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Michigan Ag News Headlines
ITC Awarded for Environmental Stewardship
Michigan Ag Connection - 11/16/2017

ITC Holdings Corp. received the Grasslands Project Award and nine other conservation certifications for environmental projects from the Wildlife Habitat Council at the organization's 2017 Conservation Conference held in Baltimore.

ITC Michigan earned the Grasslands Project Award for its native plant restoration work on the transmission corridor crossing the Chippewa Nature Center in Midland, Michigan. Four applications of native seed mixes enhanced the existing native plant diversity in the ITC electricity transmission corridor at the center from 2012 through 2016. These native species provide larval host plants, nectar and pollen sources throughout the growing season, and nesting and cover materials for native pollinators. ITC has conducted annual invasive species treatments within the Chippewa Nature Center transmission corridor since 2010 through mowing, hand-pulling, seed head collecting, foliar and cut-stump herbicide applications, and biological control to encourage the establishment of native forbs, graminoids and shrubs most beneficial to native pollinators.

In addition to the Grasslands Project Award, the company received its newest Wildlife Habitat Council Conservation Certification for native plant restoration work in the ITC Midwest transmission line right-of-way at McLoud Run Park in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. ITC installed two seed mixtures (Dry-Mesic Shortgrass Prairie Mix and Tallgrass Prairie Pollinator Mix) across 22 acres of the McCloud Run corridor in June 2016. Prior to the restoration work, the transmission corridor consisted primarily of disturbed or incompatible vegetation and managed turf grass areas.

ITC also earned eight continued conservation certifications from the Wildlife Habitat Council for environmental projects in Michigan and Iowa. ITC holds six other program certifications in these states, which will be reviewed for continued certification in the coming years. In total, the company now has 15 certified programs under Wildlife Habitat Council Conservation Certification.

These and other ITC efforts fall under the company's ISO 14001-based environmental management system, which focuses on environmental sustainability in ITC facilities as well as in the planning, construction, operation and maintenance of its electricity transmission systems.

"It's important for us to be good stewards of the environment," said Jon Jipping, ITC's chief operating officer. "Our environmental commitment starts and ends with our employees who have embraced waste reduction, conservation and habitat projects across our company. Our transmission infrastructure plays a large role in the surrounding environment, and it's up to us to continue to lead the charge of giving back to it."

The Wildlife Habitat Council works with corporations, conservation groups and communities to create habitat and increase biodiversity. "Companies can play a vital role in conservation programs, as demonstrated by ITC," said Margaret O'Gorman, president, Wildlife Habitat Council. "ITC's certified programs are proof of its ongoing commitment to environmental education."

The eight continued Wildlife Habitat Council Conservation Certifications for ITC projects in Michigan and Iowa include:

ITC Michigan:

Stony Creek Metropark Corridor in Macomb County, Mich. -- certified in 2009, recertified in 2011, 2014 and 2017

Sterling State Park Corridor in Monroe County, Mich. -- certified in 2015, recertified in 2017

Wolcott Mill Metropark Corridor in Macomb County, Mich. -- certified in 2010, recertified in 2012, 2014 and 2017

Sand Point Nature Preserve in Huron County, Mich. -- certified in 2013, recertified in 2015 and 2017

Crow Island State Game Area in Saginaw County, Mich. -- certified in 2013, recertified in 2015 and 2017

ITC Midwest -- Iowa:

Beverly Park in Linn County, Iowa -- certified in 2015, recertified in 2017

Squaw Creek Park in Linn County, Iowa -- certified in 2015, recertified in 2017

Sac and Fox Trail in Linn County, Iowa -- certified in 2015, recertified in 2017

ITC holds six other program certifications in Michigan and Iowa, which will be reviewed for continued certification in the coming years:

ITC Michigan:

ITC Headquarters in Novi, Oakland County, Mich. -- certified in 2010, recertified in 2012 and 2015

Chippewa Nature Center Corridor in Midland County, Mich. -- certified in 2012, recertified in 2014

Belleville Warehouse in Wayne County, Mich. -- certified in 2014, recertified in 2016

Wayland Warehouse in Allegan County, Mich. -- certified in 2014, recertified in 2016

Tomlinson Arboretum in Clinton Township, Macomb County, Mich. -- certified in 2014, recertified in 2016

ITC Midwest -- Iowa:

Iowa City Warehouse in Johnson County, Iowa -- certified in 2013, recertified in 2015.


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