21 MichCon Sites Throughout Michigan Earn ISO 14001 Certification

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 www.dteenergy.com .

SOURCE DTE Energy