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United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Communications,
Education, and Media Relations
(1704)
EPA-171-F-98-010
July 1998
Environmental Education Services
to EPA Offices
Office of Environmental Education
What is Environmental Education?
Environmental education in EPA can be viewed as a
continuum of activities. These activities can be
described as awareness building; outreach to the
public and the regulated community; information
dissemination and technical assistance; critical
thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making; and
responsible and knowledgeable action. Each of these
aspects of environmental education is necessary to
translate awareness into responsible action.
The goal of environmental education is to provide the
public with awareness and knowledge about
environmental issues and the skills needed to make
informed and responsible decisions. Environmental
education helps individuals analyze an environmental issue to make informed and responsible
decisions. Environmental education does not advocate a particular viewpoint or course of action.
Why is Environmental Education Critical to Environmental Protection?
The informed and responsible participation of the public in the decision-making process is integral
to the achievement of national environmental goals, such as clean air and water, safe food, and
toxic-free communities. EPA cannot achieve its public health and environmental protection goals
without the informed and responsible participation of the public. Without high quality information
and environmental education to provide the knowledge and skills the public needs to understand the
complexities of environmental protection, citizens cannot be equal partners in protecting the
environment. Environmental education provides an opportunity to bring government officials,
business and industry, community groups, and the public together in a non-threatening,
non-controversial way to develop a consensus for resolving environmental problems.
What is EPA's Office of Environmental Education?
EPA's Office of Environmental Education (OEE) was formed after passage of the National
Environmental Education Act of 1990. OEE is part of the Office of Communications, Education,
and Media Relations, located in the Administrator's Office. The Headquarters staff includes
environmental education and program management specialists. Each of EPA's 10 regional offices
has an environmental education coordinator who implements OEE programs as well as regional
environmental education initiatives.
One goal of EPA is to increase the public's awareness and knowledge of environmental issues and
to provide the public with the skills needed to make informed decisions and take responsible
actions. The mission of OEE is to advance and support education efforts that develop an
environmentally conscious and responsible public and inspire personal responsibility in caring
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for the environment.
Each headquarters and regional office develops and
supports environmental education related to specific
legislative mandates and needs. OEE works to meet the
needs of the environmental education field through a
number of programs conducted under legislative
authority. OEE also helps define the role of EPA and the
federal government in environmental education, and is
focusing on improving internal EPA communication and
collaboration of environmental education activities across
EPA.
What Do OEE and the Regional Environmental
Education Coordinators Do for the Public?
* Award grants for environmental education projects
at the national, state, and local levels
^ Train education professionals to develop and deliver
environmental education programs
** Support post-secondary students and encourage
careers in environmental protection through
fellowships
^ Recognize the achievements of young people
who make environmental contributions to their
local communities
^ Provide leadership and facilitate communication and
collaboration on environmental education within the
federal government through networking and
resource sharing with other federal agencies
^ Work in partnership with nonprofit organizations
and educational institutions who are interested and
involved in environmental education
*F Facilitate links among and improve access to quality
environmental education materials and information
through electronic on-line databases like EE-Link
(http://eelink.net/) as well as the Educational
Resources Information Center (ERIC) and the
Eisenhower National Clearinghouses
Provide consulting services such as:
• Outreach to the EE community
• Review and management of EE grant programs
• EE program development and management
• Development of educational materials and
activities by providing help in:
- Defining need, priorities, target audience,
message, program delivery, success, and how
to evaluate success
- Facilitating communication with and
development of partnerships
- Identifying existing programs and materials
- Reaching under-served audiences
- Identifying and leveraging resources
Provide review services such as:
• EE materials produced or supported by EPA
• Application of guidelines developed by
EE experts
Headquarters Office of Environmental Education
Michael Baker, Acting Director
Liaison to Foundation
Phone: (202)260-4958
Diane Berger
Grants
Phone: (202)260-8747
Andrew Burnett
Federal Task Force, EE Materials Review,
International Activities
Phone: (202)260-0255
Kelly Chick
Secretary
Phone: (202) 260-4965
Doris Gillispie
Youth Programs
Phone: (202)260-8749
Sheri Jojokion
Student Fellowships, Grants
Phone: (202)260-5283
Ginger Keho
Advisory Council, EPA Advisory Board, International
Activities
Phone: (202)260-4129
Hugh Lyons
Administrative Assistant
Phone: (202)260-8659
Kathleen MacKinnon
Educator Training Program, Conferences
Phone: (202)260-4951
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Regional EE Coordinators
Region 1
Maria Pirie
Phone: (617)565-9447
Kristen Conroy
Phone: (617)565-3618
Region 2
Terry Ippolito
Phone: (212)637-3671
Region 3
Larry Brown
Phone: (215)566-5527
Region 4
Pvich Nawyn
Phone: (404)562-8320
Region 5
Suzanne Saric
Phone: (312)353-3209
Region 6
Jo Taylor
Phone: (214)665-2200
Ed Curran
Phone: (214)665-2172
Region 7
Rowena Michaels
Phone: (913)551-7003
Region 8
CeCe Forget
Phone: (303)312-6605
Region 9
Stacey Benfer
Phone: (415)744-1161
Region 10
Sally Hanft
Phone: (206)553-1207
For additional information, visit the World Wide Webat
http://www.epa.gov/enviroed
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