Senator Van Woerkom offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 48.

            A resolution to urge the Michigan Department of Agriculture and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to continue participating in the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program and promote all of Michigan agriculture's efforts to obtain verification under the program.

            Whereas, The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) is a voluntary, proactive pollution prevention program for Michigan farmers established as a result of the 1998 Pollution Prevention Strategy developed jointly by the MDA and the DEQ. MAEAP is currently represented by a partnership of over 30 federal, state, academic, conservation, and agricultural agencies and organizations dedicated to the economic success of Michigan agriculture and to environmental stewardship; and

            Whereas, MAEAP is nationally recognized for its innovative alternative approach to agricultural environmental regulation and is used as model for partnership-based pollution prevention programs. MAEAP was selected by the Council of State Governments as a regional finalist as one of the most innovative programs amongst all 50 states; and

            Whereas, MAEAP encompasses three systems, livestock, farmstead, and cropping, designed to help farmers evaluate the environmental risks of their operation. Farmers develop and implement economically feasible, effective and environmentally sound pollution prevention practices; and

            Whereas, Through participation in MAEAP, more and more Michigan farmers are learning how to find and prevent pollution on their farms. Over 3000 farmers have completed the Phase I educational component of MAEAP and over 100 farmers have completed one or all three of the system verifications. Participation in MAEAP positions farmers to participate in other pollution programs at the state and federal level; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That we encourage the MDA and the DEQ to continue participating in MAEAP and promote all of Michigan agriculture's efforts to obtain verification under the program; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.