At a ceremony in Lansing today, Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester recognized seven Michigan business sites and their community partners with the Neighborhood Environmental Partners Program Gold Award for their outstanding commitment to environmental outreach.

The NEP Program offers business and citizen groups the opportunity to work together to improve their neighborhoods, making them cleaner and more attractive places to live and work.

"When neighbors and business work together to promote environmental stewardship everyone in Michigan benefits," said Director Chester. "These facilities along with their neighborhood partners have demonstrated an enthusiastic commitment to the environment and a willingness to improve their communities."

The seven companies receiving an award are:

- Consumers Energy - J.R. Whiting Plant

- Detroit Edison - River Rouge Power Plant

- General Motors - Flint Metal Center

- General Motors - Lansing Delta Township and Regional Stamping Plant

- General Motors Powertrain - Warren Transmission Plant

- Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation - Ontonagon Mill

- U.S. Army Garrison - Detroit Arsenal

Further information on the NEP Program is available on the DEQ Web site at, www.michigan.gov/deqnep, or by calling the DEQ, 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.

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

Revised July 31, 2008 by Pat Watson