Federal Task Force
on Environmental Education
The Task Force facilitates communication and
collaboration among federal agencies and
departments who have common interests in
supporting and implementing EE programs.
The Task Force places emphasis on supporting
joint interagency EE projects that leverage
both federal and non-federal dollars. Members
include the U.S. Departments of Education,
Interior, Agriculture, and Energy as well as
NASA, the National Science Foundation, and
the Peace Corps. EPA serves as chair of the
Task Force.
EPA Environmental Education
Advisory Board
The Advisory Board provides leadership for EE
and facilitates communication and
collaboration across EPA. The 28-member
Board represents EPA's Headquarters as well as
regional offices and research laboratories across
the country. The Board places emphasis on
providing leadership within EPA, improving
the quality of and public access to EPA's
educational resources, enhancing
communication within EPA, and supporting
state-level EE programs.
National Environmental Education and
Training Foundation
The Act also established the Foundation to
encourage public-private partnerships in
support of environmental education and to
complement EPA's EE efforts. The
Foundation awards one-year challenge grants
ranging from $5,000 to $40,000. The
Foundation has also initiated programs in
Environmental Health, Business and the
Environment, Volunteerism in Natural
Resource Management, and Educational
Achievement in the Classroom.
United States Office of Communications, EPA-171-F-98-001
Environmental Protection Education, and Media Relations July 1998 i/
Agency (1704)
AEPA
Office of
Environmental
Education
In Brief
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In Brief
The National Environmental
Education Act of 1990 requires the
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) to provide national leadership
to increase environmental literacy. The Act
encourages partnerships and builds upon
long-standing environmental education (EE)
efforts conducted by federal and state
agencies, education institutions, not-for-profit
organizations, and the private sector. The
following briefly summarizes the programs
and activities of EPA's Office of
Environmental Education (OEE).
Programs
The Act establishes the following programs
which are administered by OEE in
coordination with EPA's ten regional offices.
Grants
Each year EPA awards more than 200 grants
worth between $2 to $3 million to support
quality EE projects. Since 1992, EPA has
awarded more than 1,500 grants worth
about $16 million to schools and universities;
state, local, and tribal agencies; and not-for-
profit organizations in all 50 states and
several U.S. territories. Most awards are for
grants of up to $25,000. EPA's priorities in
1998 include projects that educate
community leaders and others about human
health threats from pollution; build state,
local, or tribal capacity and/or use EE to
advance state or local education reform
goals; educate the public through
community-based organizations; and educate
low-income and culturally diverse audiences.
Training for Education Professionals
EPA makes a multi-year award to a consortium of
universities and non-profit organizations to deliver
training to education professionals nationwide. This
program was initiated in 1992 with a $5.4 million award
to a consortium led by the University of Michigan,
Under this program, the consortium developed resource
materials ("EE Toolbox"), created an EE Internet site
("EE-Link"), and conducted training workshops. In
1995, this training effort was extended through a five-
year, $9 million award to a consortium led by the North
American Association for Environmental Education.
This program, called the Environmental Education and
Training Partnership, builds upon the work initiated by
the University of Michigan. The program delivers
training to education professionals through existing
programs; improves access to quality EE materials by
linking EE databases and by developing EE guidelines;
and sustains long-term training efforts by strengthening
partnerships and building state-level capacity.
College Fellowships
The National Network for Environmental Management
Studies is a fellowship program that encourages college
students to pursue environmental professions by conduct-
ing an environmental research project. The program
reaches more than 100 students annually at more than 400
participating universities. Each year, EPA managers and
scientists design new projects based on EPA's priorities.
Youth Awards
The President's Environmental Youth Awards program
recognizes young people across America for their projects
that demonstrate commitment to environmental
protection. Nominees receive certificates from
EPA's regional offices. In addition, one nominee
from each region becomes a national winner
honored by EPA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Linkages with Internal and External
EE Experts and Programs
The Act establishes an external advisory council
and a federal task force as well as a public-private
foundation as mechanisms to help EPA develop
lasting partnerships, leverage resources, and obtain
advice from EE experts inside and outside of the
federal government. EPA has also established an
internal advisory board to facilitate communication
and collaboration across EPA. These groups are
discussed below.
National Environmental Education
Advisory Council
The Council is comprised of representatives from
organizations outside of the federal government
who provide EPA with advice on implementing the
Act. The 11 -member Council also provides EPA
with important linkages to schools, universities, state
departments of education and natural resources,
not-for-profit organizations, and business and
industry. The Council reports to Congress on the
status of EE in the U.S., makes recommendations
for improving these efforts, and works with EPA to
implement these recommendations.
For additional information,
call (202) 260-4965 or (202) 260-6819 (grants only)
Or visit the World Wide Web at
http://www.epa.gov/enviroed
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