Klamath Basin Water DEQ close KF office 062505

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will close its Klamath Falls branch office, 700 Main St., after 5 p.m. Friday, June 30.

Over the past few years DEQ has streamlined its air quality permit program for medium- and smaller-sized companies. In addition, state General Fund contributions to the program have been shrinking, prompting DEQ to reduce its costs accordingly.

After June 30, the air quality program in Lake and Klamath counties will be coordinated from DEQ’s Eastern Region office in Bend. All other DEQ programs serving those counties will continue to be administered from Bend.

The local Klamath Falls area air quality program will continue to be administered by the Klamath County Environmental Health program (contact: Delbert Bell, Manager, Environmental Health, 883-1122). However, open burn permits for construction, demolition, industrial or commercial wastes will require a special letter permit from the DEQ Bend office. Information on DEQ’s open burning and other programs can be found at the DEQ Web site http://www.deq.state.or.us/.

Because customer service is a priority, residents may place calls toll-free through the DEQ Portland office at 1-800-452-4011 to be routed to the Bend office for assistance. The DEQ Bend office may also be reached at (541) 388-6146.

“Closing this office will help us balance our air quality budget by aligning our resources with our revenues,” said Peter Brewer, DEQ air quality manager in Bend.

DEQ to Close Klamath Falls Branch Office

Lake and Klamath will be served from DEQ’s office in Bend