November 22, 2004

Michigan has received a $750,000 Challenge Grant to collaborate on the design and implementation of a model Homeland Security electronic submission capability. This will allow the states to make their environmental, health, and safety information available to national security, law enforcement, intelligence communities, and the general public in support of the federal government’s National Strategy for Homeland Security.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Strategic Plan for Homeland Security identified the effective management and sharing of this information as one of the four mission-critical areas for supporting the National Strategy for Homeland Security. The proposal will provide states with an infrastructure based on Exchange Network technologies, to support secure and timely availability of their environmental, health, and safety information.

Michigan also received a $300,000 Implementation Grant to develop an online report to electronically submit, Hazardous Chemical Inventory information (Tier II) and Annual Wastewater Reports from permitted facilities to the state. Any entity doing business in the state that either discharges "wastewater" to the water of the state, or to a sewer system is required to submit annual reports under the AWR Program. This does not include a municipal corporation or governmental unit or agency or automotive service station, laundromat, or car wash.

The Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (also known as EPCRA or SARA Title III) establishes requirements for federal, state, and local governments regarding emergency planning and Right-to-Know reporting on hazardous and toxic chemicals. This law builds upon EPA's Emergency Preparedness Program and numerous state and local programs aimed at helping communities to better meet their responsibilities in regard to potential chemical emergencies. The Community Right to Know provisions help to increase the public's knowledge and access to information on the presence of hazardous chemicals in their communities and releases of these chemicals into the environment.

“It is vitally important that we maintain a proper emergency response system to ensure the health and safety of Michigan’s citizens,” said Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester. “These federal grant funds will enable the DEQ to upgrade current systems to allow for timely access of environmental data.”

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

Revised November 22, 2004 by Pat Watson