Contact Person(s):

Connie Seles,
Kalamazoo County Department of Human Services
Business Env. Education and Assistance Program
tel 616-373-5389

 

	Kalamazoo County is almost entirely dependent on groundwater sources for public and private drinking water supplies. Responding to significant groundwater contamination resulting from historic activities, the Kalamazoo County Human Services Department proposed countywide action that resulted in a pollution prevention program assisting all businesses and institutions in the county. Significant groundwater contamination problems identified in the 1980s prompted the Kalamazoo County Department of Human Services to examine county initiatives to protect this resource. At the same time, state-funded groundwater compliance inspection programs administered by the Department identified and helped correct a number of potential pollution sources. The Department, guided by its environmental health director, concluded that the County should take a more aggressive role in preventing groundwater pollution. Based on recommendations from the Department, the County Commission, with an impetus from two environmentally concerned Commissioners, turned to the County's Environmental Concerns Committee to draw up a groundwater strategy. The committee recommended a groundwater protection regulation similar to one adopted by Washtenaw County. The regulation would have levied a fee on regulated industries to support a hazardous materials inspection program. Regulated businesses objected to the fee and to increased inspections and urged a voluntary, educational approach instead. Heeding the business community's concerns, the County Commission approached the Kellogg Foundation and secured a grant to establish the Business Environmental Education and Assistance Program, housed within the Human Services Department. In addition, the County committed public funds to support the coordinator position. The program, launched in November 1995, includes creation of a pollution prevention library for the business community; educational outreach programs for businesses, including workshops; and free and confidential audits for businesses to help them determine how to minimize pollution problems while saving money and reducing waste. The County provides approximately $45,000 in general funds annually to support the program. Kellogg Foundation funds continue to support program costs as well.
	An initial - and continuing - challenge to the program is the reluctance of businesses to trust government as a partner in providing technical assistance and education programs. A second major challenge is the diversity of business pollution prevention needs and problems.
	Lack of trust between business and government has been a central issue in Kalamazoo County. Suspicious that even educational efforts can lead to regulation, the business community was slow to respond initially. But continuing contact between businesses participating in the educational and outreach programs and the program's coordinator are improving relations and helping to identify new opportunities for cooperation and education. As it becomes clear that the County will not pursue regulation in the foreseeable future, and as the program matures, the County expects significant progress toward the goal of preventing groundwater contamination.
	From August 1997 to May 1998, the County estimates that workshops and displays reached 637 persons, while pollution prevention promotions reached 139,000 persons. The program's development has revealed that pollution prevention needs and opportunities are almost as varied as the business community itself. The program coordinator has worked in the last year to expand the variety of services offered. An example is the County's recent hosting of a program to demonstrate environmental stewardship and pollution prevention opportunities on golf courses. Another recent initiative was a hazardous waste management workshop integrating pollution prevention. The program coordinator also attempts to add a local component to national or state initiatives, adding a local print shop tour to the Michigan Lithographic Printing Industry Guidebook Workshop, and showcasing local businesses who have reduced waste prior to the EPA Waste Wise satellite downlink in June. These and other workshops are organized collaboratively with local business, environmental agencies such as the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and professional organizations. The program now enjoys growing support in the regulated community. Future plans include stronger links with the DEQ's Environmental Assistance Division on the Great Printers Project and other industry partnerships and expansion of workshops for industry sectors.

Institute of Water Research - MSU
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