Environmental Assistance Program helps Michigan businesses understand environmental laws

Contact: Brad Wurfel 517-241-7397

Agency: Natural Resources

Feb. 23, 2011

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment's Environmental Assistance Program has released its 2010 Annual Report, which outlines a successful past year of helping Michigan businesses comply with environmental laws.

A new addition to the EAP outreach component in 2010 was the Environmental Results Program, designed to help auto body shops understand the new federal standards that became effective in January, 2011. The standards, meant to minimize the release of toxic metals contained in paint overspray, stem from a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule. They affect more than 1,800 Michigan licensed auto body shops.

At 32 pages, the new rule is complex and many operators reported frustration with it. The DNRE program, designed to increase awareness, understanding and compliance, included more than 30 training sessions sponsored by industry distributors and the Automotive Service Association of Michigan. The effort reached nearly 1,500 painters and shop owners.

To learn more about how the EAP is helping Michigan businesses and residents, go to www.michigan.gov/environmentalassistance and select "Environmental Assistance Program Annual Report 2010."