City of Eugene Environmental Policy

 

The City of Eugene exists in a special and unique environment framed by conifer and oak forested hills at the south end of the Willamette River Valley. It lies between the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette Rivers to the north, and Spencer Butte to the south, from whose slopes Amazon Creek flows to the west, through the wetlands of west Eugene and on to Fern Ridge Reservoir. Eugene’s residents enjoy its clean air and water, views of the Cascade Range and Coburg Hills, diverse forest, wetland and riparian habitats, and many bike paths, trails and parks. The City of Eugene recognizes the value of these natural resources and takes responsibility for its environmental impacts both locally and regionally within the larger Willamette River watershed.

The Eugene City Council has adopted policies that direct the City to pursue sustainability (Resolution #4618), protection of natural resources (Growth Management Policy #17) and recovery of threatened Upper Willamette Spring Chinook Salmon (Resolution #4615) in its activities.

Therefore, the City of Eugene is committed to protecting, preserving and restoring the natural environment. City decision-making will be guided by the goals of increasing environmental benefits and reducing or eliminating negative environmental impacts in all aspects of the City’s activities, while maintaining the City’s fiscal integrity and the community’s economic vitality.

To achieve these goals, the City is committed to:

1. Ensure that each employee understands that they are expected to take personal responsibility for the environmental effects of their actions while performing City work.

2. Provide the leadership, training and resources needed to enable all City employees to implement this policy, and to continue to build the capacity of the organization to achieve continual environmental improvement.

3.  Meet or exceed compliance with all applicable environmental statutes, regulations, and standards.

4.  Reduce environmental impacts in all activities, including operations, maintenance, construction and waste disposal. Therefore, the City is committed to continually review all activities to identify and carry out cost-effective and achievable strategies to:

  • prevent pollution
  • reduce energy consumption and increase energy efficiency
  • conserve water
  • reduce consumption and waste
  • reuse, recycle, and purchase recycled content products
  • reduce reliance on non-renewable resources.
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    5.  Consider long-term as well as short-term environmental consequences when making planning, designing, engineering, purchasing, contracting, and budgeting decisions, including the impacts of producing, using, and disposing of materials.

    6.  Provide leadership and share information about the City’s environmental practices to encourage and support efforts to protect, preserve and restore the natural environment.

    7.  Work in partnership with local, state and federal agencies, local businesses, educational institutions, community groups and the general public to protect, preserve and restore the natural environment in our community and the surrounding region.