§ 5508. — Environmental Education Advisory Council and Task Force.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 20USC5508]
TITLE 20--EDUCATION
CHAPTER 65--NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Sec. 5508. Environmental Education Advisory Council and Task
Force
(a) Establishment
There is hereby established a National Environmental Education
Advisory Council and a Federal Task Force on Environmental Education.
(b) Advisory Council; duties; members; terms of office; compensation;
termination
(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 chapter. With respect
to such matters, the Council shall be the exclusive advisory entity for
the Administrator. The Council may exchange information with other
Advisory Councils established by the Administrator. The Office of
Environmental Education shall provide staff support to the Council.
(2) The Advisory Council shall consist of 11 members appointed by
the Administrator after consultation with the Secretary. Two members
shall be appointed to represent primary and secondary education (one of
whom shall be a classroom teacher); two members shall be appointed to
represent colleges and universities; two members shall be appointed to
represent not-for-profit organizations involved in environmental
education; two members shall be appointed to represent State departments
of education and natural resources; two representatives shall be
appointed to represent business and industry; and one representative
shall be appointed to represent senior Americans. A representative of
the Secretary shall serve as an ex officio member of the Advisory
Council. The conflict of interest provision at section 208(a) of title
18 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, has minority
representation, 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 3 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: four shall expire 3 years after November 16, 1990, four
shall expire 2 years after November 16, 1990, and three shall expire
1 year after November 16, 1990, 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) \1\ of title 5.
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\1\ See References in Text note below.
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(6) Section 14(a) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act relating to
termination, shall not apply to the Advisory Council.
(c) Federal Task Force on Environmental Education; duties; members
(1) The Federal Task Force on Environmental Education shall advise,
consult with and make recommendations to the Administrator on matters
relating to implementation of this chapter and assure the coordination
of such implementation activities with related activities of other
Federal agencies.
(2) Membership of the Task Force shall include the--
(A) Department of Education,
(B) Department of the Interior,
(C) Department of Agriculture,
(D) the Environmental Protection Agency,
(E) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
(F) Council on Environmental Quality,
(G) Tennessee Valley Authority, and
(H) National Science Foundation.
(3) The Environmental Protection Agency shall chair the Task Force.
(4) The Administrator may ask other Federal agencies to participate
in the meetings and activities of the Task Force where the Administrator
finds it appropriate in carrying out the requirements of this chapter.
(d) Reports
(1) The Advisory Council shall, after providing for public review
and comment, submit to the Congress, within 24 months of November 16,
1990, 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 chapter and related authorities over the previous
2-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;
(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; and
(E) describe and assess the extent and quality of environmental
education programs available to senior Americans and make
recommendations thereon; describe the various Federal agency
programs to further senior environmental education; and evaluate and
make recommendations as to how such educational apparatuses could
best be coordinated with nonprofit senior organizations across the
Nation, and environmental education institutions and organizations
now in existence.
(2) The Federal Task Force on Environmental Education shall review
and comment on a draft of the report to Congress.
(Pub. L. 101-619, Sec. 9, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3333.)
References in Text
Section 5703 of title 5, referred to in subsec. (b)(5), was amended
generally by Pub. L. 94-22, May 19, 1975, Sec. 4, 89 Stat. 85, and, as
so amended, does not contain a subsec. (b).
Section 14(a) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, referred to in
subsec. (b)(6), is section 14(a) of Pub. L. 92-463, which is set out in
the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
References in Other Laws to GS-16, 17, or 18 Pay Rates
References in laws to the rates of pay for GS-16, 17, or 18, or to
maximum rates of pay under the General Schedule, to be considered
references to rates payable under specified sections of Title 5,
Government Organization and Employees, see section 529 [title I,
Sec. 101(c)(1)] of Pub. L. 101-509, set out in a note under section 5376
of Title 5.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 5503, 5505, 5507 of this
title.
