The Michigan Fruit and Vegetable Processor's Guide to Environmental Regulations is a publication of the Michigan Departments of Environmental Quality, developed in partnership with the Michigan Food Processor's Association and the Michigan Department of Agriculture.  Food processing facilities, suppliers, consultants, and regulators will all benefit from this guide, which simplifies the maze of environmental obligations facing Michigan's fruit and vegetable processing industry. The guidebook is a ready-reference tool for anyone striving toward compliance with state and federal regulations that affect food processing.  Although some reference is made to local codes, local requirements are not discussed in the guidebook in any detail. Be sure to contact your local government officials for information on applicable local requirements.

This guidebook describes how wastes may enter the environment, how to prevent them from doing so, and identifies remediation methods to use if contamination does occur. Some of the most common concerns, along with applicable solutions, are described in the chapters that follow. Topics include discharge of air pollutants; disposal of solid, liquid, and hazardous waste; material storage requirements; discharges of wastewater to municipal sewage systems, storm drains, and to the environment (land or surface waters) along with information to help assess wastewater treatment systems; and requirements for prevention and reporting of accidental releases on the land or into lakes and streams.  Each chapter targets a specific regulatory program. This Web site contains a complete version of the guidebook and allows you to download it by chapter.

The "Self-Assessment Survey" is a tool you can use to find which regulations are applicable to your specific operation. Simply answer each question in the survey "yes" or "no" to be directed to the portions of the book relevant to your business.

We would like your feedback on this guidebook. If you have some comments or suggestions on how to improve it, send an email to Steve Holmi (holmis@michigan.gov), Manager in the Environmental Assistance Program, Environmental Science and Services Division.

Michigan Fruit and Vegetable Processor's Guide to Environmental Regulations  (PDF)

Guidebook Cover
Introduction
Table of Contents
How to Use the Guidebook
Self-Assessment Survey
Chapter 1: Air Quality Regulations
Chapter 2: Waste Management
Chapter 3: Wastewater
Chapter 4: Material Storage and Transportation
Chapter 5: SARA Title III - Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
Chapter 6: Environmental Emergencies
Chapter 7: Sites of Environmental Contamination, Property Transfers, and Liability Issues
Chapter 8: Activities At or Near the Land/Water Interface
Chapter 9: Drinking Water
Chapter 10: Cost Effective Compliance and Pollution Prevention Techniques

Appendix A: Acronyms
Appendix B: Definitions of Regulated Materials
Appendix C: DEQ Overview
Appendix D: Federal and State Laws and Rules
Appendix E: Reading a Material Safety Data Sheet