Public meetings of the Oregon Sustainability Board are held quarterly at various locations throughout the state. All meeting dates, times and locations are subject to change, and additional meetings may be added at the call of the chair.
Next public meeting: November 15, 2019, Location TBD.
Public Comment
Meetings provide opportunity for public comment. If you would like to address the Board, please view guidelines for public comment.
Alternate formal request
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Board will provide PDF documents on this page in an alternate format upon request. Please contact David Wortman at david.wortman@oregon.gov.
2019 meetings
September 12-13, 2019 Agenda
May 17, 2019 Agenda
February 15, 2019 Agenda
2018 meetings
Every product has an environmental "footprint" - the resources used and pollutants released over the life of the product. This includes a product's production, use and management at end of life. The "carbon footprint" is the most common type of footprint, but businesses are exploring other types of footprints as well, addressing issues such as the water used to make products, or the toxic chemicals released over their life.
The Board collaborated with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the State of Washington and an advisory group of stakeholders from across Oregon and Washington to evaluate the potential benefits and challenges inherent in product-level environmental footprinting. Three projects emerged from this collaboration: Case studies, and analyses of food and concrete.
Case studies
Businesses use product environmental footprinting to assess environmental conditions, identify opportunities for improvement, uncover business potential and communicate with customers. Case studies developed for the project include:
Food
Food footprint documents are posted on the Oregon DEQ website. These studies summarize existing product footprinting literature regarding the environmental impacts of a variety of foods - some of which are produced in Oregon, and others not produced here but consumed in significant quantities in Oregon. This information may be helpful to producers and purchasers working to reduce environmental impacts of foods. To understand the context and parameters of this project, begin your exploration with the project Foreward.
There are several food study reports for tomatoes, wine, port, land-based aquaculture, beer, coffee and citrus fruits and juices. You will also find reports on transportation as well as packaging and wasted food.
Sign up for email updates on category-level product environmental footprinting of foods.
Concrete
In partnership with the Oregon Concrete and Aggregate Producers Association, DEQ has made available to all concrete producers in Oregon a tool that allows them to calculate the carbon footprint of each of their different concrete mixes. The state of Oregon is also providing support for verifying these calculations so that they can be shared with customers in a format called an "environmental product declaration."
The OSB, in collaboration with DAS and the Governor's office, has completed a survey of state agency leadership and staff on the topic of sustainability. The survey's aim was to evaluate agency leadership and staff levels of knowledge and support, priorities, perceived challenges and needs with respect to sustainability. Over 330 agency leaders and 1,200 staff members responded to the survey. Both groups indicated strong support for sustainability in their responses.
 FINAL Sustainability Survey Report 10-01-18.pdf John Miller, Chair John Miller is the president of Wildwood, Inc., a “green” urban design and development firm. He is also founder and owner of Mahonia Vineyards and Nursery, producer of premium wines sold under the Mahonia Vineyard label and grower of Northwest native and ornamental plants, using sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. John is also a founding member and past president of the Willamette Partnership board.
Rex Burkholder, Getting to 2100
Trained as a biologist, Rex Burkholder has worked as a science teacher and in NorthWest forests. He is a founder and policy director of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance. Burkholder also co-founded the Coalition for a Livable Future, bringing together over 100 diverse non-profit organizations in the greater Portland region. He was a member of the Metro Council from 2000-2012, where he led efforts to reform regional transportation policy and to integrate climate change into the decisions of all levels of government. As a volunteer, Rex founded the Oregon Outdoor Education Coalition in 2014. Currently he provides strategic advice to non-profit organizations, runs political campaigns and leads volunteer restoration crews in local parks.
Serena Dietrich, Sustainability Business ConsultantA seasoned Sustainability Professional with over 15 years combined experience in the transportation, project management and beverage industries implementing operational efficiency strategies, new product development, strategic business planning, and sustainable organizational roadmapping. Currently positioned as the Operations Director for the Oregon Outdoor Alliance, an organization that unifies and inspires the outdoor community with events, resources and advocacy while supporting the vibrant and growing outdoor industry in Oregon. Serves as a board member for several initiatives at industry, state, local, and non-profit levels. Committed to making the world a better place one day at a time, both professionally and personally, and helping organizations do the same in areas that matter most to them.
Dr. Lisa Gaines, Institute of Natural Resources, Oregon State UniversityLisa has more than 20 years of experience working with universities, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations to develop and manage multi-institutional natural resource and international development projects and programs. Within INR she leads multi-institutional research and science review teams, facilitates planning and policy dialogues, develops and implements policy research, leads multi-institutional proposal development teams. Her areas of interest and experience include the human dimensions of environmental risk, environmental policy and decision-making, citizen participation, evaluation, and international transboundary waters.
Dr. Roje Gootee, Rush Creek RanchRoje co-owns and manages Rush Creek Ranch, 3,083 acres of forest and rangeland in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon. Dr. Gootee is a former United States Forest Service employee, having worked as a Range Conservationist on the Modoc National Forest, and a Forester on the Sam Houston and Mount Hood National Forests. She now works as a private consultant specializing in natural resource stewardship and policy, in addition to managing her family’s ranch. She holds a baccalaureate degree in Forest Science from Utah State University, and a Ph.D. in Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences from Washington State University. Her research focuses on the social and legal interface between private forests and environmental regulatory policy.
David Gremmels, Owner, Rogue CreameryDavid Gremmels is the President of Rogue Creamery, an artisan cheese making company. He is past Chairman of the American Cheese Society and a leader in promoting and supporting American cheese. Rogue River Blue was the first American blue cheese to win World's Best Blue and Grand Reserve Champion over all cheeses at the 2003 World Cheese Awards in London. He is the recipient of the 2010 Excellence in Marketing award from the Oregon Department of Agriculture. In 2006 he received the United Way of Jackson County’s Community Spirit Award. A benchmark of sustainability was accomplished in 2012 with the installation of a solar system offsetting 48% of the company's energy use. He is now moving towards complete reliance on renewable energy.
Lori Hollingsworth, Owner, Back in Touch MassageFormerly the mayor of Lincoln city, Lori currently works as a licensed massage therapist.
Mark Nystrom, City of Eugene Climate Resilience OfficeMark is the acting sustainability manager (AIC) and climate recovery ordinance analyst for the City of Eugene. Responsible for creating the City’s Climate Action Plan 2.0, he currently coordinates the City’s sustainability efforts, including supporting the Climate Action Plan 2.0 equity panel, the Sustainability Commission and other citywide efforts. As a consultant Mark has provided policy research, coalition building, political strategies and land use planning services for clients including the Association of Oregon Counties, Metro and Hood River County. Living in Eugene, Mark also teaches a Public and Nonprofit Financial Management course to undergraduates at University of Oregon and a Lobbying Seminar to both graduate and undergraduate students.
Rory Schmick, Stillwater EnergyRory is Stillwater's client operations lead, ensuring successful delivery of Energy Trust of Oregon's Strategic Energy Management (SEM) program. Rory has over 15 years of experience in program and energy management, including several years spent as an executive energy program sponsor at a major food processing manufacturer. There, Rory supported SEM implementation through the development and coaching of energy champions. Rory holds a B.A. in Geography from University of Colorado. |
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