Environmental Council of the States

The Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) is the national non-profit, non-partisan association of state and territorial environmental agency leaders. ECOS was established in December 1993 at a meeting of approximately 20 states in Phoenix, Arizona and is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization.

The purpose of ECOS is to improve the capability of state environmental agencies and their leaders to protect and improve human health and the environment of the United States of America.

Our belief is that state government agencies are the keys to delivering environmental protection afforded by both federal and state law. Further, we believe that ECOS plays a critical role in facilitating a quality relationship between federal and state agencies in the fulfillment of that mission. That role is defined as:

• Articulate, advocate, preserve and champion the role of the states in environmental management; and
• Provide for the exchange of ideas, views and experiences among states and with others; and
• Foster cooperation and coordination in environmental management; and
• Articulate state positions to Congress, federal agencies, and the public on environmental issues.