THE GOVERNOR
PART I. GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
[4 PA. CODE CH. 5]
[EXECUTIVE ORDER 1996-7]
[27 Pa.B. 1782]
Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education December 20, 1996
Whereas, the Pennsylvania Constitution entitles the people of the Commonwealth to clean air, pure water, and preservation of the natural, scenic, historic, and aesthetic values of the environment; and
Whereas, environmental education is critically important to encourage citizenry, business, industry, and local governments to help promote a healthy environment and an understanding of the functioning of the natural world and the necessity of environmental protection and sound resource management; and
Whereas, the Pennsylvania Environmental Education Act (Act 24 of 1993) imposes duties on the Departments of Environmental Protection and Conservation and Natural Resources to conduct an evaluation of the status of environmental education taking place in the nonformal educational sector of the Commonwealth and to maintain an inventory of environmental education materials, programs, and resources available in Commonwealth agencies; and
Whereas, there is a great need and demand for balanced environmental education in both the public and private sectors of the Commonwealth; and
Whereas, training and continuing education of both public and private sectors of the Commonwealth are necessary to provide appropriate and effective environmental education; and
Whereas, Pennsylvania business, industry, and local governments play an important role in protecting the environment and in environmental education; and
Whereas, the Department of Environmental Protection is promoting the use of sound science in decision making, pollution prevention, and public participation to achieve its goals, all of which cannot be accomplished without a strong environmental education program; and
Whereas, the Department of Education supports environmental education in the Commonwealth through the development of rigorous standards that address the environment and ecology, and by providing environmental education resources and technical guidance in environmental studies to all Pennsylvania schools; and
Whereas, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources provides and promotes environmental education related to the conservation, utilization, and preservation of the natural resources of the Commonwealth and has a network of environmental education centers and state parks to provide the public, students, and educators access to environmental education services; and
Whereas, the Department of Community and Economic Development recognizes the role of environmental education in strengthening the sustainable global competitiveness of the Pennsylvania economy and enhancing the quality of life of Commonwealth communities; and
Whereas, the State System of Higher Education has set priorities to develop, refine, and conduct an ongoing review and revision of curricula to address student skill development in problem solving and decision making, along with their capacity for critical thinking and informed judgment to prepare them to live in a rapidly changing world and is dedicated to the improvement of teaching and learning for faculty at its own institutions as well as other colleges and universities; and
Whereas, the Pennsylvania Game Commission provides and promotes environmental education related to the conservation of wildlife, habitats and natural resources; has a Statewide network of wildlife education specialists and wildlife conservation officers who provide teacher workshops and youth and adult education programs; sponsors Project WILD, a National, interdisciplinary environmental education curriculum; and develops and distributes environmental education materials throughout the State; and
Whereas, the Fish and Boat Commission is committed to increasing knowledge and awareness of Pennsylvania's aquatic resources and contributes to that end through environmental education programs which provide educational resources and train educators to teach about the Commonwealth's aquatic and fishery resources, thereby complementing the Commission's efforts to provide fishing and boating opportunities through the protection and management of aquatic resources; and
Whereas, the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. is committed to promoting sound environmental education by developing materials and supporting the educational programs and other efforts of the Commonwealth's 66 county conservation districts; and
Whereas, the Pennsylvania Alliance for Environmental Education promotes and supports environmental education activities and efforts throughout Pennsylvania in order to develop a citizenry that understands and appreciates the natural world, recognizes and accepts responsibility for its impact on natural systems and is motivated to take personal action to solve environmental problems; and
Whereas, the efforts of all partners in environmental education in Pennsylvania would be enhanced by the existence of a center which would support and facilitate environmental education on a Statewide basis through school districts, intermediate units, county conservation districts, and nonprofit citizen and environmental education organizations; and
Whereas, the Departments of Environmental Protection, Conservation and Natural Resources, Education, Community and Economic Development, State System of Higher Education, Fish and Boat Commission, Game Commission, Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc., and Pennsylvania Alliance for Environmental Education wish to cooperate in a partnership to provide public access to quality environmental education, reduce the cost of the delivery of environmental education services, and provide an avenue for increased participation of educators, local officials, county conservation districts, citizen and nonprofit groups, business and industry as partners in the implementation of quality environmental education on a statewide basis.
Now, Therefore, I, Thomas J. Ridge, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Environmental Education Act, the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act and other laws, and in furtherance of the purposes and policies of the Pennsylvania Constitution, do hereby establish the Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education, as hereinafter set forth:
Annex A
TITLE 4. ADMINISTRATION
PART I. GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
CHAPTER 5. COUNCILS AND COMMITTEES
Subchapter MMM. PENNSYLVANIA CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION Sec.
5.931. Purpose. 5.932. Functions. 5.933. Composition. 5.934. Relationship with other agencies. 5.935. Staffing and expenses. 5.936. Effective date. § 5.931. Purpose.
The Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education is established to provide increased public and private access to quality environmental education through service, education and research.
§ 5.932. Functions.
The functions of the Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education (Center) are to:
(1) Establish an environmental education computer network system to help disseminate environmental education materials and programs.
(2) Provide technical assistance for preservice teacher preparation in the area of environmental education.
(3) Provide the opportunity for professional development through continuing education.
(4) Promote the formation of partnerships with educators, schools, local officials, county conservation districts, business, industry, nonprofit citizen and environmental education organizations. In particular, the Center shall consult with the Pennsylvania Alliance for Environmental Education and National Environmental Education Advancement Project seed team members to set priorities and develop activities.
§ 5.933. Composition.
An executive committee, consisting of representatives of the Departments of Environmental Protection, Conservation and Natural Resources, Education, Community and Economic Development, State System of Higher Education, Fish and Boat Commission, Game Commission, Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. and the Pennsylvania Alliance for Environmental Education shall be formed and meet at least annually for the purpose of setting priorities and suggesting activities. Additional executive committee members may be added at the discretion of the executive committee.
§ 5.934. Relationship with other agencies.
To implement the purpose of this subchapter, the committee may request and receive from any department, division, board, bureau, commission or any other agency under the Governor's jurisdiction, cooperation, information and data needed by the committee to properly carry out its powers and duties.
§ 5.935. Staffing and expenses.
The agencies shall cooperate in providing staff and financial resources to the Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education.
Governor
Fiscal Note: GOV 97-9. (1) General Fund; (2) Implementing Year 1996-97 is $52,100; (3) 1st Succeeding Year 1997-98 is $245,000; 2nd Succeeding Year 1998-99 is $252,300; 3rd Succeeding Year 1999-00 is $259,900; 4th Succeeding Year 2000-01 is $267,700; 5th Succeeding Year 2001-02 is $275,700; (4) FY 1995-96 $59.5 million; FY 1994-95 $56.0 million; FY 1993-94 $49.8 million; (7) Environmental Protection Operations; (8) recommends adoption.
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 97-542. Filed for public inspection April 11, 1997, 9:00 a.m.]
No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit.This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Bulletin full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.
