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Harney County to provide on-site wastewater services for Baker, Union and Wallowa under intergovernmental agreements
Summary
Harney County authorized county leadership to sign three IGAs with the Oregon DEQ and neighboring counties to take over on-site septic approvals and inspections for Baker, Union and Wallowa counties, with operations to start June 1 after local ordinances and fee schedules are adopted.
Harney County Court authorized Judge William Hart on April 1 to sign three intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) that will expand Harney County’s environmental-health on-site wastewater services to Baker, Union and Wallowa counties, under an agreement coordinated with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
Environmental Health Specialist Jesse Barnes briefed the court: DEQ is consolidating coverage in northeastern Oregon after the state position for that region was vacated and not replaced. Barnes said the IGAs, drafted in consultation with DEQ and the Department of Justice, are intended to let Harney County provide timely on-site permit reviews, inspections and local enforcement support so commercial and residential permitting does not stall while the state’s staffing model changes.
Under the agreements, Harney County will provide qualified personnel (a supervisor to be based in La Grande is planned) and operational capacity; the state will continue to handle large commercial systems (those that exceed 2,500 gallons per day) and nutrient-limited systems, and the DEQ will assist with enforcement where necessary. Each receiving county still must adopt or confirm an on-site wastewater ordinance and a local fee schedule (the IGAs contemplate adoption of the state-aligned fee schedule for these services). DEQ supplies a monthly surcharge reconciliation and will remit prior balances for open permits in each jurisdiction when Harney County becomes the service provider.
Barnes said the proposed start date is June 1, 2025, to give the counties time to adopt ordinances and give Harney time to hire and equip staff; Harney County will remit the DEQ surcharge and administer local permitting under the agreement. County counsel and Harney staff reviewed the IGAs and found no legal concerns in the draft.
The court approved a motion authorizing Judge Hart to sign the three IGAs and instructed staff to circulate copies to the partner counties and to DEQ for execution. Officials said scanned, signed copies would be acceptable to expedite the process and that the county would archive fully executed versions once received.
What’s next: Harney County will recruit and equip an on-site wastewater supervisor in La Grande, the partner counties must adopt ordinances and fee schedules, and Harney staff will begin operational steps so services can begin June 1 if all approvals are received.
