The National Pollution Prevention Roundtable's (NPPR) officially recognized Michigan as a national leader in environmental innovation when it announced its 10^th Annual Most Valuable Pollution Prevention Awards this week. The Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program (MTESP) and Steelcase's environmental accomplishments both received honors at an awards reception at NPPR offices in Washington DC on September 19^th.  The awards were given in honor of National Pollution Prevention Week, which runs from September 18-September 24, 2006.

The Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program (MTESP) is a voluntary proactive initiative designed to prevent pollution and increase compliance with environmental regulations on golf properties. The program represents a unique partnership between the:

·         Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

·         Michigan Department of Agriculture

·         Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Associations

·         Michigan Turfgrass Foundation

·         Michigan State University

·         Michigan Golf Course Owners Association

·         Golf Association of Michigan

The program offers a number of services including:

·         Pollution prevention education and technical assistance

·         Identification of state and federal laws affecting the golf industry;

·         On-site visits and workshops;

·         Encouraging the adoption of buffer strips to increase surface water protection, reduce mowing and enhance wildlife habitat; and

·         Public recognition for stewardship achievements.

The MTESP currently has 234 golf courses voluntarily participating in the program and has certified 63.

Steelcase's environmental accomplishments are profiled in its 2006 Environmental Report, which discusses its efforts towards environmental stewardship, sustainable operations, community engagement and social responsibility. This award demonstrates their continuing commitment to pollution prevention principles which ultimately benefit not only Steelcase and their surrounding community but all Michigan industries.   Steelcase was one of only eleven award recipients nationally making this all the more notable.

Steelcase has been a member of the Michigan Business Pollution Prevention Partnership (MBP3) since 1998 and is a recent Neighborhood Environmental Partner award recipient which is further evidence of their corporate and facility level commitments.

For more information, contact Jeff Spencer at 517-241-5719 (spencejl@michigan.gov ).

For complete information on the Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program, visit www.mtesp.org. 

Steelcase's Environmental Report can be viewed at

www.steelcase.com/na/steelcase_2006_environmental_r_ourcompany.aspx?f=16644