Morongo Air Quality Program Recognized for Excellence, Outreach

From Morongo Band of Mission Indian’s: Citing the Morongo Band of Mission Indian’s outstanding commitment to protecting air quality, the environment and community health, a consortium of environmental agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has presented the tribe with the prestigious 2018 Virgil Masayesva Tribal Air Programs Excellence Award.

The award, presented Thursday, May 16 at the National Tribal Forum on Air Quality Management in Carlton, Minn., recognizes Morongo’s multi-faceted Air Quality Program, administered by the tribe’s Environmental Protection Department.

“The Morongo Air Quality Program has a dedicated staff with personal and professional devotion to tribal causes, air quality issues, and education outreach,” Ann Marie Chischilly, executive director of Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals, wrote in a letter informing Morongo of the honor.

The Morongo program conducts air-quality assessments and adjustments to improve indoor air quality at Morongo schools, business enterprises and homes. For more than a decade, the Morongo’s Air Monitoring Station has measured two criteria pollutants, particulate matter and ozone, in the region. The program’s education efforts range from daily online air quality alerts posted on its websites to regular school presentations. Morongo also helps strengthen intertribal air quality programs as part of the Southern California Tribal Air Monitoring Collaborative.

“Morongo has a long history of environmental stewardship and that includes monitoring and protecting local air quality to protect the health of our reservation residents and our surrounding communities,” Tribal Chairman Robert Martin said. “Our tribe is honored to receive this recognition, which recognizes the commitment, hard work and leadership of our Environmental Protection Department in safeguarding regional air quality.”

The award’s namesake, Virgil Masayesva of the Hopi Tribe, was the co-founder and former director of the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals at Northern Arizona University where he provided support and resources to tribal leaders in the protection of natural resources for the benefit of all.

This special award was presented on behalf of the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals, the Tribal Air Monitoring Support Center and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Center for Radiation Field Operations at the National Tribal Forum on Air Quality Management.

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