Memorandum of Endorsement
of the
Pollution Prevention Strategy for Michigan Agriculture
As Amended October 29, 1997
and
Agriculture Pollution Prevention Implementation Plan

Over a period of many months, with input from a variety of stakeholders, the Agricultural Industry developed a draft Pollution Prevention Strategy for Michigan Agriculture. This strategy was presented to the Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and the Director of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality on March 14, 1997. The respective agencies convened to review the draft and initiate discussions with the Agricultural Industry Group. The Amended Pollution Prevention Strategy for Michigan Agriculture (Strategy) was finalized in October 1997 with concurrence from all involved parties. In response to the Strategy, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality have created the Agricultural Pollution Prevention Implementation Plan (Implementation Plan).

The goal, as stated in the Strategy, is to provide guidance to agricultural and environmental policy makers in identifying and implementing agricultural pollution prevention activities in Michigan. In addition to the goal statement, the Strategy is a comprehensive plan that identifies objectives and lists recommendations. The willingness of the Agricultural Industry to work together and partner with local, state, and federal levels of government clearly demonstrates the cooperation and commitment necessary to move the provisions of the Strategy forward.

The Agricultural Industry has assumed a proactive, leadership role in addressing the issue of agricultural pollution prevention and fully embraces the philosophy that pollutants should be reduced through a multi-media approach. The implementation of that approach is vital if Michigan is to sustain a growing and vibrant agricultural economy and continue to effectively protect the environment and human health.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality are committed to working with the Agricultural Industry to address agricultural pollution prevention as consistent with the mission and goals of each department. With the signing of this document, we commit the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and Michigan Department of Agriculture to embrace, implement, and actively promote the concept of agricultural pollution prevention. We further agree to pursue the implementation steps outlined in the November 10, 1997 Implementation Plan to the greatest extent possible within available resources.

Dan Wyant, Director, Michigan Department of Agriculture

Russell J. Harding, Director, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality