101st CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1076
AN ACT
To increase public understanding of the natural environment and to advance
and develop environmental education and training.
S 1076 ES1S
101st CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1076
AN ACT
To increase public understanding of the natural environment and to advance
and develop environmental education and training.
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
  States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.
  (a) TITLE- This Act may be cited as the `National Environmental Education
  Act'.
  (b) Table of Contents-
Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Sec. 4. Office of Environmental Education.
Sec. 5. Environmental education and training program.
Sec. 6. Environmental education grants.
Sec. 7. Environmental internships and fellowships.
Sec. 8. Environmental education awards.
Sec. 9. Environmental Education Advisory Council and Task Force.
Sec. 10. Environmental Education Trust Fund.
Sec. 11. Authorization.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  The Congress finds that--
  (1) Threats to human health and environmental quality are increasingly
  complex, involving a wide range of conventional and toxic contaminants in
  the air and water and on the land.
  (2) There is growing evidence of international environmental problems, such
  as global warming, ocean pollution, and declines in species diversity,
  and that these problems pose serious threats to human health and the
  environment on a global scale.
  (3) Effective response to complex environmental problems requires
  understanding of the natural environment and awareness of environmental
  problems and their origins, and the skills to solve these problems.
  (4) Development of effective solutions to environmental problems and
  effective implementation of environmental programs requires a well educated
  and trained, professional work force.
  (5) Current Federal efforts to inform and educate the public concerning
  the natural environment and environmental problems are not adequate.
  (6) Existing Federal support for development and training of professionals
  in environmental fields is not sufficient.
  (7) The Federal Government, acting through the Environmental Protection
  Agency, should work with local education institutions, State education
  agencies, not-for-profit educational organizations, noncommercial educational
  broadcasting entities, and private sector interests to support development of
  curricula, special projects, and other activities, to increase understanding
  of the natural environment and to improve awareness of environmental
  problems.
  (8) The Federal Government, acting through the coordinated efforts of its
  agencies and with the leadership of the Environmental Protection Agency,
  should work with local education institutions, State education agencies,
  not-for-profit educational organizations, noncommercial educational
  broadcasting entities, and private sector interests to develop and support
  methods, practices, and programs to assure the highest level of education
  and training, including technical and scientific skills, of professionals
  in environmental fields.
  (9) Federal natural resource agencies such as the United States Forest
  Service have a wide range of environmental expertise and a long history
  of cooperation with educational institutions and technology transfer that
  can assist in furthering the purposes of the Act.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
  For the purposes of this Act, the term--
  (1) `Administrator' means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection
  Agency;
  (2) `Agency' means the United States Environmental Protection Agency;
  (3) `Federal agency' or `agency of the United States' means any department,
  agency or other instrumentality of the Federal Government, any independent
  agency or establishment of the Federal Government including any Government
  corporation;
  (4) `Secretary' means the Secretary of the Department of Education;
  (5) `local education agency' means any education agency as defined in section
  198 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 3381)
  and shall include any tribally controlled school;
  (6) `not-for-profit' organization means an organization, association, or
  institution described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of
  1986, which is exempt from taxation pursuant to the provisions of section
  501(a) of such code;
  (7) `noncommercial education broadcasting entities' means any noncommercial
  educational broadcasting station (and/or its legal nonprofit affiliates)
  as defined and licensed by the Federal Communications Commission;
  (8) `tribal education agency' means a school or community college which
  is controlled by an Indian tribe, band, or nation, including any Alaska
  native village, which is recognized as eligible for special programs and
  services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status
  as Indians and which is not administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs; and
  (9) `natural resource management agencies' means the United States Forest
  Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, and
  the Fish and Wildlife Service.
SEC. 4. OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.
  (a) The Administrator shall establish an Office of Environmental Education
  within the Environmental Protection Agency.
  (b) The Office of Environmental Education shall--
  (1) develop and support programs and related efforts in consultation and
  coordination with other Federal agencies, to improve understanding of
  the natural environment, and the relationships between humans and their
  environment, including the global aspects of environmental problems;
  (2) support development and dissemination of model curricula, educational
  materials, and training programs for elementary and secondary students
  and other interested groups;
  (3) develop and disseminate, in cooperation with other Federal agencies,
  educational and environmental organizations, and private sector interests,
  and noncommercial educational broadcasting entities, environmental education
  publications and audio/visual and other media materials;
  (4) develop and support environmental education seminars, training programs,
  and workshops for environmental education professionals, as provided for
  in section 5 of this Act;
  (5) manage Federal grant assistance provided to local education agencies,
  institutions of higher education, other not-for-profit organizations and
  noncommercial education broadcasting entities, under section 6 of this Act;
  (6) administer the environmental internship and fellowship program provided
  for in section 7 of this Act;
  (7) administer the environmental awards program provided for in section
  8 of this Act;
  (8) provide staff support to the Advisory Council and Task Force provided
  for in section 9 of this Act;
  (9) assess, in coordination with other Federal agencies, the demand for
  professional skills and training needed to respond to current and anticipated
  environmental problems and cooperate with appropriate institutions,
  organizations, and agencies to develop training programs, curricula,
  and continuing education programs for teachers, school administrators,
  and related professionals;
  (10) assure the coordination of Federal statutes and programs administered
  by the Agency relating to environmental education and work to reduce
  duplication or inconsistencies within these programs;
  (11) work with the Department of Education, the Federal Interagency
  Committee on Education, and with other Federal agencies, including the
  United States Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the National
  Park Service, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to assure
  the effective coordination of programs related to environmental education,
  including environmental education programs relating to national parks,
  national forests, and wildlife refuges, and multiple use and sustained
  yield management;
  (12) provide technical assistance to local education agencies, State
  education and natural resource agencies, and others; and
  (13) otherwise provide for the implementation of this Act.
  (c) The Office of Environmental Education shall--
  (1) be directed by a Director who shall be a member of the Senior Executive
  Service;
  (2) include a headquarters staff of not less than ten full-time equivalent
  employees; and
  (3) be supported by not less than one full-time equivalent employee in
  each Agency regional office.
SEC. 5. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM.
  (a) There is hereby established an Environmental Education and Training
  Program. The purpose of the program shall be to train educational
  professionals in the development and delivery of environmental education
  and training programs and studies.
  (b) The functions and activities of the program shall include, at a minimum--
  (1) classroom training in environmental education and studies including
  environmental sciences and theory, educational methods and practices,
  environmental career or occupational education, and topical environmental
  issues and problems;
  (2) demonstration of the design and conduct of environmental field studies
  and assessments;
  (3) development of environmental education programs and curriculum,
  including programs and curriculum to meet the needs of diverse ethnic and
  cultural groups;
  (4) sponsorship and management of international exchanges of teachers
  and other educational professionals involved in environmental programs
  and issues;
  (5) evaluation and dissemination of environmental education materials,
  training methods, and related programs;
  (6) sponsorship of conferences, seminars, and related forums for the
  advancement and development of environmental education and training curricula
  and materials, including international conferences, seminars, and forums; and
  (7) such other activities as the Administrator determines to be consistent
  with the objectives of this Act.
Special emphasis should be placed on developing environmental education
programs, workshops, and training tools which are portable and can be broadly
disseminated.
  (c)(1) The Administrator shall make a grant on an annual basis to
  an institution of higher education or other institution which is a
  not-for-profit institution (or consortia of such institutions) to operate
  the environmental education and training program required by this section.
  (2) Any institution of higher education or other institution (or consortia of
  such institutions) which is a not-for-profit organization and is interested
  in receiving a grant under this section may submit to the Administrator an
  application in such form and containing such information as the Administrator
  may require.
  (3) The Administrator shall award grants under this section on the basis of--
  (A) the capability to develop environmental education and training programs;
  (B) the capability to deliver training to a range of participants and in
  a range of settings;
  (C) the expertise of the staff in a range of appropriate disciplines;
  (D) the relative economic effectiveness of the program in terms of the
  ratio of overhead costs to direct services;
  (E) the capability to make effective use of existing national
  environmental education resources, programs, and networks, including public
  telecommunications networks;
  (F) the results of any evaluation under paragraph (5) of this subsection; and
  (G) such other factors as the Administrator deems appropriate.
  (4) No funds made available to carry out this section shall be used for
  the acquisition of real property (including buildings) or the construction
  or substantial modification of any building.
  (5) The Administrator shall establish procedures for a careful and detailed
  review and evaluation of the education and training program to determine
  whether the quality of the program being operated by the grantee warrants
  continued support under this section.
  (d)(1) Individuals eligible for participation in the program are teachers,
  faculty, administrators and related support staff associated with local
  education agencies, colleges, and universities, employees of State
  education, environmental protection, and natural resource departments,
  and employees of not-for-profit organizations involved in environmental
  education activities and issues.
  (2) Individuals shall be selected for participation in the program based
  on applications which shall be in such form as the Administrator determines
  to be appropriate.
  (3) In selecting individuals to participate in the program, the Administrator
  shall provide for a wide geographic representation and a mix of individuals
  working at primary, secondary, postsecondary levels, and with appropriate
  other agencies and departments.
  (4) Individuals selected for participation in the program may be provided
  with a stipend to cover travel and accommodations from grant funds awarded
  pursuant to this section in such amounts as the Administrator determines
  to be appropriate.
SEC. 6. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANTS.
  (a) The Administrator may enter into a cooperative agreement or contract, or
  provide financial assistance in the form of a grant or cooperative agreement
  to support projects to design, demonstrate, or disseminate practices,
  methods, or techniques related to environmental education and training.
  (b) Activities eligible for grant support pursuant to this section shall
  include, but not be limited to--
  (1) design, demonstration, or dissemination of environmental curricula,
  including development of educational tools and materials;
  (2) design and demonstration of field methods, practices, and techniques,
  including assessment of environmental and ecological conditions and analysis
  of environmental pollution problems;
  (3) conduct of special projects to understand and assess a specific
  environmental issue or a specific environmental problem, including
  international environmental problems;
  (4) provision of training or related education for teachers, faculty,
  or related personnel in a specific geographic area or region; and
  (5) design and demonstration of projects to foster international cooperation
  in addressing and environmental issues and problems.
  (c) In making grants pursuant to this section, the Administrator shall
  give priority to those proposed projects which will develop--
  (1) a new or significantly improved environmental education practice,
  method, or technique;
  (2) an environmental education practice, method, or technique which may
  have wide application;
  (3) an environmental education practice, method, or technique which
  addresses a skill or scientific field identified as a priority in the
  report developed pursuant to section 9(d) of this Act; and
  (4) an environmental education practice, method or technique which addresses
  an environmental issue which, in the judgment of the Administrator, is of
  a high priority.
  (d) The program established by this subsection shall include solicitations
  for projects, selection of suitable projects from among those proposed,
  supervision of such projects, evaluation of the results of projects,
  and dissemination of information on the effectiveness and feasibility of
  the practices, methods, techniques and processes. The Administrator shall
  publish regulations to assure satisfactory implementation of each element
  of the program authorized by this subsection.
  (e) Within one hundred and eighty days after the date of enactment of
  this Act, and no less often than every twelve months thereafter, the
  Administrator shall publish a solicitation for environmental education
  grants. The solicitation notice shall prescribe the information to be
  included in the proposal and other information sufficient to permit the
  Administrator to assess the project.
  (f) Any local education agency, college or university, State education
  agency or environmental agency, not-for-profit organization, or
  noncommercial educational broadcasting entity may submit an application to
  the Administrator in response to the solicitations required by subsection
  (e) of this section.
  (g) Each project under this section shall be performed by the applicant,
  or by a person satisfactory to the applicant.
  (h) Federal funds for any demonstration project under this section shall not
  exceed 75 per centum of the total cost of such project. For the purposes
  of this section, the non-Federal share of project costs may be provided
  by inkind contributions and other noncash support. In cases where the
  Administrator determines that a proposed project merits support and cannot
  be undertaken without a higher rate of Federal support, the Administrator
  may approve grants under this section with a matching requirement other
  than that specified in this subsection, including full Federal funding.
  (i) Grants under this section shall not exceed $150,000. In addition,
  25 per centum of all funds obligated under this section in a fiscal year
  shall be for grants of not more than $5,000.
SEC. 7. ENVIRONMENTAL INTERNSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS.
  (a) The Administrator shall, in consultation with the Office of Personnel
  Management and other appropriate Federal agencies, provide for internships
  by postsecondary level students and fellowships for in-service teachers
  with agencies of the Federal Government.
  (b) The purpose of internships and fellowships pursuant to this section
  shall be to provide college level students and in-service teachers with an
  opportunity to work with professional staff of Federal agencies involved
  in environmental issues and thereby gain an understanding and appreciation
  of such issues and the skills and abilities appropriate to such professions.
  (c) The Administrator shall, to the extent practicable, support not less
  than two hundred and fifty internships each year and not less than fifty
  fellowships each year.
  (d) The internship and fellowship programs shall be managed by the
  Office of Environmental Education. Interns and fellows may serve in
  appropriate agencies of the Federal Government including, but not limited
  to, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Fish and Wildlife Service,
  the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Council on
  Environmental Quality, the Soil Conservation Service, the United States
  Forest Service, the National Park Service, and the Bureau of Land Management.
  (e) Interns shall be hired on a temporary, full-time basis for not to exceed
  six months and shall be compensated at a rate of not less than GS-4 and
  not more than GS-7. Fellows shall be hired on a temporary full time basis
  for not to exceed twelve months and shall be compensated at a rate not
  less than GS-7 and not more than GS-11. Federal agencies hiring interns
  shall provide the funds necessary to support salaries and related costs.
  (f)(1) Individuals eligible for participation in the internship program
  are students enrolled at accredited colleges or universities who have
  successfully completed not less than four courses or the equivalent in
  environmental sciences or studies, as determined by the Administrator.
  (2) Individuals eligible for participation in the fellowship program
  are in-service teachers who are currently employed by a local education
  agency and have not less than two years exprience in teaching environmental
  education, environmental sciences, or related courses.
  (g) Individuals shall be selected for internships and fellowships based
  on applications which shall be in such form as the Administrator considers
  appropriate.
  (h) In selecting individuals for internships and fellowships, the
  Administrator shall provide for representation of geographic regions and
  minority groups.
SEC. 8. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AWARDS.
  (a) The Administrator shall provide for a series of national awards
  recognizing outstanding contributions to environmental education.
  (b) In addition to such other awards as the Administrator may provide for,
  national environmental awards shall include--
  (A) The `Theodore Roosevelt Award' to be given in recognition of an
  outstanding career in environmental education, teaching, or administration;
  (B) The `Henry David Thoreau Award' to be given in recognition of an
  outstanding contribution to literature on the natural environment and
  environmental pollution problems;
  (C) The `Rachael Carson Award' to be given in recognition of an outstanding
  contribution in print, film, or broadcast media to public education and
  information on environmental issues or problems; and
  (D) The `Gifford Pinchot Award' to be given in recognition of an outstanding
  contribution to multiple use and sustained yield land management.
  (c) Recipients of education awards provided for in subsection (b) shall
  be nominated by the Environmental Education Advisory Council provided for
  in section 9 of this Act.
  (d) The Administrator may also provide for the `President's Environmental
  Youth Awards' to be given to young people in grades kindergarten through
  twelfth for an outstanding project to promote local environmental awareness.
  (e) The Regional Administrator of each of the ten regional offices of the
  Environmental Protection Agency may present an `Outstanding Environmental
  Educator Award' on an annual basis to a teacher or faculty member from a
  local education agency, college or university, or not-for-profit organization
  in that region in recognition of a specific, outstanding contribution to
  environmental education during the past year.
SEC. 9. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL AND TASK FORCE.
  (a) There is hereby established a National Environmental Education Advisory
  Council and a Federal Task Force on Environmental Education.
  (b)(1) The Advisory Council shall advise, consult with, and make
  recommendations to, the Administrator on matters relating to activities,
  functions, and policies of the Agency under this Act. The Office of
  Environmental Education shall provide staff support to the Council.
  (2) The Advisory Council shall consist of fifteen members appointed by the
  Administrator after consultation with the Secretary. Three members shall be
  appointed to represent primary and secondary education (one of whom shall
  be a classroom teacher); three members shall be appointed to represent
  colleges and universities; three members shall be appointed to represent
  not-for-profit organizations involved in environmental education; three
  members shall be appointed to represent State departments of education and
  natural resources; and three representatives shall be appointed to represent
  business and industry. A representative of the Secretary shall serve as an
  ex-officio member of the Advisory Council. In addition, a representative of
  the Secretary of Agriculture and a representative of the Secretary of the
  Interior shall serve as ex-officio members of the Council. The conflict
  of interest provision at section 208(a) of title 18, United States Code,
  shall not apply to members' participation in particular matters which
  affect the financial interests of employers which they represent pursuant
  to this subsection.
  (3) The Administrator shall provide that members of the Council represent
  the various geographic regions of the country and that the professional
  backgrounds of the members include scientific, policy, and other appropriate
  disciplines.
  (4) Each member of the Advisory Council shall hold office for a term of
  three years, except that--
  (A) any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration
  of the term for which his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed
  for the remainder of such term; and
  (B) the terms of the members first taking office shall expire as follows:
  five shall expire three years after the date of enactment of this Act, five
  shall expire two years after such date, and five shall expire one year after
  such date, as designated by the Administrator at the time of appointment.
  (5) Members of the Advisory Council appointed under this section shall,
  while attending meetings of the Council or otherwise engaged in business of
  the Council, receive compensation and allowances at a rate to be fixed by
  the Administrator, but not exceeding the daily equivalent of the annual
  rate of basic pay in effect for grade GS-18 of the General Schedule
  for each day (including travel time) during which they are engaged in
  the actual performance of duties vested in the Council. While away from
  their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services
  for the Council, members of the Council shall be allowed travel expenses,
  including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons
  employed intermittently in the Government service are allowed expenses
  under section 5703(b) of title 5 of the United States Code.
  (6) Section 14(a) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act relating to
  termination, shall not apply to the Advisory Council.
  (c)(1) The Federal Task Force on Environmental Education shall advise,
  consult with and make recommendations to the Administrator on matter
  relating to implementation of this Act and assure the coordination of such
  implementation activities with related activities of other Federal agencies.
  (2) Membership of the Task Force shall include representatives of the--
  (A) Department of Education,
  (B) Fish and Wildlife Service,
  (C) National Park Service,
  (D) Forest Service,
  (E) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
  (F) the Bureau of Land Management,
  (G) Council on Environmental Quality, and
  (H) National Science Foundation.
  The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall chair the
  Task Force.
  (d) The Advisory Council shall, after providing for public review and
  comment, submit to the Congress, within twenty-four months of enactment
  of this Act and biennially thereafter, a report which shall--
  (A) describe and assess the extent and quality of environmental education
  in the Nation;
  (B) provide a general description of the activities conducted pursuant to
  this Act and related authorities over the previous two-year period;
  (C) summarize major obstacles to improving environmental education,
  including environmental education programs relating to national parks and
  wildlife refuges, and make recommendations for addressing such obstacles; and
  (D) identify personnel skills, education, and training needed to respond
  to current and anticipated environmental problems and make recommendations
  for actions to assure sufficient educational and training opportunities
  in these professions.
  The Federal Task Force on Environmental Education shall review and comment
  on a draft of the report to Congress.
SEC. 10. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION TRUST FUND.
  (a) There is established in the Treasury of the United States a trust fund
  to be known as the `Environmental Education Trust Fund', consisting of such
  amounts as may be deposited in such Trust Fund as provided in this section.
  (b) Amounts in the Environmental Education Trust Fund shall be available,
  as provided in appropriation Acts, to the Administrator for the purposes
  of making expenditures to carry out this Act.
  (c) Fifty per centum of any penalty collected in response to Federal
  enforcement action pursuant to the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the
  Solid Waste Disposal Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Federal
  Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, and the Safe Drinking Water
  Act shall be deposited in the Environmental Education Trust Fund unless
  any such penalty is required to be used for another purpose pursuant to
  Federal law: Provided further, That deposits to the fund pursuant to this
  subsection shall not exceed $15,000,000 in any given fiscal year.
SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION.
  (a) There is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the Environmental
  Education Trust Fund to carry out this Act not to exceed $15,000,000 for
  each fiscal year 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996.
  (b) Of such sums appropriated in a fiscal year, not more than 30 per
  centum shall be available for the activities of the Office of Environmental
  Education, not more than 30 per centum shall be available for the operation
  of the environmental education and training program, and not more than 40
  per centum shall be available for environmental education grants.
Passed the Senate July 18 (legislative day, July 10), 1990.
 Attest:
Secretary.
S 1076 ES1S