Department of Natural Resources and Environment Director Rebecca Humphries welcomed Magnesium Products of America, Inc. of Eaton Rapids to the Michigan Clean Corporate Citizen Program (C3) Program, a voluntary environmental program that recognizes environmental stewardship at Michigan's facilities.

"I am pleased to welcome Magnesium Products of America to the Clean Corporate Citizen family as they demonstrate a commitment to maintaining a healthy environment as part of their daily operation," said Director Humphries.  "Magnesium Products joins this important group of Michigan businesses that are helping us live up to the commitment of protecting our natural resources throughout the state."

Magnesium Products is a die cast manufacturer that produces automotive parts for Ford, Chrysler, General Motors, and Honda, as well as many Tier 1 and 2 manufacturers.  The company employs approximately 360 employees and is owned by their parent company, Meridian Technologies, Inc. of Ontario, Canada.

"Magnesium Products of America, Inc. is proud to be an environmentally friendly member of the Eaton Rapids community for over 16 years," said Jim Kennedy, Magnesium Products of America, Inc.'s Eaton Rapids Plant Manager.  "Our facility is a certified ISO-14001, zero discharge, and community partner in the Eaton Rapids recycling center.  We are grateful to the state of Michigan for their support of our facility over the years and appreciate the recognition of Magnesium Products of America, Inc. as a certified Clean Corporate Citizen within the state of Michigan."

Magnesium Products has become the 161st Michigan facility to join the C3 Program.  The company was selected to become a C3 due to its plant-wide recycling program, as well as its aggressive efforts to reduce air emissions, energy usage, and water consumption at its facility.

The C3 designation is made to candidates that adopt facility-specific environmental management systems, have active and on-going pollution prevention initiatives at their facility, and have a consistent record of compliance with state and federal environmental requirements.  The C3 Program is open to companies regulated under any of Michigan's environmental statutes, and designations are reviewed and renewed on a regular basis.

Editor's note:  DNRE environmental news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"