.

Kotek wrote that she was directing the Oregon Health Authority to hit a number of new benchmarks, including:

- Publishing a web map presenting well test results by July 31

- Surveying all households receiving water deliveries by Sept. 20 to “confirm their needs are being met”

- Completing testing of 30% of the wells that remain untested by June 30, 2025 “with the understanding that well testing is not compulsory”

The letter also set 2024 and 2025 deadlines to send out additional at-home test strips, retest homes at risk of going above federal nitrate limits and address the backlog of homes that need water filters.”