Interns Learn Inner Workings of Diamond Bar-Based AQMD

A group of summer interns is learning all about one of the most prestigious pollution control agencies in the area, right here in Diamond Bar.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) is the air pollution control agency for much of Southern California, including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.  

This summer, a total of 42 interns have been chosen to learn the inner-workings of the agency, in assignments like the chemistry laboratory, the planning department, the air quality office, the public relations department and engineering, according to the agency's spokesman, Sam Atwood.

"Students work side-by-side with air quality professionals involved in programs designed to clean the air and improve the quality of life for residents in Southern California," a press release announcing some of the recent intern appointments states.

Atwood tells Patch that the 13 governing board members each select a few of the interns, who are in both high school and college and get paid for their work studies. 

“Through this competitive and prestigious program, these students gain invaluable experience working in the largest and most advanced air quality district in the United States,” said Riverside County Supervisor John J. Benoit, who serves on the AQMD Governing Board. “Both interns [chosen by Benoit] participated in this program last summer, and we’re pleased to have them return and build on their experience.”

The length of the internships vary, but the average program runs about two months, depending on the intern's schedule.  This is the fourteenth year of the internship program.

Though this summer is all booked up, AQMD’s Governing Board members will begin accepting applications in mid-February for the 2014 summer intern program and start making their selections in April.   Interested students may request further information by emailing Intern-Apply@aqmd.gov.