Senate Bill 726 will require better methane monitoring and mitigation at Coffin Butte.
One of 350 Salem OR’s legislative objectives this year was passage of SB 726, which will require better monitoring and mitigation of methane leaks at the Coffin Butte landfill beginning in 2027.
The bill was co-sponsored by our own Senator Deb Patterson and was strongly supported in the House Climate, Energy, and Environment Committee by Representative Tom Andersen. The bill will require the use of advanced methane detection technology, such as drones, to pinpoint methane leaks so that they can be eliminated.
Methane is 28 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than CO2 and is the reason why over 14% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. come from landfills. The Coffin Butte landfill, where most of Salem’s garbage is now going with the closure of the Reworld incinerator, has had a terrible record of controlling methane leakages and is considered to be a “super-emitter,” according to EPA standards. An EPA inspection of just a small portion of the landfill a year ago found 41 leaks that exceeded EPA limits, including 10 that were 20 times above the limit. Hopefully, SB 726 will address this beginning in 2027.
Thanks to Senator Patterson and Representative Anderson for their good work in passing this bill!
The People’s Right to a Healthy Environment Amendment has kicked into high gear!
Everyone has the right to a healthy environment. Everyone needs clean air, clean water, and a stable climate to survive and thrive.
The Oregon Coalition for an Environmental Rights Amendment (OCERA) is starting an initiative campaign to get a constitutional amendment–protecting our rights to a healthy environment–on the November 2026 ballot. We will need 200,000 signatures to get it on the ballot.
To learn more, contact 350 Salem Co-coordinator Phil Carver. He can be reached at: Philiphcarver “at” gmail “dot” com
What are the impacts of federal initiatives on climate?
Our 350 Salem radio show, The Elephant in the Room, explores the impact of federal initiatives on climate. Susan Smith, retired Willamette University environmental law professor, talks with host Tom Ellis about the Trump administration’s actions to roll back climate research, climate awareness and environmental protection. Smith highlights legal and political tools that citizens and policymakers have to fight back. LISTEN
Looking ahead …
Dear friends, we are looking at a difficult and uncertain future in our country. So many people are in danger and so much that we cherish is at risk. At the same time, we see an outpouring of resolve to protect our Earth and everything we hold dear. We at 350 Salem OR are in this struggle for the long haul, continuing to act for climate justice and looking for opportunities to act in solidarity with others who hold fast to the hope for a healthy, just, inclusive and compassionate world. Join us!
“Fifty years from now people will likely look back on this era through the lens of having seen catastrophic climate changes that we cannot even imagine. Our legacy will depend on the level of moral courage we display in this difficult challenge.”
— 350 Salem OR Co-coordinator Phil Carver