The Clean Michigan Initiative (CMI) is a $675 million general obligation bond approved by the voters on November 3, 1998, and implemented under the authority of Section 6(1) of Part 196, Clean Michigan Initiative Implementation, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended (NREPA). The $675 million bond is broken into several categories, with $335 million targeted specifically for "response activities at facilities."  The primary objectives of the CMI Brownfield Program is to clean up contaminated sites that will also promote redevelopment. Successful brownfield redevelopment reduces urban sprawl and development pressures on open space and farm land. The law authorizes the Department of Environmental Quality to spend the $335 million in the following manner:

Not less than $40 million nor more than $60 million of the $335 million is to be used at contaminated facilities that pose an imminent or substantial endangerment to the public health, safety, or welfare, or to the environment.

Each year, the Remediation and Redevelopment Division submits a proposal to the Legislature requesting funding for sites under the CMI. To date, $230,405,000 has been appropriated for use at 791 projects. Individual project summaries can be found on the internet. Community input on projects is an essential part of the appropriation cycle, as cities, villages, townships and counties are solicited to nominate specific sites that they see as having redevelopment potential, or that have significant environmental concerns. For more information on the site nomination process, please contact your local Remediation and Redevelopment Division District Office.