Handing out the Clean Corporate Citizen title isn't a task that the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality takes lightly. After all, fewer than 150 businesses throughout the state have earned the designation. But it's a moniker that can be well worth the wait for any entity that earns it.
One of the most recent to earn the title is the University of Michigan Golf Course.
Built by Alister MacKenzie in 1931, the course sits on the southern edge of the 3,000-plus acre campus and directly across the street from 100,000-seat Michigan Stadium. It is ranked No. 11 on Golfweek's list of Best Campus Golf Courses. It's one of just two courses statewide to earn the title, the other being the university's Radrick Farms course, which earned C3 status in 2014.
According to the DEQ, the honor is reserved for "regulated establishments that have demonstrated environmental stewardship and a strong environmental ethic through their operations in Michigan."
"Gaining C3 certification at the U-M Blue Course is a result of the hard work and commitment to environmental stewardship of Scott Rockov, superintendent, and his entire team," said Corbin Todd, director of the University of Michigan Golf Courses in a news release.
C3 is a voluntary program that recognizes environmental stewardship at Michigan facilities. Candidates demonstrate active pollution prevention initiatives, a consistent record of compliance with state and federal environmental requirements, and must have a facility-specific Environmental Management System (EMS). The UM Golf Course EMS was initiated with help from e-par USA.
Each EMS must meet the following criteria for a corporate entity to be eligible for the C3 program: identification of environmental impacts, self-initiated compliance audits, public communication, environmental training for employees, a clear statement on the company's commitment to environmental excellence and continual improvement.
"The e-par EMS set us up for success to achieve the C3 certification," Rockov said in a release. "Environmental stewardship at the golf course extends from the commitment of Michigan Athletics and the entire University of Michigan to protecting our natural resources for generations to come."
According to the DEQ, admittance into the Clean Corporate Citizen program is much more than just a title. Those who earn the designation based on their performance in environmental management, pollution prevention and environmental compliance, are eligible for benefits including expedited permit reviews and fewer monitoring and reporting requirements. The goal of the voluntary program is to raise corporate awareness for environmental issues and rewarding participants in the program to help promote participation.
Other corporate entities to earn the C3 status include automotive parts and assembly plants, chemical plants, federal installations, metal finishing, nature gas industry, paper production, power utilities, printing and research and development.