Michigan agriculture is a leader with a progressive attitude toward stewardship and a collective responsibility to the environment. Several existing programs addressing environmental issues have been widely accepted by the agricultural community. An effective approach for further progress in pollution prevention will include building on the strengths of proven and accepted programs and exploring additional areas to build on.

A. The Michigan Right to Farm Act

The Michigan Right to Farm Program and associated GAAMPs were identified in the strategy as a potential model for agricultural pollution prevention. The key aspects of the Right to Farm Program are: producer participation in the design; workable, economically feasible, practical steps; voluntary actions; positive incentives rather than mandatory regulation; and, use of the Environmental Code as a basis for action against those who choose not to voluntarily address identified pollution problems. Emphasizing the economical and environmental benefits achieved by following GAAMPs can provide an effective vehicle for implementing widespread pollution prevention measures. Greater coordination and education will enhance the effectiveness of the GAAMPs.

Action Items:

1. Review and modify GAAMPs to address key environmental issues including: water quality, erosion and sediment control practices, and others; and, to facilitate adoption of pollution prevention measures. Lead: MDA.
2. Explore an industry-led environmental assurance option as a means to augment the Right to Farm program with a proactive approach (see Environmental Assurance section on pg. 8). Lead: MDA/MDEQ.
3. Continue to work with MSU-E and the agricultural industry to improve distribution of the GAAMPs. Lead: MDA.

B. Section 319, Clean Water Act Grants Program

This program will continue to operate with local level involvement emphasizing: voluntary participation; an understanding that changing practices affect farm economics; the use of established delivery systems familiar to agriculture; and, support with technical and financial assistance.

Action Items:

1. Consider pollution prevention issues when reviewing 319 proposals. Lead: MDEQ.
2. Continue administering the program on a watershed basis. Lead: MDEQ.
3. Initiate discussions on the potential of coordinating 319 grants with the Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program. Lead: MDEQ/MDA.
4. Base Best Management Practices funded by 319 grants on the USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Field Office Technical Guide to ensure consistency with Right to Farm GAAMPs. In addition, the 319 Practices should take into consideration the Midwest Plan Service. Lead: MDEQ.

C. Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act

The Michigan Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Code, P.A. 451 of 1994, protects environmental quality and provides recourse against individuals who contribute to serious pollution problems. Through an interagency Memorandum of Understanding between MDEQ and MDA, producers are given an opportunity to achieve compliance. Enforcement orders are geared toward those who cause pollution and are unwilling to comply with voluntary corrective measures. The code also addresses procedures for dealing with environmental emergencies.

Action Items:

1. Implement a policy of enforcement discretion whereby compliance with the GAAMPs is considered a good faith effort to comply with environmental regulations.  Lead: MDEQ.
2. Develop an educational program to inform producers about the procedures to follow in an environmental emergency including:

• Work with MSU-E in the development and distribution of a Farm-A-Syst tool to cover Emergency Preparedness Planning. Lead: MDA.
• Utilize supporting materials developed by MSU Extension such as the SARA Title III bulletin (5/95). Lead: MDA.
• Participate, as invited, in producer field days, seminars and training sessions highlighting the MDA Agriculture Pollution Emergency (APE) hot line for reporting pesticide, fertilizer and manure spills. Lead: MDA/MDEQ.
• Develop and distribute Farm-A-Syst and spill response program fliers and AGRITAP brochures to county offices of MSU-E, USDA-NRCS and SCD. Spill response program literature and emergency contact information will be distributed to all certified pesticide applicators in the state and spill response issues will be incorporated into certified applicator training and testing protocols. Lead: MDA.
• Promote and maintain cooperative working relationships with other agencies responsible for emergency response including Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Fire Marshal divisions, and Local Emergency Planning Committees. Lead: MDA/MDEQ.
• Incorporate spill response program and contact information in Right to Farm Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices. Lead: MDA.

D. Soil Conservation District Act

The Soil Conservation Districts as authorized by the Soil Conservation District Act (P.A. 451 of 1994, as amended, Part 93) have made major contributions to preventing both surface and groundwater pollution. The districts have assisted local producers in adopting voluntary programs focusing on such issues as erosion control and prevention, pesticide and fertilizer management, irrigation management, energy conservation, and others.

Action Items:

1. Encourage and partner with conservation districts to more actively lead a newly invigorated and coordinated pollution prevention effort with the following components: Lead: MDA/MDEQ.
• Work with conservation districts to organize local citizen workgroups to develop resource issues and solutions.
• Direct conservation district training funds towards educating directors and staff in delivering pollution prevention programs.
• Coordinate 319 watershed projects with pollution prevention programs available through USDA programs and other state and private funding sources on a regional watershed basis.
• Work with conservation districts to provide local on-site inspections and practice implementation assistance for soil erosion and sedimentation control activities.
• Encourage conservation districts to provide guidance and local support for Clean-Sweeps and Container Recycling efforts.
• Promote and implement wetland protection and restoration, tree planting, reforestation, and private forest management projects.
2. Allocate resources on a coordinated, statewide, prioritized basis. Lead: MDA.
3. Base grant awards on the following factors to maximize efficiency: Lead: MDA.
• Uniform criteria which take into consideration the ability of the grant recipient to deliver a high quality product to landowners.
• The relative risk to the specific resources addressed by each grant program and/or the needs of the community relative to the rest of the state.
4. Work with the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts to develop and implement a strategy for funding conservation districts as an important delivery system for statewide agricultural pollution prevention programs. Lead: MDA.

E. The Michigan Groundwater and Freshwater Protection Act

The Michigan Groundwater and Freshwater Protection Act assists producers in developing groundwater protection plans and provides educational resources, technical assistance, and cost-sharing. This assistance includes groundwater stewardship practices and local stewardship teams which aid assessment and problem solving. An important provision of this act is, that by adhering to groundwater stewardship practices, the farmer gains liability protection from groundwater contamination. By following groundwater stewardship practices, the producer has access to technical assistance, funding, and possible reduced insurance premiums. Groundwater and freshwater protection programs are funded by producers through pesticide and fertilizer registration fees.

Action Items: