Environmental Education and Training Program
As required by Public Law 101-619, funds are provided to universities, non-profit organizations, or a consortia of such institutions to deliver environmental education training and support for
Funding Priority-Fiscal Year 2008: EPA awards only cooperative agreements to a university, non-profit organization, or a consortia to operate the program on a multi-year basis.
The training and support must be provided for both formal and non-formal educators, occur in both pre-service and in-service settings, and reach geographically and culturally diverse audiences across the U.S.
The outputs should include: delivering in-service and pre-service educator training, promoting the national environmental education guidelines, supporting state capacity building, developing and institutionalizing a materials review process, supporting the accreditation of teachers, supporting state educator certification efforts, and supporting internet access to information and materials.
The training program to be operated from October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2010 must provide training and support for both formal and non-formal educators, occur in both pre-service and in-service settings, and reach geographically and culturally diverse audiences across the U.S.
The outputs should include: delivering in-service and pre-service educator training, promoting the national environmental education guidelines, supporting state capacity building, developing and institutionalizing a materials review process, supporting the accreditation of teachers, supporting state educator certification efforts, and supporting internet access to information and materials.
Funding Priority-Fiscal Year 2009: EPA awards only cooperative agreements to a university, nonprofit organization, or a consortia to operate the program on a multi-year basis.
The training and support must be provided for both formal and non-formal educators, occur in both pre-service and in-service settings, and reach geographically and culturally diverse audiences across the U.S.
The outputs should include: delivering in-service and pre-service educator training, promoting the national environmental education guidelines, supporting state capacity building, developing and institutionalizing a materials review process, supporting the accreditation of teachers, supporting state educator certification efforts, and supporting internet access to information and materials.
The training program to be operated from October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2010 must provide training and support for both formal and non-formal educators, occur in both pre-service and in-service settings, and reach geographically and culturally diverse audiences across the U.S.
The outputs should include: delivering in-service and pre-service educator training, promoting the national environmental education guidelines, supporting state capacity building, developing and institutionalizing a materials review process, supporting the accreditation of teachers, supporting state educator certification efforts, and supporting internet access to information and materials.
Examples of Funded Projects
Environmental education activities such as training for in-service and pre-service educators; promotion of the national environmental education guidelines; support for state capacity building; the development of a materials review process; support for accreditation efforts at universities; support for state educator certification programs; and support for internet access to information and materials.
More information is available at http://www.eetap.org.
The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and the environment. Since 1970, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.
Program Accomplishments
(1) Trained over 80,000 teachers and other education professionals in scientifically-sound and pedagogically-effective environmental education; (2) published a series of national environmental education guidelines for: environmental education materials, what students need to know about the environment to become environmentally literate, what educators need to know to teach effectively about the environment, and what constitutes effective non-formal programs; (3) provided leadership and strategic planning training and support to more than 25 states to ensure coordinated and effective statewide environmental education programs; (4) supported state environmental education certification efforts in four states; (5) developed three university accredited on-line environmental education courses that introduce educators to environmental education, teach educators how to evaluate environmental education programs, and help EE programs reach culturally diverse audiences; and (6) developed and maintained a state-of-the-art Internet site to enable educators to access quality information and resources about environmental education. More information on program accomplishments is available at http://www.eetap.org.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Funds shall be used to establish an education and training program which 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) demonstrations of the design and conduct of environmental field studies and assessments; (3) development of environmental education programs and curricula, including programs and curricula to meet the needs of diverse ethnic and cultural groups; (4) sponsorship and management of international exchanges of teachers and other educational professionals between the United States, Canada, and Mexico involved in environmental programs and issues; (5) maintenance or support of a library of environmental education materials, information, literature, and technologies, with electronic as well as hard copy accessibility; (6) evaluation and dissemination of environmental education materials, training methods, and related programs; (7) 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; (8) supporting effective partnerships, networks, and the use of distant learning technologies; and (9) such other activities as the Administrator determines to be consistent with the policies of the Act.
No funds made available for this program shall be used for the acquisition of real property (including buildings) or the construction or substantial modification of any building.
Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information.
Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: http://geodata.epa.gov.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Assistance under this program is available to universities, non-profit organizations, or a consortia of such institutions to deliver environmental education training and support for education professionals.
For certain competitive funding opportunities under this CFDA description, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Education (0-8), education (9-12), education (13+), nonprofit institutions.
Credentials/Documentation
Documentation of nonprofit status may be required. Applicants may be requested to demonstrate they have appropriate background, academic training, experience in the field, and necessary equipment to carry out projects. Office of Environmental Education may ask applicants or principal investigators to provide curriculum vitae and relevant publications.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
A solicitation notice is issued for this program once every five years.
The notice identifies the application process.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Regarding pre-application/pre-proposal assistance with respect to competitive funding opportunities under this program description, EPA will generally specify the nature of the pre-application/pre-proposal assistance, if any, that will be available to applicants in the competitive announcement.
For additional information, contact the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts" or see Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Application Procedures
The next solicitation notice which describes the application procedure for this program will be issued in the Federal Register in 2010. The last solicitation notice was issued March 18, 2005. The solicitation process for this program is conducted every five years. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA.
Award Procedures
This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 110. For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications, proposals, and/or submissions in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the competitive announcement. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements.
Deadlines
The deadline for submitting proposals for this program will be specified in the next solicitation notice in 2010.
Authorization
National Environmental Education Act; Section 5, Public Law 101-619.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
The next award will not be made until 2010.
Appeals
Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures published in 70 FR (Federal Register) 3629, 3630 (January 26, 2005). Copies of these procedures may also be requested by contacting the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts." Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 40 CFR 30.63 or 40 CFR 31.70, as applicable.
Renewals
Generally, EPA incrementally funds grants and cooperative agreements for surveys, studies, and investigations. Approval of subsequent funding increments is dependent on satisfactory project progress, continued relevance of the project to the Environmental Education Division's program priorities, and the availability of funds.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
In accordance with the National Environmental Education Act (Public Law 101-619), federal funds for any project under this section shall not exceed 75 percent of the total cost of such project. The project has a 25 percent non-federal match required by statutory formula. For the purposes of this section, the nonFederal share of project costs may be provided by cash or by in-kind contributions and other non-cash support.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
The training program consists of an initial one year budget and project period subject to annual supplemental funding agreements for up to five years.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
The grantee must submit bi-annual and final progress reports.
Audits
Grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspections and audits by the Comptroller General of the United States, the EPA Office of Inspector General, other EPA staff, or any authorized representative of the Federal government. Reviews by the EPA Project Officer and the Grants Specialist may occur each year. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," non-federal entities that expend $500,000 or more in a year in Federal awards shall have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-federal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in OMB Circular No. A-133.
Records
Financial records, including all documents to support entries on accounting records and to substantiate changes to each assistance agreement, must be kept available to personnel authorized to examine EPA assistance accounts. All records must be maintained until the expiration of 3 years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. If questions still remain, such as those raised as the result of an audit, related records should be retained until the matter is completely resolved.
Financial Information
Account Identification
68-0108-0-1-304.
Obigations
FY 07 $837,000; FY 08 $2,209,000; FY 09 est $17,000,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
This is a 5-year program, one recipient is selected every 5 years. The project is funded on an annual basis and the amount of the annual funding depends on Congressional appropriation. The range and average financial assistance for the full 5-year project period is approximately $8.5 million.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
40 CFR Parts 30, 31, 32, 33, 45, 47; program guidance; Federal Register (Invitation for Pre-proposal, July 2, 1991); Public Law 101-619.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Contact the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters Office
Kathleen MacKinnon, Environmental Education Specialist, Environmental Education Division, (1704A), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20460. Telephone: (202) 564-0454. Fax: (202) 564-2754. E-mail: mackinnon.kathleen@epa.gov.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Priorities for selecting proposals are listed in Section 5 of Public Law 101-619, National Environmental Education Act. The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA description will be described in the competitive announcement.
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