Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality Board Sets Public Access Forum
Members of the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Environmental Quality Board encourage residents of Eastern Oklahoma to attend a public forum scheduled for Thursday, November 6, 2025. The public forum will be held following the regular business meeting of the board.
However, there is no way to estimate how long the business meeting will last, so there is no exact time for the start of the public forum.
Therefore, attendees must plan arrival flexibility because timing will vary based on board discussion length.
Both the meeting and public forum will be held at the Northeastern State University – Event Center Community Room located at 1205 N. Grand Avenue, Tahlequah, OK 74464.
Additionally, the regular business meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. and the Environmental Quality Board is the rulemaking authority for DEQ.
Regulatory Authority + Transparency in Public Input
The board welcomes input from those concerned about Oklahoma’s environment and the regulations governing their protection.
Meanwhile, this direct public access structure reinforces regulatory transparency.
Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality board members emphasized that their role at the forum is to listen to citizens.
However, the board cannot discuss pending permits or active enforcement actions.
Therefore, the forum focus remains strictly on broader environmental issues, operational reforms, regulatory clarity and public concerns statewide.
This structure reflects a broader movement across Oklahoma Energy governance in which policy boards emphasize more clarity between rulemaking vs. enforcement to maintain separation of authority.
Additionally, stakeholders have pushed for more predictable process visibility to reduce regulatory uncertainty for industry, rural operators and municipal leadership.
Open Access + Civic Participation
The meeting and public forum are open to everyone.
Therefore, the DEQ wants broad representation beyond regulated industry sectors.
Also, direct citizen participation helps shape regulatory context before formal rule revisions occur.
Finally, DEQ leadership continues to expand access beyond Oklahoma City to increase rural and regional voice share.
To learn more about the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, visit www.oklahoma.gov/deq.
For more information regarding this event, contact Quiana Fields at (405) 702-7100.