Governor Kotek Announces Co-Chairs of Oregon Environmental Restoration Council

Salem, OR – Today, Governor Tina Kotek announced the appointment of Michael Dembrow and Chuck Sams as co-chairs of the Oregon Environmental Restoration Council (OERC or Council). Cheyenne Holliday, Advocacy Manager at Verde, has been appointed as vice chair.

The Oregon Environmental Restoration Fund (OERF or Fund) was established in 2024 by Senate Bill 1561 to invest the proceeds of a historic, nearly $700 million settlement against Monsanto for long-term harm caused by the company’s polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) chemicals to Oregon’s land, water, fish and wildlife. The proceeds of the settlement will go to projects and purposes that benefit Oregon’s environment and its communities.

“Our natural and working lands are integral to healthy, climate-resilient communities,” Governor Kotek said. “We have a responsibility to address key environmental priorities if our state is to effectively respond and adapt to a future of increasing uncertainty. The Oregon Environmental Restoration Fund is a transformative opportunity to build a future where people can prosper, and the land can thrive.”

“This is a tremendous opportunity for us to improve the health and living conditions of Oregonians in every part of the state, year after year for the next fifty years at least,” Michael Dembrow said. “It’s especially important to have this stable source of funding right now, given our uncertain state budget and little hope for federal support for this important work. I’m honored to be given this opportunity to work with Director Sams, Cheyenne Holliday, and the other members of the new Council to design an enduring program that can really make a difference now and into the future.”

Michael Dembrow (he/him) served in the Legislature as a State Representative and State Senator (D-Portland) for over 15 years. Dembrow served as the Chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee in the Senate from 2019-2020 and co-chaired the Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources from 2023-2024. Dembrow was a chief sponsor of Senate Bill 1561.

A headshot of Dembrow can be found here.

“I am honored to be appointed by Governor Kotek to serve with former Senator Dembrow and Ms. Holliday,” Chuck Sams said. “Oregon's diverse environment must be preserved and restored now and for future generations.”

Chuck Sams (he/him) is a member of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, appointed by Governor Kotek in 2025. Sams most recently served as the Director of the National Park Service, appointed by President Biden in 2021. Sams is Walla Walla and Cayuse and is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR).

A headshot of Sams can be found here.

“I’m honored to be appointed by Governor Kotek and to serve alongside former Senator Dembrow and Chuck Sams,” Cheyenne Holliday said. “This is a pivotal moment for Oregon to restore our environment, protect natural resources, and invest in communities. I look forward to helping shape a lasting legacy of environmental and community restoration.”

Cheyenne Holliday (she/her) is the Advocacy Manager at Verde. Holliday has played an instrumental role in Oregon Water Futures and the development of the Water Policy Action Framework, a collaboration between water and environmental justice interests, Indigenous peoples, communities of color, low-income communities, and academic institutions.

A headshot of Holliday can be found here.

The Fund has been set up to function similarly to an endowment. The settlement dollars will earn investment and interest income, and, on a biennial basis, the Council will authorize the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) to distribute that income to three sub-funds:

• The Tribal Nation Natural Resource Program Fund will distribute 25% of the disbursement to federally recognized sovereign tribal nations (Tribes) in the state of Oregon. These payments will be made in equal amounts to each of the nine federally recognized Tribes who may use funds to invest in their stewardship of natural resources.
• The State Agency Program Fund will receive 50% of the disbursement to support the work of state agencies whose mission has a nexus with the settlement terms.
• The Disproportionately Impacted Community Fund will receive 25% of the disbursement. A grant program will support projects and programs that directly benefit impacted communities.

Money in the funds will be used to support projects and programs to improve Oregon’s environment and communities who have been harmed by PCBs and other toxins. The Council will initiate rulemaking in 2025 which will guide the process for distributing the funds.

Note to Editors: The Fund and Council are housed within OWEB. Six of the Oregon Environmental Restoration Fund Council members will be appointed by Governor Kotek and are not subject to Senate confirmation. Those members have not yet been appointed.

###