Our Mission and History
The mission of the Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute (PCEI) is to increase citizen involvement in decisions that affect our region’s environment.
Our Goals Include:
To encourage sustainable living, provide experiential learning, and offer opportunities for serving in our community, while actively protecting and restoring our natural resources
To promote the ecological health and social welfare of the Palouse-Clearwater region.
To actively participate in the conservation, preservation, and restoration of environmentally sensitive lands, natural areas, and unique ecosystems.
To provide forums for the free exchange of views in matters of concern to the public.
To inform and educate the public on issues of importance to the sustainable future of the Palouse-Clearwater region thus promoting a well-informed, active and concerned citizenry
PCEI’s Original Board of Directors
Back row: Ellen Magnuson, Alan Lifton, Chuck Broscius, Gitta Bridges
Bottom row: Beth Case, Mary Jo Knowles, Mary Jane Butters (founder)
Our History
PCEI was started by an explosion halfway around the world.
In 1986 when the Chernobyl nuclear reactor blew up, folks living close to the Hanford nuclear power plant in eastern Washington and northern Idaho were pretty nervous – and for good reason. The Chernobyl catastrophe arose concerns and awareness about many dangerous activities at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation throughout the years since nuclear weapons production began there during World War II. With the Palouse being downwind of the Hanford reactor, local residents moved to action.
We are PCEI
Learn more about what we do in this short video and then visit us in person at the PCEI Nature Center! Thank you, Kendyl Landeck, for the incredible amount of work you put into making this wonderful video for us!
A Special Thank You
to our members, supporters, volunteers, funders, board of directors, and staff! We couldn’t do this work without you.