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People often ask DEQ: how do you ensure facilities follow environmental laws? There are a lot of answers, but key parts are complaints, inspections and enforcement. This is the first of a two-part series that dives into the complaints and inspections process.

Lauren talks with the manager of the complaints system, a complaints inspector and two facility inspectors about how they receive complaints, find the source of pollution complaints, keep tabs on facilities that DEQ regulates and what happens when there is a violation.

Of the many things important to people in Oregon, a major one is water. DEQ plays a major role in protecting water quality of lakes, rivers and streams to ensure they can support aquatic plants and animals.

Lauren and Dylan talk to DEQ's Water Quality Administrator about the state of Oregon's water as well as the staff working on improving it.

When out exploring waterways around Oregon you might encounter thick, colorful water – so thick and bright that it looks like green, blue or brown paint. These cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms, or cyanoHABs, can pose a public health risk. So Lauren and Dylan talk with water experts from the DEQ lab and Oregon Health Authority to learn more, including how to protect yourself.

Prescribed burning and wildfire can send smoke into communities around Oregon, which may impact public health. So, DEQ has been working with communities around Oregon to develop community smoke response plans. Lauren and Dylan talk with Smokewise Ashland, a local collaborative working group ground in Southern Oregon, which has been operating a community smoke response plan for years. Voices include a longtime Ashland resident who has utilized the program to better prepare for smoke.

Show notes:

It's Air Quality Awareness Week and National Wildfire Awareness Month, so... we've got a really cool episode. We're talking with Richard Deng, a freshman in high school, who after experiencing a series of smoky summers decided to dedicate his time to making an air quality prediction tool that has now won multiple science fair awards. Lauren and Dylan talk with Richard about what exactly inspired him to make this tool, how he did it, what it can accomplish and where he'll be taking it next.

Show notes: https://deqblog.com/2022/05/04/ep11-youthinnovation/

To celebrate Earth Day/Week/Month, Lauren and Dylan are talking about environmental justice and diversity, equity and inclusion - not just in general, but how this conversation is evolving at DEQ specifically.

Show notes: https://deqblog.com/2022/04/14/environmental-justice/