§ 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—
(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.
(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.
(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—
(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.
[1] See References in Text note below.