National Environmental Education Advisory Council Conference call July 13, 2015 Summary Members in attendance: • Kelly Keena- (Chair) • Kiki Corry • Scott Frazier • Ken Gembel » Richard Gonzales-(Vice Chair) • Mark Kraus • Caroline Lewis • Edna Negron Martinez Advisor • Diane Wood-NEEF EPA Staff • Javier Araujo- Designated Federal Officer Member of the Public • Holly Surbaugh- Stratus Consulting Kelly Keena (NEEAC Chair) called the meeting to order at about 3:05PM. Kelly congratulated the NEEAC on having completed the report. A brief overview of the agenda followed. Items included for discussion are the final draft of the report, the statement on page 43, PEYA/PIAEE awards, graphic on pages 16-18 and feedback on layout, photos and the selection of a second NEEAC member to serve as an alternate in representing the NEEAC report to the public. During discussion on the graphic Mark Kraus (member) suggested that the wording in the graphic be changed from religious groups to faith based organizations. Scott Frazier (member) suggested that the title of a section be changed from tribal governments to tribal governments and organizations. Caroline Lewis (member) asked that a separate bullet be added with building climate resilience. Further discussion centered around pages 16-18 on the obstacles and opportunities. Mark Kraus (member) indicated that perhaps the wording should be obstacles and challenges. This would be more consistent with what was stated on page 15. Kelly Keena ------- (Chair) added that the copy editing department at Stratus would identify those things and correct them as part of their work with the report. Kelly (Chair) mentioned that the report included the 2014 PEYA and PIAEE winners. By the time the report is completed the 2015 award winner's names might be available. Should they be updated? Mark ICraus (member) added that every report has an end date. Caroline Lewis (member) added that in the activities and outcomes section of the report should include all elected officials at the municipality, county and state level. Scott (member) added that tribal leaders also be included. The next section for discussion was on page 36 the last paragraph. "Understanding that the EPA Administrator cannot reauthorize the act, the NEEAC recommends that EPA and specifically OEE provide written reflection on how a re-envisioned (support) effective EE initiative and how it contributes to the agency's mission". A new version of the sentence was stated as "NEEAC understands that the EPA administrator cannot reauthorize the NEEA and recognizes the importance of learning and successes and challenges in the last 25 years of implementation. To this end, the NEEAC recommends that EPA and specifically (OEE) have targeted conversation with the NEEAC reflecting on the current NEEAC and looking forward to how7 a re-envisioned NEEAC might better support (EE) initiatives that contribute to the agency's mission". Scott (member) stated that the recommendations should include a request for information for the next NEEAC group. Kelly (Chair) asked for a motion to accept the revised statement.. .remove the three lines in the last paragraph on page 36 and not replace it with anything. Kiki (member) asked why this would be removed in order to better understand. Keiiy (Chair) explained that this came out of conversation with Ginger (EPA staff) and Sarah (OEE Deputy Director) regarding what constraints the Office of EE operates under and how that might affect their recommendation. Kelly (Chair) asked if there was any more discussion and followed with a roll call vote. A yea would be to remove the paragraph and a nay would be to leave the paragraph. Kiki (member) added that the language that Victoria (member) had drafted and had been sent in the earlier email would work. Kelly (Chair) again asked for a motion. Scott (member) made a motion that the language that Kelly had read at the beginning of the discussion replace what is currently in the pdf final draft. Ken (member) seconded Scott's motion. Kelly (member) opened the floor for discussion. Since there was no discussion, Kelly (member) called for a vote. Edna (member) abstained from the vote. The motion carried with a majority voting yea. Kelly (Chair) added that there is discussion in the graph about Citizen Science, however there were no examples in the appendix. Kelly added that she added some examples in the appendix from a report that was done for the White House. Caroline (member) agreed with Kelly's decision. Mark (member) also agreed. ------- The next discussion centered on whether the former NEEAC members mentioned In the appendix was complete, Mark (member) and Kiki (member) felt that including all the former members would show continuity and history. Kelly indicated that this appendix would state that every effort was made to make the list inclusive and apologized if any NEEAC member was inadvertently left out. Scott (member) stated that the part about the recognition of tribes as sovereign had been removed, Kelly (member) stated that it had not been removed and she would find that on the report More discussion followed around the current versions of photographs used in the report. Kelly then asked for more photographs with permission to use those photographs to be sent to her within the next five days. Richard (member) asked Javier (DFO) to resend the release form for photographs. At this point Scott (member) made a motion that the report be accepted and finalized as discussed, Ken (member) seconded the motion, Kelly (Chair) clarified that a yea vote would accept the report as discussed allowing the editing team to work with any other minor pieces that might need editing. Caroline (member) added that she did not need to see two children holding animals in the front of the report. Kelly (Chair) indicated that she was having discussions with Holly (contractor) regarding the cover photographs. The vote was unanimous to accept the report with the aforementioned changes and leave tiny edits at the hands of the editing team. Kelly indicated that there was no time left to vote on the second NEEAC member (alternate) that would represent the group in case Kelly (chair) was not available to do so. The group decided that in the interest of time, an electronic (email) vote would occur to select the alternate representative for the report. Javier (DFO) indicated that the results of the electronic vote would be recorded in the meeting summary for the record. Cara Gizzi (member) was selected as the alternate to Kelly (Chair). Richard (member) asked Javier (DFO) what the next steps would be in terms of the NEEAC role. Javier (DFO) indicated that conversations were happening with Sarah. Sowell (OBE, Deputy Director) but that no decisions had been reached. The meeting was adjourned at 4:20pm. lr, NEEAC f - m- 7o/r* Ja^er Araujo^REEAC, DFO ------- Official meeting of the National Environmental Education Advisory Council fuly 13,2015 call in number: 1-800-374-0763 conference ID is #83937990 12:00-1:00 pmPST 1:00-2:00 pm MST 2:00-3:00 pm CST 3:00-4:00 pm EST brevity Agenda Item Lead Time Call to order and review of agenda Introductions Kelly Javier 5 Overview of where we are Kelly 5 Issues to resolve in the final draft: Kelly 30 1. Section 2.3, p. 16-18 - graphic for obstacles and opportunities 2. PEYA/PIAEE awards from 2014 - request for 2015 winners 3. P. 43 statement: "Understanding that the EPA administrator cannot reauthorize the NEEA, the NEEAC recommends that EPA, and specifically OEE, provide a written reflection to NEEAC on how a re-envisioned NEEA might better support effective EE initiatives that contribute to the agency's mission" - needs clarification 4. Addition of Citizen Science in Appendix (eBird and collaboration between FWS and Project BudBurst) 5. NEEAC members appendix - only present members and stakeholder groups (already changed) Other issues identified by Council. ------- |