June 16, 2005

The Department of Environmental Quality is awarding $211,120 in 2005 Community Pollution Prevention (P2) Grant funding to 11 communities. The funding will be used for projects focusing on preventing chemical hazards in Michigan schools. The grants create opportunities to promote waste reduction of school chemicals by not only cleaning out excess, unused, and improperly stored chemicals, but also implementing programs that minimize the use of toxic chemicals and maintain inventory systems.

“This program gives schools the opportunity to reduce hazardous material and provide long term solutions that will keep our children safe,” said DEQ Director Steven E. Chester. “Practicing waste reduction and pollution prevention in schools teaches environmental responsibility and helps instill an understanding of the risks of toxic chemicals.”

The communities receiving funding are as follows:

• Ann Arbor Public Schools, Washtenaw County; $20,000

• Blissfield Community Schools, Lenawee County; $15,200

• Comstock Public Schools, Kalamazoo County; $18,000

• Detroit Public Schools, Wayne County $23,940

• Fennville Public Schools, Allegan County; $15,000

• Forest Hills Public Schools, Kent County; $20,000

• Grand Rapids Public Schools, Kent County; $21,000

• Hesperia Community Schools, Newaygo County; $11,000

• Lansing School District, Ingham County; $24,000

• North Star Academy, Marquette County; $22,980

• Parchment School District, Kalamazoo County; $20,000

The schools will be implementing various programs to support their goals including creating chemical inventories and management plans, hazardous chemical disposal, and developing alternatives to storing chemicals on site. The 11 community grant recipients will be required to match the state funds by at least 25 percent.

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

Revised June 16, 2005 by Pat Watson