2012 Environmental Education Grants Program; Application Announcement [41 Pa.B. 5231]
[Saturday, October 1, 2011]Applications for the 2012 Environmental Education Grants Program (Program) are now available from the Department of Environmental Protection (Department). The grants provide funding to public and private schools, colleges and universities, county conservation districts, nonprofit organizations and associations, conservation and education organizations and institutions, businesses, municipalities and municipal authorities to create or develop projects that support environmental education in this Commonwealth. Grants will provide environmental education on timely and critically important topics, including the following:
• Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Education—Organizations are encouraged to develop environmental education programs that promote the reduction of nonpoint source pollution, such as nutrient and sediment loads. Projects may also include abandoned mine drainage and water conservation programs.
• Air Quality—Organizations are encouraged to develop air quality education and outreach programs.
• Brownfields—Organizations are encouraged to develop education and outreach programs for students, youth, educators, community members, community groups, developers, property owners and others that are interested in brownfield redevelopment and sustainable communities, along with developing green spaces.
• Climate Change—Organizations are encouraged to develop education and outreach programs about climate change.
• Geologic Resource Extraction—Organizations are encouraged to develop education and outreach programs related to geologic resource extraction. Programs should focus on impacts on communities, local and regional economies, risk management and natural resources. Potential target audiences include land owners, private well owners, municipal water suppliers or boards, local governments, land trusts and associations, watershed groups and conservancies and others.
• Environmental Literacy Planning and Programing—Organizations are encouraged to engage educators and stakeholders in content standards and field-based environmental education.
• Formal and Nonformal Environmental Education Certification—Organizations are encouraged to develop and implement institutionalized and community-based certification programs designed for teachers, naturalists and educators working in schools and environmental education facilities.
• Curriculum Integration Projects—Articulation of the Academic Standards for Environment and Ecology into the K-12 curriculum for the entire school district, private school or charter school, using the model developed by the Department of Education's Office of Environment and Ecology.
• Curriculum Revision Projects—Revise current or write new lesson plans or units to meet the changes identified in the Department of Education approved alignment to the Environment and Ecology Standards and provide a means for classroom assessment.
• Outdoor Learning Resource Projects—Develop resources such as trails, agricultural demonstration areas, alternative energy demonstration areas, ponds, wetland areas, sheltered learning stations, and the like, as well as similar nearby community resources as a framework within which students can learn about natural systems and the interrelationship among natural and manmade communities.
• Sustainable Energy—Organizations are encouraged to develop education and outreach programs about solar, wind, hydro, microhydro, biomass, geothermal, alternative transportation fuels and energy efficiency and conservation.
The Program was established by the Environmental Education Act (35 P. S. §§ 7521—7528), which mandates setting aside 5% of the pollution fines and penalties collected annually by the Department for environmental education in this Commonwealth.
Environmental education grant awards are limited to $7,500. This announcement opens on October 3, 2011, and grant applications submitted to the Department must be postmarked by December 16, 2011.
Applications may be obtained by contacting the Department of Environmental Protection, Environmental Education Grants Program, P. O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063, (717) 772-1828. For additional information and to obtain the electronic copy of the grants manual and application forms, visit the Department's web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us (DEP Keyword: EE Grants).
MICHAEL L. KRANCER,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 11-1698. Filed for public inspection September 30, 2011, 9:00 a.m.]
