National Environmental Education Training Program

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 National Environmental Education Act, Section 5. 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: https://www.epa.gov/geospatial

Under the teacher training program, environmental education funds may not be used for the following: 1) technical training of environmental management professionals; 2) environmental information and/or outreach projects that have no additional education component; 3) advocacy promoting a particular point of view or course of action; 4) lobbying or political activities as defined in 2 CFR Part 200.450; 5) non-educational research and development; or 6) constructions projects--EPA will not fund construction activities such as the acquisition of real property or the construction or the substantial modification of any building. Use restrictions are outlined in the NOFO. This program makes Federal awards on a discretionary basis. A discretionary award means an award in which the Federal awarding agency, in keeping with specific statutory authority that enables the agency to exercise judgement (“discretion”), selects the recipient and/or the amount of Federal funding awarded through a competitive process or based on merit of proposals. A discretionary award may be selected on a non-competitive basis, as appropriate. For further information, please contact the Headquarters or regional office.