The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) works to maintain and improve the state’s environment through various programs. Below is an overview of how each of the agency’s divisions carries out those programs.

DEQ’s Air Quality Division is charged with monitoring the air across Oklahoma, implementing the state and federal Clean Air Acts, and operating the state’s regulatory programs to ensure that public health is protected.

The Water Quality Division helps ensure a clean environment by regulating facilities that produce and distribute public drinking water and that deal with wastewater issues. Additionally, this division is responsible for maintaining water quality standards in Oklahoma’s lakes, rivers, and streams.

The Land Protection Division’s duties include inspecting and permitting hazardous waste and solid waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities. This division also manages radioactive materials, and works to restore contaminated land to safe and useful conditions.

The Environmental Complaints and Local Services Division (ECLS) is responsible for bringing the agency’s environmental programs to the local level. Environmental specialists are housed in 30 offices across the state to better accommodate citizens. ECLS provides regulatory inspections as well as technical assistance for all facilities that have a DEQ permit. ECLS also responds to all citizen complaints, concerns, or questions regarding environmental pollution.

DEQ’s Customer Services Division supports customers both inside and outside the agency through the State Environmental Laboratory, which analyzes thousands of environmental samples each year, and the Customer Assistance Program. Employees in this division answer the public’s questions about programs for air, water and soil or hazardous waste.

Additionally, an important component of a clean environment is recycling. DEQ promotes recycling both in house and in the community. DEQ employees do several things in the work place and at home to help better the environment. For more information on recycling, visit http://www.deq.state.ok.us