March 15, 2005

Michael Beaulac of the Department of Environmental Quality’s Executive Office recently received two awards from the staff directors of the State-EPA Exchange Network at a national workshop in New Orleans attended by over 40 states. The National Environmental Information Exchange Network is a partnership between state environmental departments and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tasked with creating an Internet and standards-based method for exchanging environmental information between partners.

This new approach which promotes the use of extensible markup language (XML) web services and data standards, provides real-time access to higher quality data while saving time, resources, and money for partner states, tribes, and territories. Beaulac was nominated by his peers consisting of state representatives and the Environmental Protection Agency.

According to Pat Garvey, EPA’s staff director for the Exchange Network, Mike was presented with this award, “in recognition of your outstanding work in advancing the Network, including your continuing accomplishments as the state co-chair of the Technical Resources Group, the Network’s technical arm.”

A Certificate of Achievement Promoting Efficiencies was also awarded to the DEQ for its electronic Discharge Monitoring Reporting (e-DMR) application which uses Exchange Network technologies to streamline wastewater reporting by permitted facilities.

“Mike’s analysis of the cost benefits and returns on investment has helped us to quantify the financial payback of using Exchange Network technologies,” said Molly O’Neill, the Environmental Council of the States staff director for the Exchange Network. “Our intent is to continue supporting Mike’s efforts to expand his models for application to other environmental data flows on a national basis,” furthered Molly. Additional information about Michigan’s involvement with the Exchange Network can be found at http://www.exchangenetwork.net/benefits/success_mich.htm.

“Michael Beaulac’s hard work and dedication to improving the DEQ’s service to the public are exceptional, and these awards are well deserved,” said DEQ Director Steven E. Chester. “The DEQ will continue to explore new ways to streamline our processes, and show our dedication to having a healthy economy and a healthy environment.”

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

Revised March 15, 2005 by Pat Watson