DETROIT, Dec. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Twenty-one MichCon facilities have earned ISO 14001 certification for their environmental management systems. ISO 14001 is an internationally recognized standard that provides a facility with the basic framework for managing environmental impacts. Certification requires that employees must be aware of how their job can impact the environment. An environmental management system certified to the ISO 14001 standard is effective because it involves every aspect of a facility's activities that can affect the environment. Periodic reviews of the system, by a third party after certification, ensure that it continues to be effective in the future. The MichCon sites earning certification this week include eight natural gas transmission and storage stations in Gaylord, Kalkaska, Six Lakes, Milford, Washington Township (two sites), Farmington Hills and Belleville. Also earning certification this week are 14 MichCon service centers in Alpena, Escanaba, Kingsford, Petoskey, Sault Ste. Marie, Cadillac, Grayling, Mt. Pleasant, Tawas, Traverse City, Big Rapids, Ludington and Muskegon. A transmission and storage facility receives natural gas through underground pipelines, injects it into underground geological formations for storage, and withdraws the gas from storage as needed to meet customer demand. Service centers are facilities that house the personnel, materials and equipment necessary for system maintenance and customer service. The 21 sites earning certification this week join two other MichCon facilities that earned ISO 14001 certification last year, the Allen Road Service Center in Melvindale and the Belle River Mills transmission and storage site in East China Township. Robert Richard, MichCon Senior Vice President, gas operations, said earning ISO 14001 at facilities throughout Michigan required a commitment throughout the company and a diligent effort by a broad-based team of employees over many months. "Implementation of the ISO 14001 standard was an organizational goal that was embraced by employees throughout the company," he said. "Many people were instrumental in this first success, but this is just the beginning. As we move forward, our focus will be on continual improvement efforts to raise our environmental performance." Joi Harris, Director, transmission and storage operations, said that earning certification was truly a team effort that demonstrates the commitment of all MichCon personnel to their individual and collective role as stewards of the environment. "The employees at these 23 sites are keenly aware that they have a personal responsibility for protecting the environment day in and day out," he said. "This is a commitment we have made to our families, friends and neighbors and to future generations." Harris added that members of Local 223 of the Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO, and non-represented employees worked closely and cooperatively on this effort. MichCon is a subsidiary of DTE Energy, a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. MichCon serves 1.3 million customers with natural gas service in 550 Michigan communities. Information about DTE Energy is available at http://www.dteenergy.com/ . DATASOURCE: DTE Energy CONTACT: John J. Austerberry, +1-313-235-8859, or Lorie N. Kessler, +1-313-235-8807, both of DTE Energy Web site: http://www.dteenergy.com/

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