MTESP awards
Michigan Program Receives National Environmental Award
Turfgrass stewardship program recognized for innovative pollution prevention
LANSING, MI–The Michigan departments of Agriculture (MDA) and Environmental Quality (MDEQ) are receiving national recognition for their cooperative efforts in the Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program (MTESP). Staff from MDA and MDEQ accepted the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable’s Most Valuable Pollution Prevention award in Washington D.C. this week.
“Receiving national recognition for Michigan’s MTESP demonstrates an organized effort of the turfgrass industry, state agencies, Michigan State University and environmental advocacy groups,” said Mitch Irwin, MDA director. “This unique partnership provides a solid foundation for continued success, and the increase of environmental protections statewide.”
“This award recognizes the tremendous success of this partnership,” said MDEQ Director Steven Chester. “The MTESP program encourages environmental stewardship across Michigan, and helps keep our waters clean.”
The MTESP, a voluntary self-assessment program, allows golf property managers to evaluate and improve their level of environmental protection by partnering with state and local initiatives designed to enhance the environment, prevent pollution and protect natural resources.
To date, 234 golf courses statewide voluntarily participate in the MTESP certification process, which requires regulatory compliance and implementation of practices that prevent pollution and protect water resources. As part of the program, an environmental action plan is established as a management tool to prevent potential threats from pesticides, fertilizers, fuel, and hazardous materials from negatively affecting natural resources with a special focus placed upon the protection of groundwater, which is often the source for golf course irrigation and drinking water
The Most Valuable Pollution Prevention award are made in conjunction with National Pollution Prevention Week, September 18-24, to promote initiatives that seek to avoid, eliminate, or reduce pollution at the source. For more information about this national effort, go to www.p2.org.
US Congressman, Bart Stupak presents MTESP re-certification award
June 3, 2006 marked a memorable day for The Rock on Drummond Island and golf course superintendent Craig Hoffman. The Rock was awarded their MTESP re-certification by US Congressman Bart Stupak. Congressman Stupak was at The Rock for his third annual campaign fundraiser and took the opportunity to make this presentation as part of his post-golf program. Congressman Stupak stated that “This course is one of the few in Michigan to achieve this status” and that “The Rock was the first course in the Upper Peninsula to become certified and still the only course certified in Chippewa County”.
Congressman Stupak acknowledged golf course superintendent Craig Hoffman for his proactive efforts in achieving MTESP certification and his hard work within the state to promote environmental stewardship to the golf industry. The Rock was one of the first golf courses to join the MTESP in 1998 and Craig Hoffman has been on the MTESP steering committee from “day one”. Craig was appointed by DEQ Director, Steve Chester, to the Governor’s Groundwater Conservation Advisory Council to represent the golf industry and non-agricultural irrigators.
The Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program (MTESP) is a unique partnership between the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA), Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), Michigan Turfgrass Foundation, Michigan State University, the golf industry and environmental advocacy groups. It is designed to increase compliance, reduce environmental impacts and provide a template for creative and thoughtful solutions on golf course properties throughout the state.
The MTESP engages over 850 golf courses in Michigan with a message to become environmentally proactive and provides its members with the tools to do so. The program offers day-long workshops that interpret federal and state laws and regulations, present pollution prevention strategies and promote methods to increase the green-space value of golf courses. Courses that join the program participate in one-on-one site visits to establish environmental action plans that identify and prioritize ways to eliminate or reduce environmental impacts, increase compliance and maximize stewardship practices. The program has gained international recognition and is being considered as a model for other states and segments of the turfgrass industry.