Gov. Snyder to Sign New Mich Environmental Regs Bill; Founders of PM Environmental Hail Revamped Environmental Policies as Boon to Business, Jobs & Economy

BERKLEY, MI--(Marketwire - May 1, 2012) - Pete Bosanic and Mike Kulka, founders of PM Environmental, an Environmental & Engineering Services company, now celebrating its 20th anniversary, are predicting a better business climate for redevelopment and regulatory closure of contaminated properties thanks to a Bill that Michigan Governor Rick Snyder is scheduled to sign May 1, 2012. The new regulations should positively impact commercial real estate development and Brownfields redevelopment resulting in the creation of jobs, they added.

Bosanic, who also serves as the Chair of the Environmental Issues Committee for the Michigan Petroleum Association, says a series of bills that reform Michigan's Part 213 that governs Leaking USTs, which was passed by the Michigan Legislature, will make it easier to obtain regulatory closure.

Kulka said that a recent analysis by the Office of Regulatory Reinvention (ORR) showing 77 major changes to Michigan's Environmental regulations and 330 rules changes that were considered "overly burdensome" or obsolete are necessary and will still protect the environment but be more business friendly. "I think the immediate economic boost from the changes will be felt by the real estate, banking and private equity firms who do business in the state of Michigan," Kulka said.

To address the ORR recommendations, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) formed the Collaborative Stakeholders Initiative (CSI), which is a group tasked with reinventing the State's cleanup and redevelopment program. Bosanic was one of the stakeholders selected and said "the CSI process follows Governor Snyder's goals to reinvent our government, create more and better jobs, restore cities, protect our environment, enhance our national image and solve problems through positive action."

The CSI results were released this Spring. Key issues included: Brownfield Redevelopment; Due Care Obligations; technical issues related to Groundwater/Surface Water Interface; Cleanup Criteria and Rules; Vapor Intrusion; Free Product and Source Removal.

Bosanic said "a goal of CSI is to foster an improved climate of trust, cultural understanding and cooperation among stakeholders and DEQ staff."

PM Environmental is headquartered in Michigan with three offices and has additional locations in Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee. Additional information is available at www.pmenv.com.