Chuckie Green Awarded Lifetime Environmental Merit Award from EPA

On September 14, Chuckie Green, a citizen of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, was recognized by the EPA for improving the environment across New England with the Lifetime EPA Environmental Merit Award. Chuckie joined 11 other individuals in receiving the honor from EPA New England this year. Chuckie was the only individual from Cape Cod to be recognized this year.

 Chuckie’s work represents significant progress toward advancing environmental justice and improving water and air quality in his community. He recently retired in January 2021 as natural resources director of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, having benefited his tribe and community since his teenage years.

Motivated to make a difference in the lives of others, Chuckie served on the Mashpee, Massachusetts board of selectmen from 2000 through 2009. In 2008, he became chair of the board of selectmen, a position not filled by a Mashpee Wampanoag tribal member in 30 years.

Chuckie also served as a leader in the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe as vice chairman from 1993 to 1996 and as tribal historic authority director and preservation officer from 2006 to 2012.

Chuckie was on the Mashpee Conservation Commission and was a district supervisor for the Barnstable County Conservation District from 1992 to 2000. He became district supervisor again in 2010.

Through all these roles, protecting the tribe’s natural resources was a priority. Still, Chuckie’s greatest gift to the environment was forming the tribe’s Natural Resources Department in March of 2008 using an EPA grant. Chuckie served as director and assistant director of the department.

In 1995, Chuckie helped establish the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge partnership involving eight conservation landowners. From 2000 to 2012, he served on a board overseeing the Superfund cleanup of the former Otis Air Force Base. In 2008, he established the Mashpee Water Collaboration in partnership with the tribe, the town, and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth to monitor the water quality of nearby waterways.

In 2012, Chuckie established a project addressing nitrogen-loading and fish kill in the Mashpee River and Popponesset Bay system. And in 2012, he started an environmental science camp for tribal youth.

Since 2010, Chuckie has partnered with the US Army Corp of Engineers to mitigate algea growth and restore habitat in Santuit Pond. Chuckie’s lifetime investment in environmental leadership and cultural preservation will have a lasting impact on Mashpee Wampanoag tribal members.

Deborah Szaro, Acting Regional Administrator EPA, Region 1, thanked Chuckie for his continued work to protect the environment. “On behalf of my colleagues at EPA New England and myself, thank you,” Said Szaro. “Your work is making a real difference in the communities across New England and helping achieve EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment.”