Winter 2021

Inside this edition:

• Hernandez honored for lengthy MDAQMD board service
• Former board member passes away
• New staffers join MDAQMD to kick off 2021
• Submission period opens for Carl Moyer grant applications
• Air Quality Planner retires after 15 years at MDAQMD
• Burning for heat? Learn how to do it the right way

But first...

Mayor Abel, Mayor Pro tem Leon selected to lead MDAQMD Governing Board

New members from Adelanto, Barstow, Hesperia, Victorville, San Bernardino County 1st District also sworn in

The Governing Board of the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District has new leadership to kick off 2021.

The board unanimously agreed at its first meeting of the year to appoint Yucca Valley Mayor Merl Abel as its chair for 2021. The board also selected Apple Valley Mayor Pro tem Kari Leon to serve as vice chair.

Abel and Leon each joined the MDAQMD decision-making body after being elected in their respective municipalities in 2018. Abel replaces Needles Mayor Jeff Williams in the MDAQMD Chair role. Williams served as Chair in 2019 and 2020 and continues as a member of the MDAQMD Governing Board. Leon replaces Carmen Hernandez, who served on the MDAQMD board through her elected position as Mayor Pro tem on the Barstow City Council until November 2020.

“I would personally like to thank Yucca Valley Mayor Merl Abel for stepping up to chair our board, and Apple Valley Mayor Pro tem Kari Leon assuming the role as vice chair,” said Brad Poiriez, Executive Director of MDAQMD. “They've already shown their ability to lead and engage their fellow board members and the public.”

The MDAQMD Governing Board also swore in five new primary members at its Jan. 25 meeting.

Joining the board are Adelanto City Councilmember Stevevonna Evans; Barstow City Councilmember Tim Silva; Hesperia Mayor Pro tem Brigit Bennington; Col. (Ret.) Paul Cook, elected in 2020 as San Bernardino County 1st District Supervisor; and Victorville City Councilmember Elizabeth "Liz" Becerra. Bennington and Becerra were also elected to their respective councils in the 2020 general election.

“Five new board members were sworn in at our first board meeting of 2021, and I’m elated that we had 12 out of 13 board members participating both in person and virtually for this meeting,” Poiriez said. “I’m eager to work with our new board members in continuing our mission to protect the air quality for our constituents.”

The MDAQMD Governing Board is the decision-making body for the District. The board is responsible for adopting rules, setting policies and providing direction on important air quality issues that affect the Mojave Desert.

Hernandez honored for lengthy MDAQMD service

Former Barstow Mayor Pro tem served on air district board for eight years

The Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District this week formally thanked and recognized the service of Carmen Hernandez as her time on its governing board ended.

Hernandez was elected to the Barstow City Council in 2012. Shortly after election results were certified, Hernandez’ peers appointed her to serve on the MDAQMD Governing Board. Hernandez remained in that seat for the entirety of her two Barstow City Council terms, the latter of which ended in November 2020 as a result of the general election.

Read more on Hernandez' service

MDAQMD mourns passing of Paul Russ

Paul Russ, a former mayor and councilmember of Hesperia, passed away on Jan. 21. He was 61. Russ was elected to the Hesperia City Council in 2014 and served as its mayor in 2017. The council appointed Russ to serve as its representative on the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District’s Governing Board in December 2015, a role he maintained until his council term ended following the November 2018 general election. MDAQMD is grateful for Mr. Russ’ service and commitment to the Mojave Desert. We extend our condolences to his family. Image courtesy of the Victorville Daily Press

Permits & Compliance

MDAQMD operational numbers at a glance

As of Feb. 10, 2021

• Active Permits: 4,469
• Permitted Active Facilities: 1,329

November 2020 through January 2021

• Applications received: 99
• Complaints: 27
• Violation notices: 38
• Certificates of Occupancy: 102

MDAQMD welcomes new staffers to kick off 2021

Just as 2020 saw a year of fluidity for the staff at MDAQMD, so too is 2021 already starting off with changes 

Michele Bullock joined MDAQMD as Office Assistant in January. She's been a mainstay in the High Desert for 35 years. She’s been married to her husband, Dan, for 13 years and together they share eight kids. An Army veteran, Michele’s hobbies include gardening, home improvement, reading, camping, fishing and trying new food.

Artem Pishchanetskiy started in February as Fiscal Speicalist II. Artem moved to the High Desert from Russia about 24 years ago, and aside from a humidifying year in Florida, has called the Mojave Desert Air Basin his home. With eight siblings, Artem attended local schools before earning his bachelor’s in business administration from Cal State San Bernardino. While working as a student lab tech at VVC, he simultaneously managed a fossil store and worked as a bookkeeper for an elementary school. Artem’s hobbies include chess, hiking, camping, reading and rock climbing.

MDAQMD Air Quality Planner Tracy Walters, left, and Deputy Director of Mojave Operations Alan De Salvio on Walters' last day with the district. Walters is retiring after 15 years of service and 19 with San Bernardino County.

Air Quality Planner retires after 15 years at MDAQMD

Tracy Walters previously worked at San Bernardino County for nearly 2 decades

While we welcomed two new faces to our team, the MDAQMD staff bid farewell to Tracy Walters as she retired after 15 years of service.

Walters joined the district in 2006 as an air quality specialist. She moved up to air quality planner, lead air quality planner and later air quality planner II, a role she would maintain until she retired on Feb. 12.

Prior to coming to work in Victorville, Walters worked as an environmental health specialist with San Bernardino County for 19 years.

Walters had a hand in "every rulemaking effort for the last 15 years," said Alan De Salvio, MDAQMD Deputy Director of Operations. 

Walters says she's grateful for the years she's spent at the District.

"How do you sum up 15 years in one or two sentences?" she said with a laugh. "I have made many lasting friendships and will miss the daily interactions that made the years go by so pleasantly."

Application submission period open for Carl Moyer grants

The MDAQMD Grants Section is now accepting applications for the 2021 Carl Moyer Program funding for emissions reduction projects within our jurisdiction. The mission of the program is to improve local air quality by funding local, cost-effective projects to upgrade heavy-duty diesel equipment using proven technologies and procedures that reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx), particulate matter (PM) and reactive organic gases (ROG) from diesel-powered engines. The application period closes on March 31. Funding is provided by California Air Resources Board’s (ARB) Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program and DMV Surcharge Fees. Since the MDAQMD began its participation in the program, the District has awarded more than $13 million to eligible projects. Learn more and download an application packet

Choose wisely when burning for heat!

The Mojave Desert AQMD does not have in place a woodsmoke rule. However, we've developed this informational outreach program, Learn Before You Burn, to help you when you choose to burn and how you burn yard waste for disposal, and how you burn to heat your home.

As the nights continue to drop to near-freezing temperatures, we know that many within our jurisdiction choose to heat their homes partly by wood-burning.

We encourage residents to consider alternatives to wood-burning as its smoke can negatively impact local air quality. However, if there are no alternatives to wood-burning:

Burn the right wood: Save money and time. Burn only dry, seasoned wood and maintain a hot fire.

The right way: Keep your home safer. Have a certified technician install and annually service your appliance.

Visit the Learn Before You Burn page

Brad Poiriez, Executive Director/Air Pollution Control Officer

MDAQMD is the air pollution control authority and permitting agency for the High Desert portion of San Bernardino County and the Palo Verde Valley in Riverside County. It’s governed by a board of 13 members representing nine incorporated municipalities and two counties within its boundaries:

Air Mail is a quarterly newsletter published by the Communications section of the MDAQMD.