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Baker County authorizes Harney County to administer on-site septic permitting under DEQ rules
Summary
Baker County commissioners authorized the interim planning director to sign an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Harney County for administration of on-site wastewater permitting after DEQ vacancy left local permitting unstaffed.
Baker County commissioners on Thursday authorized Interim Planning Director Tara Michka to sign an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Harney County that will allow Harney to carry out on-site wastewater permitting and inspections under Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) rules.
Michka told the board that DEQ historically provided regional permitting and inspection services for septic systems but left a regional position unfilled last fall. Harney County offered to perform the permitting and inspections on behalf of DEQ for Baker County residents, Michka said, and the IGA documents the roles and responsibilities among DEQ, Harney County and Baker County.
Michka said the arrangement carries no direct cost to Baker County; Harney will fund its activity from the fees collected for inspections and permits. Commissioners voted to authorize Michka to sign the IGA.
The county will later bring an ordinance to the board describing how Baker County will locally implement the DEQ rules under Harney—mapped administration.
The motion to authorize the IGA carried unanimously.
