The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in April awarded $191,397 in Community Pollution Prevention (P2) grant funding to nine communities across Michigan for projects focusing on preventing chemical hazards in our schools. The grants create opportunities to promote waste reduction of school chemicals by removing excess, unused and improperly stored chemicals and implementing programs that minimize the use of toxic chemicals and maintain inventory systems.

MEC proposed the Community Pollution Prevention Program in 1996. Former Senator and current State Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith offered the amendment that created the program, which sets aside a share of unredeemed bottle deposit funding for pollution prevention activities.

"This program gives schools the opportunity to ensure the safety of our children," said DEQ Director Steven E. Chester. "It teaches environmental responsibility and helps students understand the risks of toxic chemicals."

The communities receiving funding are as follows:

• Brandywine Community Schools, Berrien County; $5,556
• Bronson Community Schools, Branch County; $23,593
• Clinton County Department of Waste Management, Clinton County; $24,000
• Copper Country Intermediate School District, Houghton County; $18,328
• Rochester Community Schools, Oakland County; $24,000
• Romeo Community Schools, Macomb County; $24,000
• St. Johns Public Schools, Clinton County; $24,000
• Van Buren Public Schools, Van Buren County; $24,000
• Wyandotte Public Schools, Wayne County; $23,920

The communities will be implementing various programs to support their goals, including creating chemical inventories and management plans, hazardous chemical disposal and developing alternatives to storing chemicals on site. The nie community grant recipients will be required to match the state funds by at least 25%.