April 27, 2005

Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester has recognized four Clean Corporate Citizens (C3s) as Gold Award winners of the Neighborhood Environmental Partners (NEP) Program. The NEP Program offers business and citizen groups the opportunity to work together to make their neighborhoods cleaner, and more attractive places to live and work.

Director Chester awarded Smurfit Stone Container Corporation - Ontonagon Mill; Pfizer Global Research and Development - Ann Arbor Laboratories; Consumers Energy - J.R. Whiting Plant; and Dow Corning - Midland Site; along with their community partners, the NEP Program Gold Award for their outstanding commitment to community based environmental projects.

"We must recognize the importance of building active relationships between businesses and their neighbors to improve the local environment across Michigan," said Director Chester. "These facilities have made an ongoing commitment to local environmental projects and have demonstrated their enthusiasm to contributing and improving their neighborhoods."

The Smurfit Stone Container Corporation and its community partners received a NEP Gold Award for their significant environmental contribution to its community by undertaking projects ranging from fish planting and habitat restoration projects, to initiating community recycling programs, and working with area schools.

The Pfizer Global Research and Development - Ann Arbor Laboratories and its community partners were awarded an NEP Gold Award for their countless volunteer hours and a significant monetary contribution to the restoration of Millers Creek in Ann Arbor.

The Consumers Energy - J.R. Whiting Plant and its community partners was awarded the NEP Gold award for their excellent work, undertaking an American Lotus Beds Project and their organization of an annual Lake Erie Shoreline Clean-Up. The Consumers Energy - J.R. Whiting Plant works closely with the Lotus Garden Club of Monroe Michigan to propagate, transplant, and protect the endangered American Lotus. They also host an annual shoreline clean-up program during National Shoreline Clean-up Week. Sixty volunteers, including the Erie Shores Birding Association and the area Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts participated in the shoreline clean-up program.

The Dow Corning - Midland Site and its community partners received a NEP Gold Award for its establishment of a community advisory panel and cooperative training program with local emergency responders that resulted in improved communication and coordination with the local community officials. Dow Corning also works in partnership with the Arnold Center to manage and recycle paper from their facility, the funds generated by the recycling program help support the center. The Arnold Center is a non-profit organization that assists physically and mentally challenged members of the community by providing them with job skills and on the job training. Dow Corning also has a partnership with another area organization, Volunteers for Recycling and they donate cardboard to the group to help fund recycling projects in the community.

To assist interested participants, the DEQ has developed a Web site that has informational materials on the program requirements, along with ideas and illustrations of community-based environmental activities. For more information on the program, go to the DEQ Web site at www.michigan.gov/deqnep, or call the Environmental Assistance Center at 1-800-662-9278.

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

Revised April 27, 2005 by Pat Watson