Choctaw Nation Helps Residents Monitor Outdoor Air Quality

DURANT, Okla. – Choctaw Nation Environmental Protection Service (CNO EPS) is installing air quality indication flags at all Choctaw Nation Head Start locations across the reservation.

The color-coded flag system is based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Air Quality Index (AQI) and is designed to help educators, parents, and community members easily understand daily air pollution levels. Each morning, staff will raise a flag—green, yellow, orange, red, or purple—indicating the day’s air quality and any necessary precautions.

“This program is about more than just flags—it’s about teaching our children and communities to be aware of the environment around them,” said James Patson, environmental specialist for the CNO EPS Air Quality Division. “The Air Quality Flag Program reflects our broader commitment to environmental stewardship and public health,” said Parsons.