March 21, 2023 9:30 a.m.

Legislation has been filed that would allow residents to submit a formal complaint to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality about human waste, illicit drugs, batteries and other harmful substances being dumped by residents of homeless camps into state rivers and streams.

A release from State Senator David Brock Smith of Port Orford, State Senator Suzanne Weber of Tillamook and State Representative Virgle Osborne said upon receiving the complaint, DEQ must investigate and then remove the individuals from the camping site and clean the camping site as necessary to protect state waters.

Brock Smith said, “Unbridled, unregulated homeless camps along Oregon’s waterways are out of control”. He said, “The hazardous pollution to salmon bearing rivers and streams, and the source of drinking water for hundreds of thousands of Oregonians continues to be severely harmed by homeless camps”. Brock Smith said that Senate Bill 1086 will finally allow DEQ to enforce Oregon’s environmental and water quality laws on all Oregonians, not just those who can pay a fine.

Osborne said, “Having served on the County Planning Commission for years prior to my role as Representative, we have been trying to address this issue and protect our rivers and streams all that time”. He said, “This legislation will finally bring the protections we need for our rivers and residents, while bringing accountability to the agency and advocates that have enabled these actions to occur for far too long”.

Virgle Osborne talked about the legislation along with other bills under consideration on the Morning Conversation Tuesday on News Radio 93-9 FM and 1240 KQEN. That interview is a KQEN podcast at www.541radio.com.