Background
DEQ's Environmental Cleanup Program has grown and evolved since its inception in the 1980s. The program has reached a point where staff recognize a need to re-evaluate the program's structure, prioritization system, and how the program interacts with the public, responsible parties, and Tribal Nations. Program staff initiated the 2050 Strategic Planning Project to address this need. Strategic planning is necessary to establish priorities to guide future programmatic initiatives. This project aims to ensure that the program's work is equitable, financially sustainable, protective of the people, natural areas, and wildlife of Oregon, and flexible to new challenges moving into the future.
The first external initiative of the project is to inclusively develop a collective 2050 Vision to guide the future of the program. The Cleanup Program's strategic planning team will engage internal DEQ Cleanup staff, regulated parties, community groups, nonprofits, and Tribal Nations across Oregon to gather their input to inform the 2050 Vision.
For more information about the program, please see our fact sheet:
Cleanup Program - General Process.
The Cleanup Program has been laying the groundwork for this strategic planning project for several years, and engagement to inform the strategic plan began in 2025. Below is a timeline summarizing project phases currently planned through 2029. The project team anticipates beginning implementation in 2029.
2025: Engagement
DEQ begins engagement with relevant groups.
2026: Writing
The Cleanup Program develops the 2050 Vision and Action Plan documents using the input from these groups.
2027-2028: Legislative
DEQ develops the proposal for the 2029 legislative session based on the 2050 Vision in 2027. The following year, we will coordinate and prepare for the 2029 legislative session.
2029-2050: Implementation begins
2029 sees the beginning of engagement during the 2029 legislative session. Future legislative proposals and other actions will be taken as informed by the Action Plan.
Tribal engagement
To conduct extensive Tribal engagement, Cleanup's strategic planning team will be visiting each of the 9 Federally Recognized Tribes of Oregon in person. The team will also hold meetings with several intertribal nonprofits in Oregon and meet with tribes from neighboring states that have historic ties and cultural interests in Oregon.
Community engagement
Cleanup's strategic planning team will host in-person listening session in communities impacted by the Cleanup Program's work in each of DEQ's geographic regions across Oregon.
Nonprofit engagement
Cleanup's strategic planning team will engage environmental nonprofits though a series of virtual listening sessions to gather their feedback.
Industry engagement
Cleanup's strategic planning team will engage regulated parties though a series of virtual listening sessions to gather their feedback.
Outcomes
The outcome of this extensive engagement effort will be an inclusive 2050 Vision and Action plan for DEQ's Cleanup Program, enabling the program to be more proactive and ensuring that policies and budget decisions align with the program's mission and values. Extensive external engagement with Tribes, community members, nonprofits and regulated parties will not only shape those values but will enable the Cleanup Program to strengthen existing relationships while also forging new ones.