220R83101
     ASSESSING ERA'S LONG RANGE INFORMATION
                  SYSTEM NEEDS
                 FINAL REPORT
                    OF THE
   LONG RANGE ADP USER REQUIREMENTS TASK FORCE
                 October 1983
   Office of Information Resources Management,
Office of Administration and  Resources Management
      U.S. Environmental  Protection Agency

-------
                 MEMBERS OF LONG RANGE ADP USER REQUIREMENTS
                                  TASK FORCE
David Speights (Chairman)
Mike MacDougall
Irwin Auerbach
John Hidinger
Office of Administration
Region I, Administrative Services Division
Office of Policy and Resource Management
Office of Air, Noise and Radiation
Consultants:
Tim Matlack
Dennis Berg
Walter Spiegel
American Management Systems, Inc.

-------
                              TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                         Page
       Executive Summary	      i
   I.   Introduction	    1-1
  II.   Summary of Findings	   II-l
 III.   Staff Offices to the Administrator	  III-l
  IV.   Associate Administrator for Policy and Resource Management	   IV-1
   V.   Associate Administrator for Legal  and Enforcement Counsel	    V-l
  VI.   Assistant Administrator for Administration	   VI-1
 VII.   Assistant Administrator for Water	  VII-1
VIII.   Assistant Administrator for Solid Waste and Emergency
       Response	 VIII-l
  IX.   Assistant Administrator for Air,  Noise and Radiation	   IX-1
   X.   Assistant Administrator for Pesticides and Toxic Substances	    X-l
  XI.   Assistant Administrator for Research and Development	   XI-1

       APPENDIX A - Interview Guidelines	    A-l
       APPENDIX B - Interviewees	    B-l

-------
                              EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A.  Study Objectives

    Long term  trends in program  direction  and management  are  among the most
significant factors  in  determining  the  ADP  capabilities required by the Agen-
cy.   This  report presents the  findings of  a study  conducted  by a task force
within  the  Office of Administration  and represents the  first  step in a long
term ADP planning process.  The objectives of this study were to:

    •    Identify long  term  trends in  agency  program  direction, with an
         emphasis on  new  initiatives,  potential  shifts in program  direc-
         tion  or  priorities,   and  potential  changes  in  the   roles  of
         program   offices   at    headquarters,   regional    offices,  ORD
         laboratories and state agencies; and

    •    Define  the  information  management  needs   resulting  from these
         trends and their implications  for ADP support.

    The  task  force was not  charged with providing  technical  recommendations
for  the Agency's  future  hardware,  software and  telecommunications network.
Also,   the  study  was  not   intended   to  document  current  ADP  needs  and
deficiencies  of  existing  data  bases,   information  systems  and computerized
models.

B.  Key Findings

    1.   Strategic  planning  and  ADP  evaluation functions  are  essential  to
         effective ADP support.

         •    An  enhanced  strategic planning process for Agency programs
              and better communication  of program plans is needed to pro-
              vide a foundation for long term ADP planning.

         •    The Agency  should  conduct more audits of major ADP systems
              to  ensure that they are responsive to  user needs.

    2.   Continued delegation of  environmental programs to state agencies will
         cause major growth in information exchange  with  states.

         •    EPA  will  have  an   increasing  need to  obtain  programmatic
              information from state agencies.

         •    EPA will increasingly be  called on to  provide technical and
              research information  to state  agencies.

    3.   There  is a  critical  need  to  improve  the quality of  and integrate
         data.

         •    Program managers  need more complete,  current  and accurate
              data to support analysis  and decision-making.

         •    Managers  need  much more  integration  or  linkage of systems
              and data bases across programs and functions.

-------
                                                                           11

         t     The  Agency will  be  handling confidential data  for  several
              new  programs  (e.g.,  NESHAPS)  and in supporting data systems
              and  must  provide  adequate  security  against  unauthorized
              access  and disclosure.

    4.    There will   likely  be an explosion  in  demand for ADP  services.   The
         components of this  explosion will  Include:

         •     Development,  enhancement  and expansion  of major  applica-
              tions:

                  Several  major new  and replacement  systems  for mature
                  and evolving programs
                  Significant growth for several existing data bases
                   Increasing  size   and  complexity  of  environmental
                  models.

         •     Increasing automation of office and laboratory functions:

                  Widespread growth  in  development  and  use of localized
                   applications
                  Continuing automation of laboratories
                  Need for  expanded  electronic mail  network  to include
                   state organizations.

         •     High demand for user-friendly ADP "tools":

                   Retrieval software
                   Statistical analysis  software
                   Automated graphics
                   Automated mapping
                   Optical  character recognition
                   Software development tools.

         •    High demand for general  and technical  ADP orientation  and
              training.

C.  Next Steps

    The  Agency  ADP   organization  will  be  coordinating  the findings  of  this
study with  the  ADP  network  modernization program and  with  other ADP  planning
activities, and will  be working with other Agency offices and states to refine
and update the long  term ADP plans reflected  in this study.

-------
                               I.   INTRODUCTION
A.  Objectives

    Long term trends  in program direction  and  management are among  the  most
significant factors in  determining  the automated data  processing  (ADP)  capa-
bilities required by the Agency.  This report presents the findings of a study
conducted by a task force within the  Office of  Administration to help support
the design of the Agency's future ADP network and the acquisition of the need-
ed computer hardware,  software and communications capabilities by the Agency's
ADP organization.   This study  represents  the first  step  in  a  long  term ADP
planning process and has two overall objectives:

    •    To identify long term  (i.e.  3-5 years)  trends  in  program  direc-
         tion, with  particular  emphasis  on  new initiatives,  potential
         shifts  in program direction or priorities,  and potential changes
         in the  nature  of  program  operations  at headquarters,  regional
         offices, ORD  laboratories,  and state agencies;

    •    To define  the  information  and information  management  needs  re-
         sulting from these trends,  and consequent  implications for  ADP
         support.

    The task force recognizes that  ADP  technology and costs  are  changing  sig-
nificantly.  However, this  study is  not designed to provide  technical  recom-
mendations for EPA's future computer hardware, software and telecommunications
network.   The Agency's  ADP  organization,  with  the   continuing cooperation  of
the program  offices,  will  be  responsible  for  formulating specific  technical
ADP plans for meeting  these needs.

    Of  particular  note, this  study is not  intended to document  current ADP
requirements and deficiencies of existing data  bases,  information  systems and
computerized models.  However,  the study does address current  needs which  will
require future ADP  support  as  well,  and which  may  lead to significant  system
development or enhancement activities within a three to five  year timeframe.

-------
                                                                           1-2

B.  Methodology

    The findings of this report are based on  a  series  of  interviews  conducted
with many  of the  senior  managers at  headquarters,  regional  offices and  ORD
laboratories, and  with  representatives of state agencies.  These  interviews,
and the  findings  of the study, represent  the perceptions of senior managers
regarding  trends  or potential  changes in  program  direction  and  operations.
The interviews do not necessarily reflect firm commitments to program changes
or to  specific  information management or ADP projects.   All interviews  were
designed to  be  comprehensive,  but were not intended to define  program  direc-
tions or ADP needs  in great detail.   Most  interviews  were 1 1/2 to 2 hours in
length and  followed guidelines distributed in  advance of the  interview  (see
Appendix A).  In conducting this  study, the Task  Force found  that  many  inter-
viewees were very tentative in projecting  three  to five year trends and  tended
to focus on shorter term program directions  and  ADP needs.

    Interviews  were first  conducted  at  headquarters  with   managers at  the
office director level.  Many  managers  consulted their  staffs  or included them
in the interviews.  The interviews encompassed  virtually  all  program offices.
(See Appendix B for a complete list of interviewees,  including representatives
of regional offices, ORD laboratories, and state agencies.)

    Following the  interviews  at  headquarters, the Task Force prepared  an  in-
terim report for comment by the interviewees and to guide  interviews with man-
agers  in regional   offices  and ORD laboratories  and  with representatives of
state  agencies.^    To  obtain  the  perspective of  the  regions,  three sets of
on-site  interviews  were  conducted.     The  Task  Force   conducted  in-depth
interviews  with managers  in Region I  and their staffs.   Interviews  were also
conducted  on-site   with  senior managers  in  Region  II.    In  addition,  group
interviews  were  conducted  in  Region  VI  for a cross section  of managers from
 "Long Range ADP User Requirements Study - Interim Report", June 7, 1983.  All
comments regarding the interim report are reflected as appropriate in the cur-
rent version.

-------
                                                                           1-3
all other  regions,  and several senior  Regional  managers were  interviewed  in
Washington.   Regional  representatives  on  the  ADP  Steering  Committee  were
included in these interviews.

    The Task Force also interviewed many of  the directors of ORD laboratories.
On-site interviews were frequently attended by senior  laboratory  staff.   Sev-
eral directors were interviewed in Washington.

    States  are  represented  in the  study by  interviews conducted  with  the
directors of  associations  of state environmental  agencies and two members  of
the association  of solid  waste program administrators.  Although  individual
states were  not  contacted  in  conducting this study,  state agencies will  be
called on to participate in continuing ADP planning activities.

C.  Next Steps

    This report completes the initial  phase  of  an  ongoing long  range  ADP  plan-
ning process.   The Agency's ADP  organization  will assume  responsibility  for
extending the planning effort  into the  next phase,  and  for  working with  other
EPA offices  on  a  continuing basis to  assess  their long range user  require-
ments.

    The ADP organization  is  now conducting  two planning  activities  that  will
be coordinated with the findings of this study:

    •    A Computing and  Telecommunications Acquisition  Plan  (3-6 years)
         that addresses the  central  computing  facility,  the  distributed
         data  processing  network  and  the  telecommunications   network
         requirements.

    •    A Short Term ADP  Plan (1-3 years) that addresses the  ADP impli-
         cations of the  Agency's  1984 and 1985 program  requirements  and
         management information needs.  ADP  plans  will  be developed first
         at the program element level  and will subsequently  be  developed
         for individual  systems and related  types  of services.

-------
                                                                           1-4
    The ADP organization is also working with representatives of other offices
to develop a policy for acquiring and using microcomputers.

D.  Report Organization

    Chapter II summarizes the findings  of  the  study  from  a  cross-cutting per-
spective  and  is  structured to  highlight overall information  and  information
management needs  and implications  for  ADP  support.   The  remaining  chapters
focus on the program trends, information and information management needs, and
ADP support needs of individual  programs.  Each chapter addresses the programs
and functions  attributed  to a specific  Associate or  Assistant Administrator,
and is  organized  to  highlight the views of  headquarters, regions  and states.
The views of regional organizations with no direct counterpart at headquarters
(e.g.,  Environmental Services Divisions, Deputy Regional  Administrators) have
been  included  within the  appropriate programs and in  the study summary.  The
views  of ORD  laboratories are  reflected   in  the  final  chapter  and  in  the
summary.

-------
                                                                          II-l
                           II.  SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
    This  chapter  summarizes  the most significant findings of the study with
respect  to the Agency's needs for information management and related ADP sup-
port,  and the trends in programs and management/administrative functions con-
tributing  to  these needs.  Although the findings are directed toward  a three
to  five  year  time  horizon, many of the findings are important in the short
term  as well.  Several of the most representative programs, functions  and  in-
formation systems (or applications) are noted in these overall findings.

A.  Strategic Planning and ADP Evaluation Functions are Essential

    To  ensure  that ADP activities adequately support programmatic activities
and efficiently use available resources, the Agency needs to improve the stra-
tegic program planning process and conduct more ADP audits.

    1.   Enhanced Strategic Program Planning Process Needed to Provide  a Foun-
         dation for Long Term ADP Planning

         An analysis of the Agency's long term ADP needs, and subsequent plan-
ning for ADP support, should be based on an understanding of program goals  and
objectives,  the  initiatives that will be undertaken to achieve them,  and  the
scientific and management decisions that will be faced and require information
support.    In conducting this study, the Task Force became aware of a  lack of
long-term  Agency-wide  or  program specific plans for general  guidance in  ADP
planning.   Consequently, strategic planning at the program and function level
is vital to the development of ADP plans that will in fact support future pro-
gram needs, and should be performed regularly.

    2.   Increasing Need to Audit Major Centralized Systems

         A  number of the Agency's centralized program management and adminis-
trative  information  systems  no  longer effectively support users'  needs  and
seem  incapable  of supporting future requirements.  These systems were devel-
oped  several   years  ago and have not kept pace with the changing information

-------
                                                                         II-2
needs  of  management or with advances in ADP technology.  However, the Agency
continues  to  devote  considerable resources to maintaining both the software
and  data  for  these  systems.   The Agency's evolving systems audit function
should  expand  the  number  of  system  audits for existing systems and post-
implementation  audits for major new systems to ensure that major problems are
identified  for action and that limited ADP resources are used cost-effective-
ly-

B.   Strong Growth in Information Exchange with States

    As  EPA  continues  to  delegate environmental programs to state agencies,
there will be an increasing need to obtain information from state agencies and
also to provide technical  and other information to state (and local) agencies.

    1.   Increasing Requirement to Obtain Information from States

         Most  environmental  programs  will continue to be delegated to state
agencies, and EPA will need more and better quality information from states to
assess  overall  program effectiveness, identify major problems, and report to
the Congress.  The Agency also must be sure that  information of known quality,
especially  for  monitoring activities, is being collected.  Effective manage-
ment  of information obtained from states will require increasing ADP support.
State  cooperation  in  the use of EPA data systems or forwarding of data from
state systems will be essential.

         Cooperation will  vary among states, among programs, and among differ-
ent   types of data.  State  agencies are generally willing to report grants in-
formation,  are  less  cooperative   in  reporting  monitoring information, and
resist  providing  detailed  compliance  and  enforcement information.  States
which  administer environmental programs through  local agencies generally find
it more difficult to provide complete program  information to EPA.

         Program offices may adopt a variety of strategies to encourage states
to  report   information  required by the Agency.  A common strategy will be to
make   an EPA  information system available to support  state (and local) program
managers.     For  this  strategy to succeed, the  Agency will need to address  a

-------
                                                                         11-3
number  of  characteristics of the state ADP environment and experience gained
to date:

         •    States  will  seldom  use  systems  that  do not meet their
              needs,  and  they  should  have  a  significant role in the
              design  of  new  and  enhanced systems.  Although no system
              will be able to meet the needs of every state, the partici-
              pation  of  several representative states will help build a
              consensus on key requirements and encourage adoption of the
              system by other states.

         •    Agency  systems  should   require the submission of only the
             \ key  data items that are needed and will be used by program
              managers.  The Agency should recognize the burden on states
              of collecting and maintaining data and not require the sub-
              mission of non-essential data.

         •    Agency  systems  should  provide some flexibility for states
              to  fine  tune  the system to address their unique require-
              ments.    Systems  should  provide  a  capability for user-
              defined  data  items  and  an  easy to use report writer to
              enable states to develop custom reports and retrievals.

         •    Some  state  agencies,   like many organizations, experience
              turnover  among  system   users and frequently need to train
              new  users.    Also,  many agencies receive limited support
              from  state  ADP  staffs.    To  enable  state  agencies to
              effectively  use  EPA systems, these systems should be well
              documented  and  easy  to  use,  especially  for data entry
              processing.    Users  must be able to easily enter new data
              and  correct errors, and will prefer interactive processing
              for many applications.

         •    State agencies have limited resources and are strongly dis-
              couraged  from  purchasing  ADP  services outside the state
              government.    To  encourage use of EPA systems, the Agency
              should  continue  to  provide timesharing to states through

-------
                                                                         II-4
              state  grants,   and  incentives  for  using  EPA's systems.
              These  incentives  should  include flexible report writers,
              graphics  capabilities,   similar state-of-the-art ADP capa-
              bilities,  and   other  incentives for states to acquire and
              use hardware,  software and systems compatible with those of
              EPA  that  may   not  be   available  through  the  state ADP
              organization.

         •    Providing standard software to state agencies for implemen-
              tation  on  state computers is constrained by the diversity
              of hardware and  software utilized by states and the need to
              design  systems  using common,  and often less flexible, pro-
              gramming  languages  (e.g.  COBOL,  FORTRAN).    The Agency
              should  investigate  the  feasibility  of  providing micro-
              computers  or  minicomputers  to states (as government fur-
              nished  equipment owned  by EPA) to provide interactive data
              entry  and  manipulation  capabilities  and encourage state
              use.    This  approach  may prove to be more cost effective
              than  direct  state  use  of EPA mainframe computers at the
              National  Computer  Center  or the use of regional minicom-
              puters.    Should this approach be taken, the Agency should
              select  a  standard operating  system for computers provided
              to  states  by   EPA  programs   to minimize the need for the
              Agency to maintain information systems in several different
              software environments.

         Regardless of the Agency's efforts  to improve ADP support, some state
agencies  will  not  fully support EPA's data needs.  Several managers believe
that  the Agency should take  a harder  line in defining state reporting respon-
sibilities and establish a stronger link between reporting and program grants.

    2.   Increasing Need to Provide Information to States

         As  state agencies assume more responsibility for administering dele-
gated programs, they will request additional information and technical support
from  EPA.  An increasing awareness of toxic pollutants in all media will also

-------
                                                                          II-5
generate  a  greater volume of state requests for scientific  and technical  in-
formation  generated  or  compiled  by  EPA.  Although much of the  information
required  by  states  may ultimately be retrieved directly from automated  sys-
tems,  many  requests will require that EPA staff explain the source  and accu-
racy  of different types of data and constraints on its use to ensure that  the
data is used properly.  Specific requirements will include:

         •    technical  data  on effluent guidelines and the performance
              of control technologies to assist permit writers

         •    health and environmental effects data for pesticides, chem-
              icals  and  hazardous  compounds, and physical  and chemical
              properties,  to \ support  state  response  to environmental
              emergencies

         t    technical data on the control of hazardous waste

         t   . status information for enforcement actions referred to  EPA

         •    monitoring data maintained by states using EPA  system.

         In  developing  systems  to support state agencies as well as EPA, it
will  be  essential to gain the participation of states in the design phase to
ensure that state needs are given full consideration.

C.  Critical Need to Improve Quality of and Integrate Data

    Program  managers  need  more complete and accurate data  than is  currently
maintained  in the Agency's information systems.  To effectively use  available
data, managers also need the capability to link data that is now maintained in
different  systems  to  reflect  the relationships between Agency programs  and
functions.  These needs are described below.  The need to protect confidential
data from unauthorized access is also discussed in this section.

-------
                                                                         11-6
    1.   Need to Improve Quality of Data Maintained by Agency Systems

         A significant number of the Agency's major data systems maintain data
that  is  incomplete,  inaccurate and/or not current, and thus do not meet the
quality control  requirements of one or more current and potential users.  Such
systems  include  monitoring,  management  and  administrative  systems.   Two
problems frequently cited are data collection, entry and error correction pro-
cedures  that  do not reflect actual work flows, and inadequate automated con-
trols  (i.e.,  edits)  in  data  entry and update processes.  For both new and
existing systems, providers of data will increasingly require interactive pro-
cessing  for  data  entry, edit and error correction from terminals located in
users'  offices   (including  headquarters,  regions, laboratories and states).
Such  processing must be "user-friendly" for individuals who enter data fairly
frequently  but   who  do not have strong AOP skills.  Examples of applications
likely  to  implement  interactive data entry are the water permits compliance
system,  hazardous  waste  compliance  monitoring and enforcement systems, and
personnel   system.  For some systems, interactive data entry will be performed
by  professional  staff  located outside of EPA facilities (e.g., at hazardous
waste sites) using portable terminals.

         Another  issue  that  will need to be addressed is the formulation of
standard  definitions for data items that are used by or collected from two or
more  different organizations.  It will be especially important to define pro-
gram  activities or accomplishments reported by state agencies (e.g., adminis-
trative  enforcement  actions), and develop with state assistance criteria for
denoting  the  "equivalence" of activities conducted by states with comparable
activities monitored by EPA.

         An increasing emphasis on the multimedia measurement of toxic materi-
als  will   also affect the types of data stored in the Agency's systems.  Con-
centrations  of  toxics in air and water are generally very small (e.g., parts
per  billion,  parts per trillion).  Systems for maintaining ambient data must
be  capable  of  accurately  storing  data  for these materials at these small
concentrations in such a way that users know of the quality of the data (i.e.,
how  precise,  accurate and sensitive the monitoring system was that generated
the data).

-------
                                                                         II-7
    2.   Need More Integration of, or Linkages Among, Systems and Data Bases
         Across Programs and Functions

         Many program offices indicate a specific need for the ability to link
logically  related  data which are or will be maintained in different files or
data  bases.    This  capability is needed to perform analyses, data manipula-
tions,  and  simple retrievals, and should link data across systems within the
same  media  and  across media and functions.  Representative examples of this
need are:

         t    Obtaining  current  and  consistent information on budgets,
              status  of  funds, FTE counts, and contract commitments and
              obligations.                    \

         •    Identifying  current water quality and trends, construction
              progress,  grants  issued for designated waste water treat-
              ment plants,  and permit and discharge data for use by water
              program staff at headquarters and in the regions.

         •    Identifying  for OPRM staff and regional  environmental  ser-
              vices  divisions  the  release of pollutants into all media
              for designated facilities.

         •    Obtaining  the compliance status  and enforcement history of
              a  facility  or parent company for one or more statutes for
              OLEC  staff,  regional  counsel, regional  top management, and
              the  staffs  of  enforcement offices at  headquarters and in
              the  regions.    (More complete data than  that maintained by
              existing systems is  also required).

        •    Identifying groundwater problems  and the  location  of nearby
              injection  wells,   Superfund  sites, hazardous waste sites,
              and other facilities for use by regional  program staff.

-------
                                                                         II-8
         •    Comparing  trends  in  program accomplishments for specific
              organizations  (including states) with budgets and perform-
              ance  commitments,  to  support  the  Comptroller's Off ice,
              other offices within OPRM, and regional  management and pro-
              gram staff.

         •    Identifying  chemical  properties, health and environmental
              effects,  and containment and removal technologies for sub-
              stances  found at hazardous waste sites for use by regional
              environmental  services  divisions  and  state waste program
              staff.

         0    Identifying  chemical  properties  and  health and environ-
              mental  effects  of chemicals with comparable structures as
              part  of  the  review  of pre-manufacture notifications and
              other notifications under TSCA.

         Two  major  obstacles  identified by users attempting to perform data
"cross-walks" are:

         0    Inconsistent  data  definitions for common parameters, such
              as  facility/company  identifier,  chemical identifier, and
              geographic location; and

         t    Differences  in  the software used by various applications,
              the  lack  of a common language to access data, and limited
              training  and  user  support provided by ADP staffs respon-
              sible for systems operated by another program office.

Although  most  programs  at  headquarters  indicate a need for increased data
integration within media, OPRM, OLEC and regional program offices and environ-
mental services divisions have the greatest need for integration across media.
OA and regional administrative services staff have the greatest need for inte-
grating  data  across  administrative  functions.  OPP, OTS and OSWER have the
greatest  need  for   integrating  health and environmental effects  information
generated or collected by different program offices.

-------
                                                                         II-9
    3.   Need to Protect Confidential  Information in More Applications

         With an increasing emphasis on toxics  in  several  media,  requirements
to safeguard confidential business information may  be extended  to  several  new
and existing systems.   In addition to confidential  information  now maintained
in the  OTS chemical  inventory  and  in  systems  for pre-manufacture  notifica-
tions, firms may submit confidentiality claims for information about toxics in
air emissions, water effluents, and solid wastes.   Compliance and  enforcement
data for hazardous  waste sites may also  be claimed confidential.  Security for
systems which  maintain these data  will  likely  need to  be improved  to  guard
against unauthorized data access and disclosure.

D.  Likely Explosion in Demand for ADP  Services
                                                              \
    Program managers are becoming  increasingly aware of  ADP technology and the
benefits to be gained by making greater  use of ADP to support  program analysis
and operations.  There  will likely be an  explosion in demand  for  ADP services
in four areas:

    •    System  development  and  enhancement   support   for  major  ADP
         applications

    •    Increasing automation of  office and laboratory  operations

    •    Increasing use of ADP "tools"  by end users

    •    Increasing  need  for  general  and  technical ADP  orientation  and
         training

Each of these is described below.

    1.   System Development, Enhancement and Expansion Support for  Major  ADP
         Applications

         The growth  in  demand  for ADP  services  represented by  major  applica-
tions will  take  three forms.    Several  programs and administrative  functions

-------
                                                                        11-10
will  be  developing  new or replacement  information  systems.   Second,  several
existing  systems  will  experience  significant  data  base growth.    Finally,
environmental  models will be increasing in size and complexity.   These trends
point toward an increasing demand for both computer  and ADP staff support.

         a.   Development of New and Replacement Systems

              Many of  the  systems  the Agency requires to  carry  out  both  pro-
grammatic  and  administrative  functions  are currently  in  place.    However,
several  programs  will  likely  develop major  new  or expanded  applications.
These include:

              •    pesticides and  toxic substances  research data bases/
                   bibliographies   to.  support   chemical  analyses   and
                   research

              •    underground  injection  control  and  permits  system  to
                   track injection sites

              •    groundwater monitoring data  base to identify national
                   and  local  problems and link data  on  groundwater  qua-
                   lity with data for potential  sources of contamination

              t    ocean  monitoring data  base  to  assess  the effects  of
                   ocean dumping of wastes

              •    effluent guidelines research data bases/bibliographies
                   to  assist  NPDES permit writers  in identifying appro-
                   priate technologies on a case by case basis
              •    hazardous waste  site permitting,  compliance monitoring
                   and  enforcement data  bases  to  track  program accom-
                   plishments

              •    Superfund  removal  and  remedial  site management, moni-
                   toring  and enforcement data bases

-------
                                                                        11-11
              •     Laboratory data management,  and,  in  particular,  sample
                   file  control  for  some  regional  laboratories to perform
                   functions  such as:

                        data  acquisition  and  reduction
                        analytical   quality  control  performance   limits
                        checking
                        instrument calibration  chart maintenance
                        automated instrument  control

         Several   major   system  upgrades  or  replacements   are  anticipated,
including:
                                                                             \
              •     air quality monitoring and emissions system
              •     water permits compliance system
              t     financial  management  and related  systems
              •     hazardous  waste data  systems
              •     payroll  system
              •     personnel  system
              •     facilities management  system
              •     contracts  information  system.

         b.   Data Base Growth

              Significant growth is expected in  the volumes of several types
of data processed by existing data systems, including:

              •     toxic emissions and monitoring  data  related to Nation-
                   al  Emission Standards  for  Hazardous  Air  Pollutants

              t     water monitoring  data for  toxics

              •     compliance monitoring  and  status  information,   espe-
                   cially  for  programs  administered   by  state  agencies
                   with incomplete reporting  to EPA  at  the  present  time

-------
                                                                        11-12
              0    enforcement  actions,   including   administrative   and
                   other actions taken by state agencies.

         c.   Increasing Size and Complexity of Environmental  Models

              Environmental   and  health  effects  models  developed by  several
program offices  and  laboratories  are  expected to  process  larger volumes  of
data and  increase  in computational complexity.   Greater use will be  made  of
models of .local  ecosystems  within designated  bodies  of water.   These models
process voluminous monitoring  and other data.   Complex long  range  transport
models for  acid  rain  and  regional (i.e.,  large  area)  models for ozone  will
likely be  developed.   Models  used to develop standards and  regulations  will
encompass  more  variables  to  more  accurately reflect  potential  exposures,
environmental impacts and health effects, and to help  ensure the proper degree
of control (e.g., air quality and pesticides).  Overall, modelers will  require
access to large computers to operate some of the more  complex models.

    2.   Increasing Automation of Office and Laboratory Operations

         Many  functions  now supported  by manual   information  handling proce-
dures  will  substitute automated  capabilities to  make  better use of  limited
staff  resources.   Among  the  types of activities  to  be automated  are  local
office tracking systems and  collection  of  data from laboratory equipment.  In
addition,  there  will  be much  greater use  of  the  electronic mail  system and a
need to expand the system to users outside the Agency.

         a.   Widespread Growth in Development and Use of Localized
              Applications

              Several  program  offices  at  headquarters  and  virtually  every
regional organization  and ORD  laboratory anticipate making  greater use of ADP
to  process  numerical  and  text  information that is principally of local inter-
est.   A  significant  number  of Agency  staff are becoming computer literate and
will  require that  greater  use  be made of  ADP  to support  program  planning,

-------
                                                                        11-13
management  and  office  operations.    Examples of  the  most  common  localized
applications include:

              •    project scheduling and tracking

              §    automated tickler files  (e.g.,  follow-up  on pesticide
                   registration filings, administrative orders, etc.)

              t    workload planning and modeling

              •    word processing and automated  document filing, includ-
                   ing  correspondence,  studies,   reports,   and  policy
                   papers

Senior managers perceive  that  most  of  these applications will  have relatively
small  data  bases,  will be  operated by end  users,  and will  not  be  developed
unless  they are  inexpensive  to  operate  and maintain.   These  applications
generally would  not be  implemented on the  Agency's existing  mainframe com-
puters,  but  may  use data  stored  in the Agency's centralized  data bases.   Of
particular  note, reasonable management controls  should  be placed on computer
use to ensure that data are protected from unauthorized changes and that users
do not waste resources on frivolous or personal applications.

         b.   Continuing Automation of Laboratories

              Automated collection of experiment  data and control of equipment
has made tremendous advances  in  the  past  several years  and will  continue to
increase  significantly.    Much of  the laboratory  equipment  now used  by  the
Agency for  analysis, and  new equipment available to scientists, generates  raw
data  in  a  form  suitable for collection, reduction  and  analysis by computers.
Some equipment generates large volumes of data quickly and requires the scien-
tist  to  use a computer to  monitor the analysis  and  make  adjustments.   For
behavioral  experiments  that  generate  smaller volumes of data,  small  computers
(i.e., microcomputers) may  be  used  to  take periodic measurements and readings
of equipment and free  scarce EPA  laboratory staff to do other important tasks
that cannot be automated.

-------
                                                                        11-14
              A few  ORD  laboratories will  require  the capability to  monitor
experiments being  conducted off-site  by contractor  staff  by examining  data
submitted in  real  time to  the  Agency's  computers by  contractors'  equipment.
Regional ESD  laboratories  may adopt a Sample  File Control  system to  improve
data quality and management.

              Overall, laboratories  in ORD  and in the  regions  will  require
more dedicated small  computers  to  support data collection  and reduction,  and
control  of laboratory equipment,  and  improved  processing  capabilities  to
support laboratory data management.

         c.   Growth in Use of Electronic Mail  and Need to Add State Agencies
              to the Network                                          ,

              Most offices  at headquarters  and in the regions with  access  to
electronic mail have  found  it extremely  useful  in  communicating  with regional
offices, laboratories  and,  to a  lesser extent,  other  program  offices at head-
quarters.  Most remaining  offices  expect  to- find  it  useful, and  all  but a few
anticipated at  a  least a doubling in their  use of electronic mail  within the
next two  years.   Most regional  offices have found  it to  be especially useful
in  communicating  with headquarters,  and would  like   a comparable  capability
within  a region to improve communications among program groups.

              Several  offices  would  like  to   add  state  agencies   and  other
organizations at the  Federal, state  and  local  level  to the  network  to enhance
communications  for environmental  emergencies,  streamline  grants  processing,
provide  improved  coordination on  enforcement  actions, and reduce  the "paper
shuffling"  and  mailing delays  for documents  submitted  by  states  (e.g.,  SIP
revisions) for  EPA review.   However,  access priveleges for  some  new users may
need to be restricted if the network  is  expanded.   In addition, confidential
information should not be entered  into the mail system unless adequate securi-
ty  can  be provided.

-------
                                                                        11-15
    3.   Widespread Need for User-Friendly APR "Tools"

         Most offices have  a  current  and long term requirement  for  a  variety
of ADP  tools to  facilitate the use of  information  systems by  program  staff
with limited technical  ADP expertise.   Were the Agency  to meet  the requirement
for several of these tools, especially the capability to access and manipulate
data in Agency data bases,  there would be explosive  growth  in  the use  of many
management, administrative, and technical information systems.

         a.   Data Retrieval and Statistical Analysis Software

              Standard user-friendly software  packages  are  needed that enable
users to retrieve  data  from Agency data  bases  by  specifying their own record
selection  criteria,  and  to manipulate the  data (e.g.,  "what  if"  capability)
without changing the content of master files  and data  bases.   One, or  at most
a  few,  standard packages  are  desired which can be  applied to  virtually any
system or  data  base.   User friendly retrieval  tools will enable managers and
staff to quickly  obtain information which might otherwise  require contacting
several  people  or  searching  manual  files.    However,  users  must exercise
caution in  interpreting  data  they  are not familiar with  to ensure that  it  is
not misused  or  misrepresented.   (Similarly,  caution  should  be  exercised  in
using automated  graphics and mapping capabilities discussed  below.)

              A related  requirement  exists for statistical analysis software
which users can  apply to the selected data to  conduct a wide variety of analy-
ses.  ORD  laboratories  and  regional environmental  services  divisions now have
a  pressing need  for  an  easy-to-use  statistical   capability to  analyze  data
generated by laboratory tests.

              Data dictionaries or  similar capabilities  are needed  to enable
users  to   identify  the   data  items maintained  in  different systems   and  the
relationships among those items.

-------
                                                                        11-16
         b.    Automated Graphics
          *
              Standard user-friendly graphics  packages  are  needed  to  make  pre-
sentations of summary  data  in  pictorial  form and support  comparisons  of  pro-
gram performance,  easy identification  of trends, etc.   Most users  require  a
relatively simple graphics capability and the  ability to  print  hardcopy graphs
locally.   Users  also  emphasize that the cost of graphics software  should be
lower than the costs  of  some software (e.g., TELEGRAF) currently  used  by the
Agency.  Color graphics would be very  useful  to  ORD  laboratory staffs,  but is
not essential to other users of automated graphics.

         c.    Automated Mapping

              Much of  the environmental  data  maintained by the  Agency  relates
to specific  states, regions or other geographic  locations.   Software  is needed
to support mapping of  point  sources  and  ambient  data,  including national  maps
and highly detailed contour and point plot maps  of individual  regions,  states,
river basins, etc.  With the exception of laboratories, color mapping would be
useful, but  is not essential.

         d.    Optical  Character Recognition

              Several   offices would  like  to automate high  volume  routine  data
collection  and  entry  procedures  to reduce  staff resources  needed  for  this
activity.   Functions  which  are currently using  or  considering  using  optical
character recognition  technology are document control  in  OTS,  grants informa-
tion reporting,  and  printing of ORD research reports.   In  addition,  several
offices expressed  a need  to  convert  printed materials  prepared by contractors
into a format that is compatible with the Agency's  word  processing  capabili-
ties.

         e.   Software Development Tools

              Users in several  program offices expressed  a  need  for software
that will  enable them to  rapidly  design and implement data  bases to  support

-------
                                                                        11-17
local applications, and especially data management for scientific  research and
individual projects or studies.  However, these data  bases  may be of interest
to several offices and consequently should adhere  to  Agency data  standards to
enable other  users to link  or integrate them  in the  future to  support  new
analytic efforts.

    4.   High Demand for General  and Technical  ADP Orientation and Training

         Most managers throughout  the Agency  would like  orientation and  train-
ing for themselves and their staffs regarding the  overall capabilities  of ADP
and specific uses and capabilities of  EPA information systems  and data  bases.
A significant number of senior  managers desire  hands-on  training in the  use of
the Agency's computer capabilities and  specific applications.   An orientation
for new appointees who may have minimal knowledge  of  ADP and of Agency systems
will  be particularly useful.

         Ongoing training and user support  for  state  users of EPA  systems  will
be mandatory.    Some  state  agencies  experience  turnover   and  also  require
training to ensure the successful   adoption of new  'system  capabilities as  well
as routine modifications.

E.  Sources of Findings

    Most of the  findings  of  this  study are  not unique  to individual  offices,
but instead reflect common needs  of managers in program  offices  at  headquar-
ters, in  regional  offices, and in laboratories.   Exhibit II-l identifies the
Agency (and state) organizations  associated with each  major  finding.

F.  Findings in Common with Previous ADP Studies

    Several of  the findings  of the  Task Force are  consistent with  those  of
previous ADP studies,  especially with  the "Stage Assessment  and Five  Year  Man-
agement Plan for ADP"  conducted in  1979 by  Nolan,  Norton and Company.

-------
11-18













r—t
I/I
CU
o
L.
3
0
on








on

z
t— ii— «
i a
— z

u.
H-
coo
Ion
XU-I
UJCJ
ce
§
on




















VI
CT
c

•O
C
U_




























































c
o


u
c
3
u-
c
o
TO
3

TO
>
LU

Cu
a
•i

"g
TO

CT


c
c
TO

a.

u
en
01
TO
u
on
^






















o
3

01
u •
i- a
o on
u. > 0
TO i/l —
• — C 4J
a. o i- TO
— 0 E
E 4-1 '-5 i.
i. T3 £ '»-
en c c
03 4J —

0.14- a c

_ O TO TO
TO eft cu o *-i
— oi -a 4J s
4-1 4-1 •— O
C TO > T3 i-
CU I- O 0) CJ3
VI 4-1 i- O)
vi on a. z en
0
CU &-
TO • • on
rvj
-

O
a a.
^ 3
i 3

1 I
. a.
(-> a.
ce o

a »
uj on
on t—
t- o
a.
on" cC
a- ?
§ °
o

0- 3
§ *
3- £
s s
*• •>
3 3 <
a on a.
o o a.


o on on
uj ce
CD (DO*
-3
Z U on
ce LU l—
a. _j on
0 0 <





I/I TO
O) I/I 4-1
4.J QJ TO
TO 4J O
4-> TO
VI 4-1 Ol
I/I 4-*

O O W

•4- CU
C 4J
CO C
0 •- —

*J *& T3
TO E C
EC TO
1- 0
O i*. i*-
•E 5

Ol 4->
c -a —

TO > TO
4-1 O ^

"o a. °"
0)
o o >
W 4J 0
•o 13 a.
Ol 0) E
O) Ol — •
c c
0
en en 4-1
c c
vi vi Oi
TO TO O)
CU 01 Z
U U ' —
C C TO
'^J
•—
1.
r*i
^->

•a
iv'

0
g
a
on »
uj on
o
a
3 a.
a.
0 °
t/1 *
< on
a.
• o-
t\ rf
ce o
a
a uj 3
1 ° -
< UJ
' — "3
3 on on
on ce o
0 30
° 3 on"
3 .on a.
a 3 C7
O 0 • 3 •
o% cS - S:
o o
• * won
C_> — J CJ LU ••
LU on LU on
— i Z — i « i —
O LU O O O
on
. . . «£

ce < ce • Q.
Q- u a. o 3
o LU o ce o





01 vi

TO cB
I- 4-1
3 vi VI
0 >1 C
U VI O
TO —
<4- 4-1
•a o u *•
C C 0 vl
<0 V 3 01
01*4- VI U
+J TO 01 ••-
c _x -o E >
01 C C 3 C 1-
i_ .— TO — O Ol
i. ^- o •— on
3 VJ > 4-1
u WE TO a.
O TO en E O
W C L. «£
01 e en — o
4-1 ~ ^ I/I 14- W
CU TO C O
— — a. 01 — *•
a. TO i.

o en vi c vi c
O 01 O '"" 01 TO
4-1 W C E
Ol C 0 T3 •— "U
u —TO w vi a
§TO 3
01 VI 3 JD C
W CU Ol —
01 o vi oi < —
> E TO 14- TO C
TO J3 TO -— O
J= JZ i/l 4-1 •'-
U TO C VI
O 3 4J O 01 O
•w E TO 4J -a •—
TS — a
•O TO -Q T3 4- X
01 w ai -a oj c LU
01 TO 01 C OJ O
z -a z TO z vj >
Ol

• • • — 1
„:
3 LU <
on a.
i— • _i a.
on o ce^- «r
< on o LU *-•* t—
^» «i on X v) on
O LU ~-«. J3 "^^
Z • O TO O O
3 LJ *on *— z on
<£ ce a uj 3 <
Z — on
» > 3 .,— l—
o ! ~^

o on z w on z LU ja
o o i— -^ < a. TO
on — ce ce —
• •• — •— o o o
a. on _j .— ^- — • z ><
a. a. ce TO on 3 c
^j Cj UJ '•-*' H* 
_i oo>3Zce o o- uJce cxonon3uj ce < O-LU -3d-K-~~-o o O 31 zocrona o a. < < uj - • • ce-o^^on— i on LU «_i oonoi— ce a. a. «ice ce-ono-LU cr 3 OUJ "3LULUZ <£. o on o 3 o • • K- O "Uj on - 0-1 O«030t- LU ujon 3-ZOono uj 3 — 1 Z -O Z 3 < 0- O O LU LU O ce <£ *>^ - 3 ^~ 3 a. o on o - »o O-O-Q- ce on ZZ > "*"") w itj o E 4_l « «*- W 0- 00^ 0 c « — o •— o — •.— o fl trt "O 4J U c c i/i LJ a> u •*-> ^- ^- aj ••- >i 4- C O *J •a *^ *— o 01 o C 4- TD -^ O *J -O Tl O C U C ii L/> at w ^3 -M <4- •»- •*- 1- C Ol c o ua>t/>t/i u— c U LV» S^^O Oli-£ tj"— §C T3 P— — CDO.1-C O t- 5'tl.C •- *J O OJ — u •-- c;Q. a. u — c^ C -*-» (/lH-T3d3 Q.t3aj Ol i- ^ E 1/1— cnS'Ooj c o t- ^ -c"oi--a ai *j o -— u -o -a o oc 3 !j>-. 'O-p*u d) gjH— 13 » i/1 ^ > •*-* J^J -M ^ W v^C "O OJi/ttJ tJfOTS "OC CO 01 C — — E E05 CO (U'*— C O O""-*^ fQ — a. fl i/>o aj at -*-> 3 3 a. o u «a oo ^-^ -Q a;(/»cc «coi/i •aw f— — ai •*-* c OJ — 1- U -C J= 01 > o. o c 01 01— ai o. c 3 — * •— u QT3— 4_x: iii iii 0:0 • * • • •a ai aj c c • Ol VI en C TO o O •o CU CU •— I/I 4J >, % •a o c ^> — a 01 -o <— 01 Ol
-------
                                                                                                                                                   11-19






















u
o
4->

^
0


_J




*•»


>,

o

re

0
ja



r-
U


0)
>, V






















•O
on
4.1 UJ
C .(_)
o cc.

— • o
on
*— i
1 U.
VI
CT
c
•«—
L.
Q

••—

i


'O

c

CE C
o! uj

1

— i
on
is
ce
—

^j
c


c

.h
>

1 Ij


/l
CC


(fl
w


E

°


c
UJ

•—

Q.



C
3
£

1

_J
o:
s
^
>
s_
Ol O
C 4->

"O 1-
3 O

O re
C — J

— -J=
(J
>> Ig



re 01
o
re QJ
i ^j
c

u •»-


01

a: 2
c

re E

c o
01 1-

c >



> Ol
C JZ
UJ 4J

1


-J
ae.



J3
_l C

J=
o «
u -^


I/I 4->

"* (J
I/I

ij re
Ol 4^
•*- c



JT O



01 C
X UJ

1 '

_l O
a: <£


c
o

*J
re
E
i.
O
i«_
C


^
u


(U
Ol

-M

4^
c


c

.h
>
c



o


^

4pJ
c

re

o
o
i/i
1/1
1C.

i

<
u
a.
3

vn
<




















Irt
L.
0
w
re
w
4-)
1^
C


•^


^_
o
L.
4-*
c
o
o








I/I
re
3
•o

^B
O
on

^
re

w
o
*j

k.
u
ai
V"™
•g
re

01 I/I
4-» ^«
re re
4-* -^
on ui

14- l»-
0 i»-
o
c
0 4J
— C
4-> Ol
re E
.— Ol
U Ol
0 re
I/I C
i/i re

re
•a L.
c w
re i/i

ai c
4J .t—
re E
4J "O
on 
                                                                                                            a  c
                                                                                                           4->  O
                                                                                                            i/i  —
                                                                                                               ul
    Ol 3

 O  C 3

 re z 4j
 i-     c

 i/i  u  s

 C  3  u
•-01-

•i  o!i£
•f az  c
      UJ
 Ol T3
J=  C -O

       re
 O  >!
4-1  O —

 ul .—  Ol
 Ol  O  Ol
 U Q- _l
    TS  re
       &_
    I/I  O)
    c  a.

 c.2°,
 O  *-J  E (
•—  f^    a) £
 E  j_» 4J •
•O  T3       4
                                          1^     •O
                                          c     c
                                          O     «3
                                          a.    4-1
                                          wi w  on
                                          ai  c
                                                 -
                                              _
                                          —  1-  O>
                                          T3  O  C
                                           i/»
                                                        01 01 u .a
                                                        o  o  c 3
                       S^  T3

                       -w  *—
                       T3  O
                                          *  l_  >» U I

                                          X O  —  O
                                          O  i_ -— OO
                                          c a.
                                          a;     -  * .
                                          CT> (-3
 •QJ
a: •—
    fl
 >> C
                                                                                    —     aj
                                                                                    .2    i
                                                                                    o    —
                                                                                            a
                                                                                    4->     C
                                                                                     c    —
                                                                                     01    —•
 u     O
 o  c
    O  4-1
 i/l —  C
 O)  vl  Ol
 u —  E
—  >  01
 >  —  a>
 w a  re
 01     c
on *j  re
    c  Z
 Ol  Ol
 >  e  ai
—  01  w
4^  Ol I/I

 i.  c  3
4-1  re
 i/l Z  T3
 —     C
                                                                                           3 —  —  01
                                                                                           a. 01 E  4-> i.
                                                                                           O) Ol T3  re —
                                                                                           o a: <  3 <
 *S
    QJ
 ^  E
 iO  0)
    Ol
 t/1  fl
 c  c
 O  'O
 -  e =
 urt     o
•--    *j i/i
•r-  i/i •*-
-O  «3 >

*J     Q
 c  -o
 OJ  c i-n
 £  TJ OJ
 OJ     o
 CTi vi •—
 «3  C >
 C  O S-
 fl  -^ OJ
 E  t/i iyi

 CU  > —
+->  •— T3
 i/l  ~Q •*->
 rt3     C
 5  i- 0)

•a  ^ c
 c:     o
 fO  OJ ^
    c —
 u  o >
•—  — c
 rO  T3 LU
                                                                                                        a
                                                                                           <    a a z:
                                                                                           o; u ui z 3
                                                                                           o ac < 3 <

-------
                                                                        11-20
Specific findings  and  recommendations  of the  Nolan,  Norton study related  to
the current study that are still  relevant
    •    Adopt  a  "top-down"  ADP planning  strategy, which  links  EPA's
         overall  mission  plans  (emphasis  added)  to   plans   for   ADP
         applications,  data  resource  support,  and  computer  equipment
         acquisition phases.  Develop  an  annual  ADP plan within  each  AA
         office, subject to central  review and  coordination.

    •    Manage EPA's data resource as a  key  Agency asset distinct  and
         apart from the systems which currently use  the  data.   Develop a
         data  resource  plan  for  EPA  which defines where data  resides
         within EPA and how it  is to be managed  and  controlled  on behalf
         of all organizations  that need it.

    •    Learn to use technologies now  emerging which will make  extensive
         data  sharing  and  integration feasible  and economical  in  the
         future.
    The  following  items  are  taken  from "Stage Assessment and Five-Year Manage-
  ment  Plan  for Automated  Data Processing,"  Management Report, July  1979 by
  Nolan, Norton and Company, Inc.

-------
                                                                        III-l

                   III.  STAFF OFFICES TO THE ADMINISTRATOR

A.  Program Trends - Offices at Headquarters

    The  major  functions  of  the  staff offices to the administrator are not
likely to change significantly.  However, the specific responsibilities, staff
size,  and  priorities  among  staff  functions  are highly dependent upon the
personal   style of the Administrator and senior staff managers.  Consequently,
there will be periodic realignments of staff and responsibility.

    Specific  functions addressed in our interviews with members of the Admin-
istrator's staff include:

    •    review of decision documents
    •    tracking of environmental impact statements
    •    budgeting and financial  management of the staff offices
    •    public  affairs, including contact with the public, Congress and
         med i a.

B.  Program Trends - Regional Staff Offices

    The  staff  offices  to  the  Regional Administrators were not covered
extensively  in  this study.  Intergovernmental liaison functions are not
likely  to  change  significantly.    Specific functions addressed in our
interviews include:

    •    interaction with state agencies and the Congress
    •    public affairs
    •    reviews of environmental impact statements required by NEPA.

C.  Information Management Requirements and Related Applications

    The information management needs of staff offices at headquarters and
in the regions are very similar.

-------
                                                                    III-2
•    A large volume of controlled correspondence and other controlled
     documents  flows through the Office of the Administrator and the
     Offices  of  the Regional Administrators.  The existing document
     tracking  systems, many of which are manual, are inadequate, and
     will have to be replaced.

t    There  will  continue  to be a high volume of communications be-
     tween  top  EPA  program  officials and the staff offices of the
     Administrator  at  headquarters,  with  a  parallel  flow in the
     regions.    To better support the volume of text data, the staff
     offices wil1 require:

          Continued extensive use of word processing capability,
          and

          Integration  of  word processing, electronic mail, and
          document tracking.

•    The  staff offices at headquarters and in the regions rarely use
     the  major  program  systems  containing management or technical
     data.   Inquiries requiring program information are forwarded to
     the respective program office.  Inquiries by the Administrator's
     staff  for  cross-cutting  information may be sent to either the
     program offices or to OPRM.

t    Each  program office has one or more constituency mailing lists.
     There  is  a  great  deal  of  duplicate information among these
     systems,  as well as redundant effort in keeping the lists up to
     date.  There may be an effort to integrate these mailing lists.

•    A variety of requirements for information management and related
     applications  were  identified as applying not only to the staff
     offices  to  the  Administrator, but also to managers throughout
     the agency:

-------
                                                                        III-3
              On-going  training  and briefings to keep managers in-
              formed  of the information services available through-
              out EPA.

              Improved  retrieval and data manipulation capabilities
              for  users to access information stored in Agency-wide
              administrative information systems.

              Personal  data  bases  - an "automated filing cabinet"
              for  managers  to  index, store and retrieve text that
              has already been keyed into word processing.

              Graphics capability for use in presentations to senior
              management is essential.

              Flexibility  in  hardware installation, especially for
              terminals  connected to the EPA network or local mini-
              computers,  is necessary to support internal reorgani-
              zations and office moves.

              Improved  system  reliability and backup are required,
              especially  for  management and administrative systems
              currently  implemented  on  DEC minicomputers at head-
              quarters.    Down  time  and  data  loss  create major
              problems in management and administrative systems that
              are essential  to program managers and budget staff.
D.   ADP Tools
         Electronic  mail   will   be  used increasingly for communications
         with  EPA managers in headquarters and in the regions.   Regional
         staff  would  like  to   add  regional  program managers  and state
         agencies  to the  network to provide more timely communication of
         EPA   actions,   including  policy  decisions.    However,   state
         agencies  should   have  access to only pertinent mailboxes  on the
         network and not to all  agency managers.

-------
                                                                        III-4
    •    Greater  use  of  menu-driven  systems to enable managers to re-
         trieve  data  without  requiring a great deal  of system-specific
         knowledge and training.

E.   Other Remarks

    t    The  new  ADP organization should include program and management
         analysts on its staff to ensure effective communications between
         program staff and the technical  ADP staff.

    t    Regional staffs require  more information on ADP capabilities and
         technology  that  may  improve day-to-day office operations, and
         improved  means to identify the personal contacts for EPA's pro-
         gram information systems.

    •    Telephone  capabilities   in  some regions are  archaic.  Regional
         staff  require  telephone  features  (e.g.,  call forwarding and
         potentially  voice  mail)   that will  improve the productivity of
         the considerable time spent using the telephone.

-------
                                                                          IV-1

       IV.  ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR FOR POLICY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

A.  Overall Trends

    The  principal functions and responsibilities now conducted by the offices
within  OPRM  are  not  expected to change significantly over the next several
years,  although  the  functions  will  likely  be  reorganized.^ 0PM will be
required   to  assess  proposed  regulatory  decisions  from  an  Agency  wide
perspective,  evaluate  the  effectiveness  and efficiency of EPA program?, and
management, conduct analyses of program policy requested by the Administrator;
and  manage  the  development and review of the Agency's budget.  A continuing
emphasis  will  be  placed  on  managing  for environmental results.  Specific
trends within individual OPRM offices are discussed in the following sections.

B.  Program Trends - Office of the Comptroller

    The  overall budget process and functions performed by this office are not
expected  to  change  significantly  over the next several years.  A potential
change to a two-year budget cycle is possible, but this would require Congres-
sional  approval and is not likely to occur.  The establishment of new offices
within  EPA, or a major reorganization, would have a significant effect on the
budget structure but not on the budgeting process.

    Several additional  activities that may be undertaken include:

    •    Increased automation of the budget process, especially narrative
         text  components  of budget turnaround documents and program of-
         fice submissions.

    •    Redesign of the budget system or conversion to data base manage-
         ment  technology,  but  only  in  conjunction with an upgrade of
         EPA's Financial Management System.
     Pending  Agency  reorganization  will   likely  shift  the  Office  of the
Comptroller to what is now the Office of Administration.

-------
                                                                          IV-2

    •    Implementation  of  a  program accountability system and linkage
         with budget submissions.

C.  Program Trends - Office of Policy Analysis

    This office will continue to have a strong "project" orientation, conduct-
ing roughly 100 projects concurrently such as regulatory analysis for proposed
regulations,  assessments  of  the economic impacts of alternative policies in
areas such as acid rain and NESHAPS permits, analysis of the economic benefits
of  environmental  improvement,  and the large, multi-year Integrated Environ-
mental Management Project.  IEMP is developing strategies and analytic methods
for  assessing  environmental  problems and developing control strategies on a
multimedia  basis  as  an  alternative to traditional approaches which usually
focus  on individual media.  IEMP will develop and assess three strategies for
regulatory   integration  reflecting  different  baselines:    the  industrial
approach, geographic approach and chemical approach.

    •    The industrial approach will ultimately develop complex models of the
         operations  of  eleven  industries and the impacts and interaction of
         environmental  regulation for all media.  These models may be used to
         forecast  industry  trends  and support the design of new and revised
         regulations,  and  will  be  maintained  to  reflect current data and
         changes to the parameters of the model and their interrelationship.

    •    The geographic approach will cut across industries and examine speci-
         fic  locations with respect to pollution sources, ambient conditions,
         public  exposure,  and  health  effects to support the development of
         localized  regulatory  strategies.  Up to twenty cities/counties will
         be examined.

    •    The  chemical  approach  will  examine multi-media and cross-industry
         control strategies for specific chemicals, and may assess alternative
         data collection and analytic methods for monitoring toxic pollutants.
         Its future evolution is uncertain.

-------
                                                                          IV-3
    Analyses by OPRM of energy issues related to the environment will probably
continue to be de-emphasized.  Specific analyses to be conducted in the future
will be a function of the areas of interest to EPA top management.

D.  Program Trends - Office of Standards and Regulations

    This office will continue to address four major areas:  regulatory reform,
regulation oversight and review, management of the regulations development and
review process, and implementation of the Paperwork Reduction Act.

    •    Most  new regulatory reforms now being considered are extensions
         of  the  "bubble" principle -- water bubbles and bubbles for new
         sources  of  air  emissions  subject  to  new source performance
         standards.    Ongoing programs resulting from these reforms will
         be  transferred  to the appropriate program office.  Current ef-
         forts in environmental audit are oriented toward establishing an
         information  clearinghouse for use by firms wishing to establish
         an  audit  function, and are not expected to result in new regu-
         lation.  Other reforms that may be initiated within the next two
         to five years cannot be predicted at this time.

    •    OSR  anticipates a continuing significant role in reviewing pro-
         posed regulations, although their degree of involvement in regu-
         latory reviews may change under future Administrators.

    •    OSR  anticipates  refining the regulation review process and im-
         proving  communications on the status of reviews to speed  up the
         review  process,  identify recurrent bottlenecks in the process,
         and initiate action on bottlenecks in a more timely manner.

    •    Increasing effort will be expended for providing information re-
         sources  management  (IRM) direction and quality control on data
         collection  Agency-wide.  OSR will review the statistical  valid-
         ity  of proposed data collection efforts, and provide assistance
         to  other  offices  in obtaining data collection clearances from

-------
                                                                          IV-4

         OMB.   Primary emphasis will be placed on quality control to en-
         sure that the collection of poor quality data is either improved
         or  terminated.  An IRM handbook will be prepared to assist pro-
         gram  offices  in  developing data management plans, and ongoing
         analytic support will  be provided by OSR.

    •    A  potential major growth area is the application of statistical
         analysis to the development of neutral inspection strategies re-
         quired by the Barlow decision.  OSR will assist enforcement pro-
         grams  in  developing  legally non-discriminatory inspection tar-
         geting  algorithms  which  identify facilities most likely to be
         out of compliance with applicable regulations.

E.  Program Direction - Office  of Management Systems and Evaluation

    The  principal  mission  of  this office will be to support efforts by the
Agency's  top  managers  to  strengthen  the management of EPA programs and to
improve  relations  between  EPA  and  state environmental agencies.  Specific
functions  performed  by  OMSE   will  include operation of the Administrator's
Accountability System (which OMSE developed), development of other systems for
measuring  program  accomplishments and environmental results, and the conduct
of  management  studies to identify specific problems and potential solutions.
OMSE  has  played  a major role in working with associations of State environ-
mental  officials  to  find  ways  of  removing  barriers to EPA delegation of
authority  to  run environmental programs, and to develop improved methods for
EPA oversight of delegated programs.  These efforts will continue.  OMSE offi-
cials stress that EPA-State sharing of data can be mutually beneficial only if
it  takes  place  within an agreed-upon framework for EPA oversight of program
effectiveness (as distinguished from review of individual State actions).

F.  Information Management Requirements and Related Applications within OPRM

    OPRM  will  be a significant user of information generated or collected by
other  program  offices  as  well as information generated internally by OPRM.
With respect to the latter category of information, OPRM will have the follow-
ing requirements:

-------
                                                                       IV-5
•    An  automated  project  tracking capability for use by the Asso-
     ciate  Administrator and deputies to identify the projects being
     undertaken within OPRM and their current status.

•    A real-time capability to track the status of regulatory actions
     and identify bottlenecks in the regulatory review process.

•    An  automated  capability to generate instructions for preparing
     budget  submissions  and  to integrate information about program
     objectives and commitments with proposed funding levels.

•    Automated  capabilities  to manage and analyze data collected by
     OMSE and OPA for specific projects.

•    Improved  access  to  automated models developed and operated by
     contractors  and the capability to refine and rerun them to sup-
     port comparable studies and analyses.

•    Access  to commercial econometric models and private data bases,
     and  also  to  technical  data bases maintained by the U.S. Geo-
     logical  Survey, National Weather Service, Bureau of the Census,
     and Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services.  Greater
     use will likely be made of the Domestic Information Display Sys-
     tem (DIDS) developed by several Federal  agencies.

•    Improved  flexibility  for  the Resources Management Information
     System  and  greater  integration  with the Financial  Management
     System.

•    In-house  implementation of IEMP models developed by contractors
     on  outside computer facilities to provide easier access and use
     by other program offices and potentially by regions.

-------
                                                                          IV-6
6.  Information Management Requirements and Related Applications
    Oriented toward Other Program Offices and Systems

    OPRM  will   increasingly be a major user of management, technical, and ad-
ministrative  information  maintained  by  other  program  offices.    Specific
requirements with respect to this information and related ADP systems include:

    •    Improved data quality for many major systems, including monitor-
         ing,  permits,  emissions/effluent,  compliance and enforcement.
         Significant deficiencies of existing systems include:

              incomplete  and  old  data,  especially data collected
              from State agencies

              inaccurate data, poor quality control

              lack  of  common data definitions and other standards,
              and a data administration function.

         Several  other  offices  expressed  the same problems with major
         data systems.

    •    Improved access to data maintained by other programs, including:

              direct access to software and data, without the assis-
              tance or intervention of ADP staffs

              user-friendly   software  for  retrievals,  preferably
              menu-driven;  compatible  software   across  systems to
              minimize  the need for training in different software;
              and  technical data base designs which are transparent
              to users to the maximum extent practical

              easy  access  to historical as well  as current data to
              assess trends.

-------
                                                                          IV-7
    •    Ability  to  retrieve  logically  related data now maintained in
         different  data  bases  using common attributes such as facility
         identifier, chemical, location, etc.  At present, this cannot be
         done  for most retrievals that cut across media (e.g. multimedia
         studies  for  designated  geographic locations or industries) or
         across  functions  (e.g., trends in spending for designated pro-
         grams,  and related facility compliance rates and ambient condi-
         data  maintained  by  EPA programs with data maintained by other
         agencies  (e.g.  population  density).   A related requirement is
         the addition of geographic location data to several  systems, al-
         though less detail  than latitude and longitude coordinates would
         be sufficient.

H.   APR Tools

    A significant number of  ADP tools are of particular interest to OPRM:

    •    Automated  graphics would be extremely  useful in presenting pro-
         gram management and accomplishment data to the Administrator and
         the  Congress,  and  would reduce current workloads  for manually
         preparing  graphics.     Color  graphics would be useful, but not
         essential.

    •    Automated mapping to  generate a clearer picture of environmental
         conditions and facilitate multimedia comparisons for use by ana-
         lysts  and  top management.  A more accessible mapping capability
         would  be  especially  useful  to the IEMP effort which currently
         utilizes the capabilities of the ORD laboratory in Las Vegas.

    •    User-friendly  statistical  analysis packages to manipulate data
         collected  by  OPRM,   other programs, and other agencies to sup-
         ported  a wide variety of analyses,  ranging from budget analysis
         to analysis of compliance and  ambient conditions.

    •    User-friendly  software  to access,  manipulate and retrieve data
         in support  of specific OPRM studies.

-------
                                                                          IV-8

    •    Simple  modeling or "simulation" software to support analyses of
         alternate  scenarios  in  the  development of policy recommenda-
         tions.  Simple programming languages are required for comparable
         uses.

    t    Text  searching  capability to aid in the development and review
         of policy statements, budget instructions, etc.

    In  addition,  OPRM anticipates much greater use of electronic mail by its
senior  managers  for  communications with regional offices, laboratories, and
other  program  offices  at  headquarters.  The Office of the Comptroller will
continue to be a significant user of electronic mail.

I.  Other Comments

    •    To  ensure  effective oversight of programs delegated to states,
         and  to  provide information to support and justify policy deci-
         sions,  EPA  should invest the resources required to improve the
         accuracy,  timeliness  and  completeness  of monitoring data and
         program accomplishment data collected from state agencies.

    •    EPA  should consider using third parties to collect and maintain
         detailed data from state agencies about state program activities
         and accomplishments that are needed to generate summaries essen-
         tial to OPRM and other program offices.  State agencies current-
         ly  perceive  that  EPA  desires detailed data to "second guess"
         state  actions as well as to conduct higher level program analy-
         ses,  and  they  have been unwilling to provide much of the data
         requested by EPA regarding compliance monitoring and enforcement
         activities.    Third  party organizations would generate summary
         reports  requested by EPA, but would not provide access to indi-
         vidual  records.  The use of certified public accounting or mar-
         ket  research firms represent two approaches to third-party data
         collection.

-------
                                                                      IV-9
•    OPRM  and  other  offices  in  EPA  will  need the capability to
     identify  national environmental  trends and compare the perform-
     ance of states on a wide array of performance measures.

-------
                                                                          V-l

   V.  ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR FOR OFFICE OF LEGAL AND ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL

A.  Program Trends - Office of the General Counsel

    The  General  Counsel  will continue to represent EPA when legal action is
taken  against the agency.  Management and control of litigation will continue
to be exercised on a case by case basis.  No major program changes cr requests
for ADP support are anticipated.

B.  Program Trends - Office of Enforcement Counsel

    The  role  of enforcement staff in OLEC, headquarters program offices, and
the  regions  is  not  likely  to change significantly with respect to program
operations.    Overall  there  will  be a trend at headquarters toward greater
monitoring  of  enforcement  activities  and  lesser involvement in individual
cases.  Also, the.recent decline in the number of enforcement actions is like-
ly  to  be  reversed, with a significant increase in litigation.  For most en-
forcement  litigation,  state  agencies  will   have  lead responsibility, with
regional   offices  providing  technical support and oversight.  OLEC will con-
tinue  to  perform  the functions of:  general  program management; oversight of
regional   enforcement programs, including quality control over judicial  (civil
and  criminal)  cases;  and coordination on criminal cases referred to the De-
partment   of  Justice.    The  Office  of Waste Programs Enforcement, with the
assistance of OLEC,  will  handle litigation for Superfund.

    The  Office  of  Enforcement  Counsel, together with the compliance groups
within  program offices,  may also take an active role in developing an overall
enforcement plan designed to improve the overall management of the enforcement
program and the current image of the program.   Such a plan might include:

    •    An inspection targeting strategy, utilizing statistical  sampling
         and other "neutral" inspection schemes *o focus compliance moni-
         toring  and  enforcement  resources  on facilities that are most
         likely  to  be out of compliance and have major violations of en-
         vironmental  statutes.   For  example, targeting of TSCA enforce-
         ment  resources   for PCBs would direct resources to the types of

-------
                                                                          V-2
         facilities  likely to be improperly using PCBs or non-responsive
         to the potential for leaks and spills in electrical equipment.

    •    An  inspection  targeting  strategy  geared to environmental re-
         sults,  focusing on facilities located in areas with significant
         environmental   problems  that  are  likely to be contributing to
         these problems.

    t    Giving  consideration  to  the  complete compliance history of a
         facility/company,  including  administrative  orders, in determ-
         ining the appropriate enforcement action.

    The  thrust  of these policies will be to "manage" the enforcement program
and  move away from a more "reactive" mode of operations.  The Office of Legal
and  Enforcement  Counsel will continue to utilize NEIC for high quality tech-
nical support.

    1.    Program Trends - National Enforcement Investigation Center

         The  NEIC  anticipates several significant trends related to the com-
plexity  of litigation, role of NEIC, and increase in enforcement for individ-
ual  programs.   Many of the trends have started within the past two years and
will continue over the next three to five years.

         0    Enforcement litigation will continue to become increasingly
              complex and require access to a wide variety of information
              and analytic capabilities.  The nature of enforcement liti-
              gation  is shifting from relatively simple  issues (e.g., is
              control  equipment  installed) to issues requiring substan-
              tially different theories and evidence (e.g., intent of the
              defendant,  patterns  of  conduct, toxicity and risks for a
              substance).

         0    EPA  will  need  to  be more efficient in targeting its en-
              forcement  resources  by  identifying  major  environmental

-------
                                                                 V-3
     problems  for  individual facilities from a multimedia per-
     spective.

•    State  agencies  will  have lead enforcement responsibility
     for  many  programs.  However, delegation will probably not
     increase  dramatically  in  view  of  the lead time and re-
     sources  needed to implement a new state program.  Substan-
     tial EPA assistance to states will be required.

•    Regional  offices will have lead responsibility for target-
     ing EPA enforcement actions for violations not addressed by
     state programs.  However, mechanisms will be needed to pro-
     vide  Regional  Counsels the information required to ensure
     national  consistency  and  respond  to  consistency issues
     raised by defendants.

•    NEIC  will   continue to provide expert legal technical sup-
     port  in enforcement litigation and support the development
     of  overall  enforcement stategies.  In addition, NEIC will
     provide  information analysis on request to support litiga-
     tion  by  Regional  Counsels and U.S.  Attorneys.  NEIC will
     not  participate in enforcement actions that do not involve
     1itigation.

t    RCRA  enforcement  will  likely experience major growth and
     become  EPA's  largest enforcement program.   Moreover, RCRA
     litigation   will   be much more difficult than litigation of
     other  statutes  due  to the complexity of RCRA permits and
     other considerations.  State agencies  may need considerable
     EPA  assistance,   especially for evidentiary hearings.  In-
     creasing  EPA  experience  will  ultimately  result  in the
     formulation  of  a routine Agency approach for RCRA litiga-
     tion .

•    Superfund  enforcement  will  increase significantly.   How-
     ever,  CERCLA  litigation is now becoming more orderly with

-------
                                                                          V-4
              the adoption of a new more routine approach for this activ-
              ity.

         •    Major  growth  is not anticipated for other EPA enforcement
              programs.

         t    EPA  compliance  inspections conducted by Regional  Environ-
              mental   Services  Divisions  will address multiple media to
              more effectively use limited staff resources.

C.  Program Trends -  Offices of Regional Counsel

    Regional  counsels  concur with OLEC's forecast that the roles of enforce-
ment  groups at headquarters and in the regions will not change significantly.
State agencies will have lead responsibility for enforcement of most programs,
with  regional  counsel  and program divisions providing technical support and
oversight,  respectively.   As delegation of EPA programs to states continues,
regional counsel anticipates that more stringent oversight by regional program
staff  may take place to ensure that states are moving ahead diligently on in-
dividual  cases and are following up on actions taken against violators (e.g.,
attaining  compliance with administrative orders).  Regional caseloads are not
expected to decrease  with delegation.

    RCRA  and  CERCLA enforcement activities, and to a lesser extent, TSCA en-
forcement,  are  projected  to  be major growth areas.  OLEC and other compli-
ance/enforcement  groups  at  headquarters are expected to manage for national
consistency.  Some Regional Counsels do not want the front line responsibility
for coordinating enforcement consistency among regions.

D.  Information Management Requirements and Related Applications - OLEC

    •    Much  stronger management of compliance information is needed to
         help determine patterns of conduct and provide evidence  in court
         of recurrent noncompliance.  Improved automated capabilities are
         needed  to  manage  evidentiary data.  Of particular importance,

-------
                                                                      V-5
     evidentiary  data  should  be  treated as confidential  and main-
     tained under appropriate security.

0    OLEC  needs  to obtain more complete and accurate information on
     the  number  and  types  of  enforcement  actions taken by state
     agencies,  as  well  as  by EPA, for each environmental statute.
     Existing incomplete information constrains EPA's ability to com-
     pile  evidence on prior violations, report overall rates of com-
     pliance  to  the  Congress and justify in detail its enforcement
     budget requests for individual statutes.  In collecting enforce-
     ment  information from states, it is essential to develop stand-
     ard  definitions  of  enforcement activities and ensure that the
     nature  of state actions is properly reflected in reports to EPA
     and summary reports at the national level.

•    A  capability to perform cross-media/statute research for desig-
     nated facilities and companies is required for case development,
     evidentiary  'hearings,  and  penalty selection.  This capability
     should  include  access  to  administrative  actions, as well as
     civil  and  criminal   actions,  at  the Federal and state level.
     This data is currently incomplete (especially for administrative
     actions  taken by states), and in some cases inconsistent.  Com-
     mon  identifiers are needed (e.g., Dunn and Bradstreet codes) to
     more  easily  access company information across media.  Further,
     OLEC has no control over the data and no collection mechanism to
     secure  data  from  the  states.  Enforcement data collection is
     currently  a responsibility of the regional  offices and the com-
     pliance offices under each assistant administrator.

•    Enforcement  attorneys will need the capability to link EPA com-
     pliance  and  enforcement information with pertinent information
     maintained on external  data bases, especially financial  informa-
     tion,  and  also  including  scientific information on regulated
     substances and legal  data bases.

-------
                                                                          V-6
    •    An  automated  tracking and "tickler"  system is needed to ensure
         compliance with administrative orders  and consent decrees and to
         support  inspections.    The current level of compliance with EPA
         administrative orders  and consent decrees is unknown.

    •    The  "Docket"  system   tracks  key facts and textual  information
         about  enforcement  litigation.     It  has slow turnaround and is
         cumbersome to use.  Required enhancements include:

              Interactive  data entry at the source, rather than the cur-
              rent  procedure which routes new  data and changes to a cen-
              tral  coordinator  who  sends  the data to a contractor for
              data entry.

              Direct  access  to the data by OLEC staff members and other
              users,  including  members  of  the various enforcement of-
              fices,  along with the capability to compile and  manipulate
              information to meet case-specific needs.

              Ad-hoc query capabilities.

E.   Information  Management  Requirements and Related Applications - Office of
    Regional Counsel

    The  information  management needs of regional counsels will be similar to
those of OLEC.

    0    Regional   counsels,  and  especially  program divisions, require
         more  complete information about state enforcement activities to
         effectively  carry out program oversight and provide information
         requested  by headquarters offices and the Congress.   It will be
         important  to identify the types of actions taken by states, and
         to  distinguish  between actions taken under federal  legislation
         and actions that are unique to state statutes.  Existing systems
         are  inadequate  in  that  they do not contain information about
         many state actions and do not enable EPA to assess how quickly a

-------
                                                                          V-7
         state  is  moving  on  major cases and determine whether EPA may
         need to provide assistance or initiate a separate action.

    •    It  will   be  essential to develop nationally recognized defini-
         tions  of  enforcement  activities  to enable regions to develop
         reliable  measures  of  program  activities  at the state level.
         Since  some  states define various classes of actions using dif-
         ferent  terminology  than  EPA,  and also have unique definitions
         for terms also utilized within EPA (e.g., administrative action,
         notice  of violation), EPA should develop criteria for classify-
         ing  state actions to ensure that equivalent actions are classi-
         fied similarly for reporting purposes.  These criteria should be
         defined by a collaborative effort involving EPA headquarters and
         regional  offices and state agencies.

    •    An  automated capability to obtain a complete compliance history
         for  designated firms or facilities across statutes will be use-
         ful  in  developing  enforcement  actions.   This history should
         include state actions as well as those taken by EPA, and will be
         especially  useful in regions with a large number of enforcement
         actions.

    t    Some  regions  have  developed  legal  document cross-referencing
         systems  that  should  prove useful  to all regions in supporting
         enforcement case preparation.

F.   ADP Tools

    •    Most  OLEC  attorneys  have  excellent typing skills and will be
         heavy  direct users of word processors.  Some regional  attorneys
         are also  beginning to use word processing to streamline document
         production  and  in some regions respond  to a shortage of secre-
         tarial  support.

-------
                                                                      V-8
          OLEC and regional attorneys require the capability to iden-
          tify  and retrieve the current official copy of all consent
          decrees  and  administrative  orders  for use in developing
          similar  new  orders  and  decrees expeditiously.  Regional
          attorneys  also require access to requests for evidence and
          to motions for summary judgement.

•    A  significant  volume  of electronic mail traffic between head-
     quarters  and the regions is anticipated.  The capability to add
     state agencies and other organizations to the network and rapid-
     ly  communicate  consistent  information  regarding  enforcement
     cases to all participating government organizations would great-
     ly improve coordination, especially for complex actions.  Speci-
     fic organizations that should be added to the network are:

          U.S. Attorney in Washington
          Assistant U.S. Attorney within the region
          State regulatory agency
          State Attorney General
          Pertinent local environmental agencies and prosecutors.

     Confidential  information  associated  with  enforcement actions
     will  require  stringent  safeguards, and probably should not be
     entered  into the network.

•    Teleconferencing, and any other tool that could improve communi-
     cations  between  headquarters,  regions,   and  outside agencies
     (e.g.  the  Department of Justice), would expedite case handling
     and  reduce  travel costs.   Improvements  in EPA's communications
     network  would  especially   be useful to  support  information ex-
     change between NEIC and Regional Counsels.

•    Enforcement attorneys require better access to the Agency's com-
     pliance  and enforcement data bases, and the capability to manip-
     ulate  available data to meet unique requirements for individual
     cases.

-------
                                                                          V-9

6.  Other Remarks

    •    OEC suggested that other enforcement offices should make greater
         use of NEIC legal research capabilities.

    •    Improved ADP procurement processes are needed to enable regional
         attorneys to acquire terminals and use information retrieval and
         management routines developed by the NEIC.

    •    Regional  counsels  require more information about the capabili-
         ties  of  EPA's  compliance  and  enforcement  systems,  support
         capabilities available from the NEIC, and about ADP capabilities
         and technology in general.

-------
                                                                          VI-1
                VI.  ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR FOR ADMINISTRATION
    The  Office  of Administration projects two broad trends cutting  across  all
functions  within  OA.    First,  OA  activities will be viewed as services  for
client  organizations  rather  than as individual functions.  OA will strive to
provide  a  wider  range  of services, and to consistently provide high quality
service.    A major initiative will be to make administrative data systems more
accessible  and  reliable for program users by providing more accurate data  and
improved  capabilities.    Second,  OA  will seek to improve the efficiency  and
efficacy of its ADP systems in supporting Reform 88.

Emphasis  will  also  be  placed  on  developing mechanisms which equitably
identify  the  cost  of services provided by OA to the other offices  within
EPA that are using these services.

A.  Program Trends - Financial Management

    •   Recent  legislation,  such as the Federal Financial Managers' In-
        tegrity  and Prompt Payment Acts require tighter internal  control
        that  will  be implemented over the next several years.  Internal
        control  reviews  will be conducted on possible vulnerable areas.
        Actions  will   be  implemented to strengthen cash management  pro-
        cesses  for  both  collections  and  disbursements to comply  with
        Treasury and OMB directives.

    •   The  Department  of Interior Payroll System (DIPS) will no longer
        be  supported  by DOI after September 1984.   EPA will establish an
        in-house payroll  function and implement DIPS at the NCC.

    •   Program  offices  will  have greater participation in identifying
        financial   management  needs and problems.   A survey will  be  con-
        ducted  on  the  needs  for  better  cost accounting information.

-------
                                                                          VI-2
        Under  current  development is an allocation methodology for dis-
        tributing indirect costs to Superfund sites for purposes of bill-
        ing  the responsible parties.   Additional  enhancements related to
        the Superfund program will  be  developed.

    t   Enhancements  will be implemented to comply with the GAO require-
        ments for approval of accounting systems in operations.

    •   Efforts will be made to continue to improve the effectiveness and
        efficiency within accounting operations offices.

    t   Agency-wide  quality  assurance  and  compliance  program will be
        instituted.

    •   Accounting  procedures,  systems  and  controls will be standard-
        ized by eliminating duplicative data entry systems.

    •   Greater  emphasis  will  be  given to data integration with other
        administrative functions.

B.   Program Trends - Human Resources

    The  primary  trend   in human resources management will be to increase the
involvement of line managers throughout the agency in managing people require-
ments,  and to encourage more structured planning of the Agency's training and
staff  realignment  needs.   Line managers will have a more active role and/or
greater  responsibility   in developing training plans and processing personnel
actions.

C.   Program Trends - Facilities Management

    There  will  be two major program thrusts within the facilities management
area.    The  first priority will be to significantly increase the responsive-
ness,  quality,  and  efficiency  of  existing  services.  EPA will exercise a
greater degree of control over facilities-related work (such as building main-
tenance) performed by contractors.

-------
                                                                          VI-3
    Second will be an effort to upgrade the quality of EPA facilities.  As the
computer  and  the  terminal become part of the office of the present, greater
consideration  will  be  given to furniture, space, heating/cooling, lighting,
and wiring for ADP networks.

D.  Program Trends - Procurement and Contracts

    There  will  be no major change in direction for procurement and contracts
management.    However,  several factors will affect the work environment, in-
cluding:

    •    New Federal procurement regulations, which in large part are re-
         flected by existing EPA procedures

    t    Greater automation of routine activities

    t    In  conjunction  with increased automation, a shift in staff re-
         sponsibility from clerical  activities to policy, procedures, and
         management activities.

E.  Program Trends - Grants Administration

    The  grants  administration  function  may  experience several significant
changes  over  the  next  several   years.   Block grants would result in fewer
grants with larger dollar amounts.   However, the total dollars granted through
EPA  programs  are not expected to  decline.  In addition, EPA will continue to
be accountable to the Congress for  how program grant monies are spent by state
agencies,  and for monitoring funding provided by state governments beyond the
Federal  grant.    EPA will  also continue to monitor 12,000-14,000 active con-
struction grants.

    RCRA  may have a significant impact on the grants administration function,
with  the  potential  evolution of  a large grant program with some unique char-
acteristics  (e.g.,  cost  sharing).   In the long term, EPA may also elect to
fund construction grants for resource recovery facilities.

-------
                                                                          VI-4
F.  Program Trends - Library Services

    The  library function will evolve from literature curatorial services to a
more  comprehensive  and centralized bibliographic reference service.  The ob-
jective  will  be to provide equal access for all EPA organizations to library
collections and to a broad range of bibliographic data bases.

G.  Program Trends - Regional Administrative Services and Management Organiza-
    tions

    Regional  administrative  services and management organizations anticipate
few substantive changes in the way they will perform administrative functions.
Most  changes  over  the next three to five years will reflect new or improved
applications  of ADP technology to administrative functions, and the impact of
ADP on specific functions such as facilities planning and maintenance.  Great-
er  use will be made of optical  character recognition and other office automa-
tion tools to improve productivity at reasonable cost.

    Regional  organizations  perceive a shift to more project oriented activi-
ties  and an attendant need for improved accounting systems.  Regions also are
beginning to experience an overall increase in "ADP literacy" of program staff
and  increased  demand  for access to computer capabilities.  Greater emphasis
will need to be given to space planning, furniture, lighting and especially to
wiring  and  local  area  networks to meet this demand.  In addition, regional
libraries  and "information centers" will shift from an initial heavy emphasis
on public access to information support of regional program staff.

H.  Information Management Requirements and Related Applications - OA

    •    Data  entry for many administrative systems will be moved to the
         point of transaction.

              Data edit and validation will be performed at the time
              of  transaction  input.    Erroneous data will be cor-
              rected  by  the  person with the most knowledge of the

-------
                                                                      VI-5
          transaction.  For some functions (e.g., grants admini-
          stration)  data  will  be entered by state agencies as
          well as by EPA.

          Written  copies  of many transactions will be unneces-
          sary, and the cost of preparing, processing, and stor-
          ing the transaction document will be eliminated.

          Transactions  need  only  be entered once, eliminating
          redundant, and perhaps inconsistent, data.

          Hardware  to support geographically dispersed data en-
          try,  and real time access to data bases from the geo-
          graphically  dispersed  data  entry locations, will be
          required.

          With  distributed  data entry, it will  be particularly
          important  to  place  accountability  for data quality
          with  the  individuals  who enter data, and design the
          proper  approval   controls  and audit trails into each
          application.

•    Data  will  be stored  once, rather than in a number of different
     places, within a data  base environment.

          There  will  be some cases where it is more expeditious
          to  store  the same element more than once for ease of
          access (i.e., access pathways).

          Logical   linkages between data structures that contain
          the  same  element(s) will be required.  For some pur-
          poses,  it  may be valuable for a manager to view data
          as  having  a  different   logical   structure  than the
          structure actually used to store the data in automated
          files.

-------
                                                                      VI-6
          Some systems, such as the Grants  Information  and  Con-
          trol System  (GIGS),  may utilize  distributed  regional
          data bases.   However, the Agency has  not yet  imple-
          mented  a significant application  in this manner.   For
          these systems, the  use  of standard software  and  data
          definitions across regional  systems  will  be mandatory.

•    Systems  that  perform  the  same functions for different  users,
     will  be  merged  or eliminated.   This  will  improve the  service
     level and reduce the cost of maintenance for  a number  of appli-
     cations  (e.g.,  financial  spending  registers,  FTE tracking).   A
     pilot study for  a small  purchases  system  may be expanded into  an
     Agency-wide system, encompassing  the  full  cycle of  procurement
     actions from purchase requests through disbursement of  funds  by
     the U.S. Treasury.

•    A wide  variety  of users require  access  to  information  held  in
     "corporate"  data bases.   For example,  many  line managers  and
     budget officers  need  access  to financial data generated  by  FMD
     (and currently  stored in FMS) regarding their program.   State
     agencies  and  EPA program staff will continue to require access
     to data maintained in GICS.   However,  widespread access will  be
     balanced  against the "need to  know" in designing data  bases  and
     access  privileges  for individual  offices,  as well as  for  data
     regulated by the Privacy Act.

•    Computers will   be  substituted for  manual  processing  whenever
     practical.

          A  number of reports  that  are  currently compiled  manu-
          ally (by putting  together  outputs  from  several  sys-
          tems) will  be automated.

          Point of transaction  data entry  will  eliminate  prepa-
          ration of  many paper input documents  and error  list-
          ings.

-------
                                                                      VI-7
          A  number  of other office paperwork functions will be
          automated  such as the preparation of procurement/con-
          tracts documents.

t    A  major system replacement/integration effort is likely for the
     budget/accounting/finance/procurement/contracts functions, poss-
     ibly  to  include  payroll.    A pilot system is currently being
     developed by the OA Budget and Control Staff to access selective
     administrative  data  bases  and integrate related data using an
     office  computer.   This pilot may or may not be the basis for a
     larger integration effort.

t    Another likely candidate for system replacement/integration will
     be the payroll/personnel/human resources functions.

          A  probable  enhancement  to the personnel  system will
          simplify  and  streamline  processing  and  reduce the
          paperwork  burden,  thus allowing personnel staff more
          time to service program officials.

          Tools  are  needed Agency-wide to support analysis and
          projection  of  staff  capabilities, requirements, and
          potential staffing problems.

•    The Financial  Management System may be brought in-house from the
     Parklawn  computer facility.  The Department of Interior payroll
     System (DIPS)  will be brought in-house within the next year.

•    Major  changes  will  be made to the Contracts Information System
     to improve its accuracy, timeliness, efficiency and utility.

t    Facilities management has a need for two types of integrated ap-
     plications;

          Job  planning, status tracking, performance reporting,
          and chargeback.

-------
                                                                          VI-8
              Facilities,  property,  and  inventory tracking.

    •    To respond to Congressional  inquiries  about  the  effects  of  dele-
         gation and spending  of  grant monies,  the grants  administration
         function will  require  more  information  abojjt  how grant monies
         are spent by states  (e.g.,  monitoring, enforcement),  and require
         a link between GIGS and other programmatic  systems such  as  com-
         pliance and Superfund site  tracking  systems.

    0    The Budget and Control  Staff requires  an automated  budget devel-
         opment and projection capability,  and  believes that this capabi-
         lity would be useful to other  EPA budget  officers.   BCS  also
         would like an enhancement to the budget  system  to  support  elec-
         tronic transfer of the OA budget developed using automated  tools
         by OA into the budget system.

I.  Information Management Requirements  and Related Applications  - Regional
    Organizations

    The information management needs  of regional  administrative  organizations
are relatively  consistent  across regions  and  are comparable  to those of  OA.
Regions will reqire much better ADP  support through agency-wide  administrative
systems to  improve program  management,  provide  more  efficient reporting  to
program staff in the regions and  headquarters,  and eliminate the  need to main-
tain redundant localized administrative systems.   The current patchwork of  OA
systems  is  not  responsive  to  regional needs.    The highest  priorities  of
regional organizations are improved  access to data,  more timely  processing  of
transactions, integration  among  administrative  systems  and with  program  man-
agement systems,  project  accounting,  and  expanded computer support  for  local
applications.

    •    Regional  administrative  and  program organizations will  require
         improved  access  to  data maintained  in   official  agency systems
         (e.g.,  financial  management, personnel) and more  user-friendly

-------
                                                                      VI-9
     retrieval  capabilities.    These  systems should be enhanced to
     improve  access but should incroporate adequate security to pro-
     tect sensitive information,

•    Improved  data  quality  will  be  essential.   Financial trans-
     actions,  personnel  actions  and other transactions must be re-
     corded  accurately  and processed in a timely fashion to support
     management  analysis  and  decisions.   Corrections to erroneous
     financial  data,  especially  for payroll, must be made promptly
     and the correction process will need to be less labor intensive.

•    Regions  require  integration  of data now maintained in several
     different administrative systems, and also integration with pro-
     gram  data.    The  most important linkages among administrative
     data  are  finance/contracts,  payroll/personnel, and personnel/
     budget (to support planning for personnel  operations).  Linkages
     with many program management systems (e.g., permits enforcement)
     will  be  needed to compare state agency program commitments and
     accomplishments  with grants as part of EPA's oversight function
     for delegated programs.

•    Virtually  all regions will require an improved project account-
     ing  capability,  especially for labor and contracts, to support
     Superfund and other project work.

•    Virtually  all  regions will  require additional computer support
     for  local applications such as work planning and project status
     tracking.    Many regional minicomputers are now operating at or
     near capacity.

•    As  OA  enhances existing administrative systems, regions should
     have  an  opportunity to participate in system designs to ensure
     that  potential   impacts  on regional  program and administrative
     operations are fully considered.

-------
                                                                         VI-10
    t    To enhance EPA's oversight function, Regions require information
         about  the  expenditure of state funds on environmental programs
         in addition to EPA program grants.

    t    Regions  will   need  the capability to track EPA property (e.g.,
         ADP  and  laboratory equipment) made available to states as part
         of delegation.

    t    Regional  administrative  organizations require an index of per-
         tinent reference materials, such as OMB circulars, and access to
         consolidated  contracts  information  generated  throughout  EPA
         (e.g., suspended and disbarred contractors).

    •    Regional  libraries will require the capability to link data for
         local  collections  with  reference  information  for  other EPA
         libraries  and  with  other  bibliographic systems (e.g., health
         effects data bases for chemicals and pesticides).

0.  ADP Tools

    •    Improved  tools  are needed for end-user retrieval and manipula-
         tion  of  financial,  personnel and other administrative data to
         support  analyses  of financial status, staff requirements, cur-
         rent skills mix, and potential staffing problems.

    •    An  automated   graphics capability would be very useful to head-
         quarters  and   regional  users to support analyses of grants and
         other administrative data.

    •    Electronic  mail would be extremely useful to grants administra-
         tion  if  state  agencies  were  added to the network and EPA no
         longer needed  to r?type grant applications submitted by states.

    •    Electronic  mail  capabilities linking regional program managers
         and administrative organizations will be extremely useful.

-------
                                                                         VI-11
    •    The   Financial   Management  Division  will  be  exploring  the
         capability  to transmit data directly, to the Treasury Dept. for
         electronic  transfer  of  funds  (EFT) to recipients' commercial
         bank accounts.  Cryptographic codes will be developed by the FMD
         to authorize the release of payments by Treasury.

    •    Grants  administration  may utilize optical charcter recognition
         (OCR) technology to facilitate progress reporting and data entry
         for  program  and  construction  grants.  The application of OCR
         Agency-wide to timecard processing may also be cost effective.

    •    Professional staff in several administrative offices and regions
         will  make  considerable  use  of word processing and reduce the
         typing workload for support staff.

    •    Existing  word  processing  equipment  needs  to  be improved to
         better  support filling out pre-printed forms and the production
         of long documents.

K.  Other Remarks

    •    Several  regional administrative staff require additional infor-
         mation  on the operations and internal procedures for OA systems
         and  more  information  about ADP technology and capabilities in
         general,

    •    EPA  should  establish  a group responsible for monitoring tech-
         nology  trends  and  their  application  to  the Agency.  Topics
         should  include  ADP equipment, software and networks; telephone
         industry; and document reproduction.

    •    The  existing  PDP-11  minicomputers are fairly expensive to op-
         erate  (e.g.,  air  conditioning,  electric power) and should be
         replaced with more efficient equipment.

-------
                                                                     VI-12
•    Employees  working  at home is a new trend in the private sector
     and may be addressed by the Office of Personnel Management with-
     in  the  next  five years.  If at-home work is officially recog-
     nized,  EPA  will  need to modify its time reporting process and
     payroll system.

-------
                                                                         VII-1

                   VII.  ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR FOR WATER

A.  Program Trends - Office of Drinking Water

    The  Office  of  Drinking  Water  administers two major programs, drinking
water  quality  and underground injection control.  The drinking water quality
program is mature and virtually totally delegated to state agencies.  Individ-
ual  utilities largely self-monitor water quality, with state agencies identi-
fying  persistent non-compliance and initiating appropriate actions to encour-
age  compliance.    Regional offices will continue to have lead responsibility
for  oversight of state agencies.  Headquarters will continue to perform over-
all program management, establish and update water standards, monitor national
trends  and  the  effectiveness  of  regional oversight efforts, and assist in
resolving major problems.  No major changes are anticipated for this program.

    The  underground injection control  (DIG) program is relatively new.   Regu-
lations are currently being developed,  and the program will ultimately be del-
egated  to  state  agencies.  Several types of wells will require permits, in-
cluding  40,000  salt  water disposal wells in oil and gas fields.  Deep wells
for  hazardous  waste  disposal may also require permits in the future.   Other
types of injection wells, such as solution mining, may be regulated in the fu-
ture.

B.  Program Trends - Office of Water Program Operations

    The major program within this office, construction grants, is largely del-
egated  to  state agencies, with 39 states having received partial or complete
delegation.    The headquarters role is shifting from operations to management
overview,   and EPA regional offices are becoming the focal point for data col-
lection.  The current $2.4 billion annual funding level in construction  grants
is not likely to change significantly within the next few years.

-------
                                                                         VII-2
    Performing scientific and economic analysis to support the rational expen-
diture  of grants funds is becoming a major program priority.  Key elements of
this strategy will include:

    •    Use  of  management  information  systems  to  monitor  progress
         against program objectives.

    •    Use  of  existing  systems to assess relationships between grant
         expenditures,  facility construction, and water quality improve-
         ments at specific locations and nationwide.

    •    Use  of  models to predict the cost, results in effluent output,
         and  impact  on  water  quality of different treatment plant de-
         signs.

    •    Program integration to produce a municipal water strategy.  This
         could include involvement with RCRA and TSCA programs as well as
         the  other  water programs (e.g., drinking water, NPOES permitsj
         enforcement).

C.   Program Trends - Office of Water Regulations and Standards

    With  the exception of ocean waste disposal, no significant shifts in pro-
gram direction are anticipated.

    There  will   continue to be substantial activity in the development of ef-
fluent  guidelines  through FY85.  However, the issuance of revised guidelines
for additional industrial categories or chemicals is uncertain.  There will be
an increasing number of requests from states for technical information for use
in applying the guidelines to write site-specific NPDES permits.

-------
                                                                         VII-3
    As land-based disposal of hazardous waste becomes less politically accept-
able,  disposal in the oceans may increase and will receive greater EPA atten-
tion.  Currently there is little information gathering or regulatory effort
oriented  to  the ocean environment.  It is likely that there will be signifi-
cant growth in:

    •    Study  of  the biological, chemical, and physical aspects (e.g.,
         ocean currents) of the ocean environment.

    •    Regulation  of  commerce  at sea, including oil and gas drilling
         and sea bed mining.

    •    Permitting  of sites, compliance monitoring, and enforcement for
         ocean dumping and incineration at sea.

D.  Program Trends - Office of Water Enforcement and Permits

    Delegation of permitting, compliance monitoring, and enforcement activites
has  accompanied  delegation of the water programs.  The role of the Office of
Water r Enforcement  is shifting from efforts on individual cases to management
oversight  and  control,  with regional  offices having lead responsibility for
performing  oversight  of  state  agencies.  The office will be more active in
day-to-day  enforcement  of newer programs that are not yet delegated, such as
UIC  and  oceans.   There also will be an increased emphasis on enforcement of
pretreatment standards.

E.  Program Trends - Regional Water Divisions

    Regional  water  program  managers  are in general agreement on the future
direction  of  water programs and concur overall with the forecast by managers
at  headquarters.    The  more significant program trends for each program are
noted below.

-------
                                                                     VII-4

1.   Drinking Hater and Underground Injection Control

     •    State  and local agencies will continue to have primacy for
          the  drinking  water  program,  with regions retaining lead
          oversight responsibility within EPA.

     •    New  drinking water standards will likely be issued for or-
          ganic compounds.  These compounds will require more complex
          treatment than that now performed by public supply systems,
          and  EPA  will be called on to provide technical assistance
          and  help  state  and local agencies identify knowledgeable
          consultants for designing treatment programs.

     •    There  will  be increasing interaction between the drinking
          water  program  and RCRA and CERCLA.  Contamination of pri-
          vate  supply  systems is a growing problem and although EPA
          has  authorities  for only public supplies, the Agency will
          need   to   help  state  agencies  address  private  supply
          problems.

     •    Groundwater  issues  will  become  more  visible, with many
          problems  related to landfills and Superfund sites.  States
          have  initiated  groundwater  monitoring  on a case by case
          basis,  and will likely take the lead on collecting ground-
          water  monitoring data.  Some states will  continue to avail
          themselves  of  matching  grants for monitoring provided by
          the U.S. Geological Survey, and will work with USGS for ADP
          support.    EPA's  future  role  is unclear, but the Agency
          should  consider  having  USGS enter groundwater monitoring
          data directly into any future EPA data system.

     •    State  agencies will take the lead on the UIC program, with
          some states completely prohibiting injection wells.  Future
          amendments  to  the  Safe  Drinking Water Act represent the
          greatest potential change to the UIC program.

-------
                                                                     VII-5

2.  Construction Grants

     •    The construction grants program is highly delegated now and
          will  be  nearly  completely delegated to states within the
          next  few  years.    Regional  offices will retain overview
          responsibilities.

     •    Future  EPA  activities  will  focus  on the operations and
          maintenance  of  treatment plants.  Specific issues will be
          projected versus actual costs, and ensuring compliance with
          treatment standards.

     •    A gradual reduction in the overall program is anticipated.

3.  Water Quality and Permits

     0    The  most  significant  trend will be greater delegation of
          permitting to states in the next few years.  A heavy empha-
          sis  on  state reporting and ADP will be the primary mecha-
          nism  for'  oversight  and tracking.  Accountability and ADP
          training for states will be key issues.

     •    For permits  issued by EPA, the regions anticipate a greater
          regional role in decision-making on individual  permits.

     •    Increasing  attention will be focused on organic and highly
          toxic pollutants, and on minor dischargers.  Many Superfund
          and hazardous waste sites will not be major dischargers.

     •    NPOES  permits  for  toxics  may  need to reflect the local
          biology of the receiving body of water.

-------
                                                                         VII-6

    4.  Enforcement

         •    In  concert  with delegation, the enforcement role of state
              agencies  will   increase  substantially.    The role of EPA
              headquarters  will  probably  diminish and regional offices
              will  assume lead oversight responsibility.  Audits of state
              programs may become a key oversight activity.

         •    Regional offices and states will make greater use .of ADP to
              track NPDES permittee compliance and screen significant vi-
              olations.

F.   Program Trends - State Agencies

    State  agencies  generally  concur with the forecasts of EPA, but noted an
alternative  trend for the drinking water program.  Specific trends identified
are discussed below.

    •    Although  the  drinking  water  program is relatively mature and
         highly  delegated, the potential adoption of much tougher drink-
         ing  water  standards and limited Federal funding may force some
         states to return the program to EPA.  States are currently exam-
         ining fees and other funding alternatives.

    •    States  will increasingly focus on toxic pollutants.  Monitoring
         strategies  are  currently  being developed (e.g. biomonitoring,
         microcosm  studies)   and state agencies are establishing a tech-
         nology  exchange  program.  Assistance now being provided by the
         EPA  laboratory  in  Athens should be expanded to increase tech-
         nology exchange between the states and EPA.

    •    States  will  require EPA assistance in responding to spills and
         emergencies  at waste sites, and would like to see EPA establish
         a central information center to provide information and analytic
         support.

-------
                                                                         VII-7
    •    Groundwater  contamination  will  be  the  hot issue of the late
         1980's.   States initially considered groundwater a state issue,
         but  are  shifting  to  the view that groundwater problems cross
         state lines.

    •    Consolidation  of  state  environmental agencies within a "state
         EPA" will gradually increase.  There will be an attendant slight
         increase  in  multimedia  coordination and integrated permitting
         across programs.

G.  Information Management Requirements and Related Applications - OW

    t    The  states are legally obligated to report drinking water stan-
         dards  compliance and enforcement information to EPA.  The Model
         State  Information  System  (MSIS) will continue to be used by a
         number of states to support this activity.  EPA will continue to
         make  a  considerable effort to provide orientation and training
         to  state agencies for MSIS and make it a valuable tool for man-
         agers  at  the  state  level.  This is a high priority since the
         quality of data in MSIS has been suspect.  States are more like-
         ly  to  exercise  quality control over the data if they also use
         the data within their program.

    •    The Federal  Reporting Data System (FRDS) will continue to obtain
         information  from the states for national level reporting.  Some
         states  will  report more frequently than the current annual re-
         porting requirement.

    •    An  EPA information system will probably be developed to support
         the UIC program.  It would include:

              A lite inventory

              Permit tracking, including applications and dispositions

-------
                                                                    VII-8
          Compliance monitoring data, including groundwater monitor-
          ing data and  the  results  of mechanical integrity tests

          Enforcement actions.

     Some of the above  functions may be monitored  at the headquarters
     (rather than regional)  level by the  water  enforcement program.

•    The capacity to maintain historical  water  quality data  is  needed
     to  demonstrate  improvements   in water  quality  as a  result of
     treatment plants.

•    STORE! will  continue  to be  used to  monitor  ambient  water  qua-
     lity.   With the  exception of the  potential  addition  of biota
     data to  the BIO-STORET component of  STORET,  no major enhance-
     ments are anticipated.  STORET will continue to maintain  one of
     EPA's  largest  data   bases,   with  flexible  state   reporting
     procedures.

•    COGENT will  continue to be  used by OWPO to  perform modeling of
     river reaches and the effects  of point  source effluent controls
     on ambient water quality.

•    There  is  an  increasing need  to collect  accurate and complete
     data on state activities. OW's overall  strategy  will be  to  make
     systems provided to states by  OW easier to use and more  respon-
     sive to the  needs of  state  program managers.  Significant  ele-
     ments of this strategy include the  following:

          Potential enhancement to  GICS  to  make  it easier to  use by
          state agencies (and by  EPA) include:

               On-line data entry and validation,  and
               On-line retrival and ad-hoc inquire.

-------
                                                                     VII-9
          Enhancement  of MSIS to improve edits on water quality data
          and  provide  better  data  analysis capabilities for state
          users.

          Enhancement of PCS to collect additional data items to sup-
          port  regional and state use for tracking inspections, com-
          pliance  status against permitted effluent, and enforcement
          actions.    Technical  enhancements include on-line screen
          data   entry  and  retrieval  capabilities,  and  automated
          graphics and mapping.

•    The capability to integrate data or perform crosswalks among wa-
     ter data bases and with data bases for other media is needed to:

          Link  information  about  the same facility or municipality
          held throughout the agency.

          Verify  that  municipal  facilities  receiving  grants meet
          NPDES permit requirements.

          Compare  ambient conditions and trends with grants,  permit-
          ting, and enforcement activities in order to manage for en-
          vironmental   results  by  targeting  resources to the areas
          that produce results.

          Analyze water program activities and activities of programs
          for other media to identify locations with related problems
          for designated chemicals/pollutants.

•    Program  managers  within  OW  (and throughout the Agency and in
     states) require orientation and training in the capabilities and
     use of existing ADP systems.

-------
                                                                        VII-10
    •    To  improve  access to effluent guidelines information, existing
         manual   research  and  technical  data may be automated, or auto-
         mated indexes to hardcopy files of research documents may be de-
         veloped.  A study currently is being conducted by OWPO.

    •    All  water  program offices are currently conducting an analysis
         of  program activities, related decisions, and information needs
         for  the  next  several years.  Regional  water program staff and
         state  agencies are participating in this effort.  Findings will
         be available in early FY84.

H.  Information  Management  Requirements  and Related Applications - Regional
    Water Divisions

    Regional  offices generally concur with the headquarters forecast of over-
all  information  needs  within  the  regions.  Effective collection of a wide
variety of data from states and improved ADP support will be essential to pro-
gram  oversight.  In the future, program offices at headquarters should stress
collection  of  only key items of data that will be used regularly, avoid col-
lecting excessively detailed information which imposes a significant reporting
burden,  provide  stronger  incentives  (positive  and  negative) to states to
report data, and strive to minimize software changes and consequent retraining
for systems used directly by states.  Without improved data collection and ADP
support,  regional  offices will be unable to perform their oversight function.
Section  K  of  this  chapter  presents  several suggestions for improved data
collection from states.

    •    Integration  or  crosswalks for different types of water program
         data  and  integration of water data with data for other programs
         will be a major need of water program managers.  Specific cross-
         walks needed include:

              Permit  and  effluent  data  with grants data for treatment
              plants
              Permit and effluent data with water quality data
              Data for injection wells, waste sites, and NPDES permittees

-------
                                                                    VII-11
          Enforcement actions and plant outfall identifiers
          Grants information with changes in water quality.

t    Regions  and  states will require improved access to profiles on
     chemicals  (e.g., history, sources, transport, distributors, ex-
     posure  levels)  to  assist  in "significant no adverse response
     level" (SNARL) determinations.

•    Regions  and  states require improved data entry (preferably in-
     teractive)  and  more timely updating of data bases for central-
     ized  information  systems such as PCS and STORET.  Current pro-
     cessing  lags frustrate users and inhibit use of these and other
     systems.

•    Regional  and  state permit writers will require much better ac-
     cess  to  technical effluent guidelines information developed by
     OWRS in order to apply the guidelines to specific facilities and
    •more  effectively  address water quality conditions at the plant
     site.   State requirements will increase significantly with con-
     tinued delegation.  An automated bibliography or index of perti--
     nent  documents,  with  reasonably prompt access to actual hard-
     copy, would probably be adequate.

•    Much  of  the data that will be maintained by an UIC information
     system  currently  being developed by EPA to support well inven-
     tories,  permit and compliance tracking, and enforcement will be
     collected  by  states.    This  system should be compatible with
     state   agency  systems,  provide  the  flexibility  to  address
     region-specific needs, and interface with systems for NPDES per-
     mits and RCRA functions.

•    Regional  staff  will   require more information about the health
     and  environmental  effects  of  water  toxics, especially heavy
     metals  and organic compounds.   Regional staff also require that
     analytic  methods  used  to  generate STORET data be included in
     this system.

-------
                                                                        VII-12
    •    Use  of  EPA monitoring systems (e.g. STORE!) and management in-
         formation  systems  (e.g.  PCS, MSIS) by states will continue to
         vary  from  state  to state.  State agencies with responsive in-
         house  ADP  functions will tend to use state systems and provide
         the  minimum  information requested by EPA.  State agencies with
         limited  ADP  resources  will tend to use EPA systems or rely on
         manual   processing  systems.   Training of state agencies in the
         use  of  EPA's water systems will  be a continuing requirement to
         respond  to turnover of state staff and support modifications to
         EPA's systems.

    •    Many  states  will continue to use GIGS to provide grants infor-
         mation to EPA.

I.  Information  Management  Requirements  and  Related  Applications  - State
    Agencies

    State  water agencies will differ markedly in the level of ADP support re-
quested  from EPA.  Many states will have little in-house ADP support and will
use EPA systems made available to them if adequate-training is provided and if
the  systems  do  not  require  more staff than alternative manual procedures.
States  with  strong ADP support will tend to use their own systems to support
program  operations  and  management.    Most  states  have  the following re-
quirements of EPA:

    •    More consistent reporting requirements from year to year.

    •    Elimination of simple "bean counting" to measure program activi-
         ties,  and  collection  of  redundant,  irrelevant or extraneous
         information.     States  would  be  willing  to  assist  in  the
         development  of  new  reporting  standards, but caution that the
         standards should not limit regulatory flexibility.

    •    More timely turnaround for updating data submitted by states and
         providing feedback to state agencies.

-------
                                                                        VII-13
    •    Access  for permit writers to "best available technology" infor-
         mation and other information developed by EPA in formulating ef-
         fluent guide!ines.

    Also,  the  use  of  new procedures and technology to process construction
grant  applications,  review  and  reporting,  should be reviewed carefully to
assure  maximum effectiveness at all levels.  Specific actions should be fully
discussed with the states to determine optimum operational efficiency.

J.  ADP Tools

    0    There is a major requirement for "user friendly" access to data,
         especially for software tools to support user retrieval and  ma-
         nipulation of  program and administrative data.

              The  Office of Water Program Operations has a specific need
              to do large scale data analysis, such as in the development
              of  effluent guidelines, on a one-time basis.   APL and SPSS
              would be  useful tools.

              Several managers at headquarters and in the regions require
              the capability to down-load data and perform analyses using
              local  computers  in  order  to provide ready access to the
              necessary processing capability and to control costs.

    •    Several  program offices anticipated increased usage of electron-
         ic  mail  in   headquarters  as well as between regions and head-
         quarters.    One director specifically suggested that electronic
         mail  be  limited to use between managers at the office director
         level  and  above  to  control the volume of traffic through the
         system  and  avoid  an  overload of mail messages sent to senior
         managers.   Others suggested that state agencies be added to the
         network-.

-------
                                                                       VII-14
    •    There is a pressing need  for  simple automated graphics to  sup-
         port presentations and  data analysis.  A  few regional program
         users require color graphics.   Some managers consider existing
         graphics packages  too  complex  and/or expensive to be beneficial.

    •    Regions  require an automated  mapping capability.   Site mapping
         for bodies of  water,  treatment plants, NPDES permittees, waste
         sites and injection wells  is  particularly  important.   Few  reg-
         ions seem to  use the existing  river  reach models.

    •    Automated scheduling  and calendars  with general access would  be
         useful  to some regions.

K.  Other Comments

    •    Program  managers  at EPA  headquarters and regions, and  represent-
         atives  of state agencies, have numerous suggestions for  improv-
         ing the  collection of  data from states.  Several suggestions are
         not addressed directly at  ADP, but  emphasize  a better  definition
         of information needs  prior to system  development and  the  use  of
         program  audits as  a surrogate for collecting  voluminous  program
         management data from  state agencies.  Most  suggestions, however,
         relate   to  ADP,  and should  be considered  by  all  programs  with
         state delegation.

              States should have  a significant role in system  design  to
              ensure that a system is  useful  to the states  as  well  as  to
              EPA.  Systems that do not meet state  needs seldom succeed.
              Although no system can meet all  state needs,  participation
              by several states will  help choose the most needed capabil-
              ities and gain the acceptance  of other states.

              Software designed by EPA should  be flexible to meet  unique
              state and local  needs.   In  addition to  standard  data items
              and  processing   routines,   a   system  should  provide  data

-------
                                                          VII-15
fields  that  can  be  defined  by states.  Flexible report
writers should also be available to facilitate unique state
retrieval s.

Since   some   state  agencies,  like  many  organizations,
experience  high  turnover  and limited training support  is
available  from state ADP organizations, EPA systems should
be easy to use, especially for data entry processing.  Data
entry  and  edit  should be interactive and enable users  to
quickly  and easily correct errors.  Retrievals should also
be interactive where possible.

State  resources  are  extremely limited for many programs,
and ADP often is funded at a minimal level.  State agenices
are frequently prohibited from purchasing ADP services that
could  be provided in-house.  EPA should consider providing
states  free  timesharing  resources  and should not charge
timesharing  use  against  grant monies.  Timesharing costs
for  state  users  should  be  considered  a  necessary EPA
business expense.

Interactive  processing  using  centralized  data bases for
multi-user  systems  may  be quite slow and very expensive.
EPA  should  consider developing applications for states on
minicomputers  or microcomputers and giving or lending them
to states.

EPA should provide intensive training to state staff on the
use of systems developed by EPA, including ongoing training
for  new  state agency staff.   Establishing user groups and
user support functions is also helpful.  Failure to provide
adequate  ongoing  training and support will  cause even the
best designed system to fail.

-------
                                                                    VII-16
          For systems maintained and operated on state computers, EPA
          should  provide program maintenance or support for the core
          system,  and encourage state ADP staffs to address the more
          challenging and state-of-the-art issues -- use of data base
          management systems, graphics, etc.

     These  recommendations  are not mutually exclusive and should be
     used  in  combination  to  address the particular needs for each
     program application.

•    To avoid unreasonable expectations of new systems, managers need
     to have a realistic perception of:

          The  elements of system development and associated duration
          and  costs.  Testing and debugging costs are frequently un-
          derestimated.

          The  total  cost of operating a system, especially data col-
          lection and input.

•    A  common  problem in system development has been "shooting at a
     moving  target".    Requirements for future years must be better
     defined  prior  to system development to avoid the need for fre-
     quent system modification.

•    A  number of systems were developed several years ago and may no
     longer  meet program needs.  Systems should be audited more fre-
     quently  to  identify  needed  improvements and assess the cost-
     effectiveness of continued system operation.

•    Collection  of  data from states using external third parties is
     unnecessary  and wasteful in the opinion of state agencies.  EPA
     and states should work together to establish mutually acceptable
     frameworks for information exchange.

-------
                                                                    VII-17
•    There is a data quality problem throughout EPA.  ADP staffs have
     been  pathological about not taking responsibility for data, and
     to  date  program staff have not assumed responsibility for data
     quality.

•    There  is a need to demystify ADP through orientation and train-
     ing of senior managers.

•    Additional   resources  will be needed by regions to maintain the
     information in centralized water systems (e.g., PCS, STORET).

-------
                                                                         VIII-1
                   VIII.  ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR FOR SOLID
                            WASTE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE

A.  Program Trends - Office of Solid Waste

    There  has  been  a  radical revision in the RCRA program direction  in the
last  several months.  The hazardous waste program had been viewed as  a matur-
ing  program;  state  delegation  was increasing, and the Federal EPA  role was
concentrated on program oversight and monitoring, plus making policy decisions
for relatively few new regulatory issues.  It now appears that EPA's role will
be  much  more  significant,  both in terms of formulating new regulations and
maintaining an active involvement in RCRA program operations.
    Regulatory action will occur in two areas.  EPA will regulate several pre-
viously  unregulated  activities,  including  burning waste in boilers, under-
ground  storage  tanks, and air emmissions from land disposal sites.   In addi-
tion, EPA will identify additional  substances as hazardous wastes.

    An  area  of  uncertainty  is the regulation of land disposal of hazardous
waste.    To date the emphasis has been on effective containment of land-based
disposal  of  hazardous waste.   Due to the problems associated with Superfund
sites,  as  well   as  evidence  of  the  failure  of  liners, land disposal of
hazardous waste may be prohibited or severely limited in the future.

    Delegating  RCRA  permit issuance, inspection, compliance, and enforcement
to  the  states  has  been  on  a  fast track; 36 states have at least partial
authorization.    However,  it appears that the two year deadline for complete
delegation will not be met, for various reasons:

    •   There  continue  to  be a wide variety of unresolved technical
        and legal  issues requiring  EPA involvement.
                                                                   •
    •   Permit  issuance  has been  moving slowly,  and EPA attention is
        needed for improving the permit review and approval  process.

-------
                                                                        VIII-2
    •   There  appears  to  be widespread non-compliance with existing
        interim  status  standards.   In addition, many states are not
        doing an effective job of monitoring compliance.

    •   In  some  states,  enforcement  action has been virtually non-
        existent.

The  net  result  is that substantial EPA headquarters and regional office in-
volvement in RCRA operations will continue for an extended period of time.

B.  Program Trends - Office of Emergency and Remedial Response

    Considering the progress of the Superfund program so far, and the size and
impact  of  the  program, reauthorization of the CERCLA legislation is likely.
There  are  currently 419 Superfund sites with remedial action underway at ap-
proximately  170  sites.    The major limitation to the program is funding and
staffing  for  site  and  program management.  In the future it is likely that
OERR will handle at least an additional  150-200 sites;

    Program  activities are evolving from an emphasis on overall program plan-
ning to more operational functions, including:

    •   Emergency removals
    •   Remedial construction
    •   Monitoring of contained sites.

    There is a possibility that Congress will include victim compensation in  a
reauthorization of CERCLA.  The resulting actions required of EPA, and the re-
sources necessary to perform them are unknown at this time.

C.  Program Trends - Office of Waste Programs Enforcement

    Day  to  day  enforcement  for the RCRA program is performed either by the
delegated  states  or  by  the regional  offices (for undelegated states).  The
headquarters role is one of overall management and program direction. However,

-------
                                                                         VIII-3
because  the  RCRA program was relatively new  at the  time of delegation,  there
have been a number of problems;

    •   Lack of resources in regions and contract support.

    •   A  large  number of unresolved legal and technical  issues that
        must  be  assessed and coordinated to  avoid possibly inconsis-
        tent  decisions  on specific issues arising at different waste
        sites.

    •   No  standard  reports of measurable activities and  no complete
        data  base  addressing  compliance  monitoring and  enforcement
        activities nationwide.

    •   Some  state  authorizations,   inspections, and enforcement ac-
        tions falling behind schedule.

Consequently,  it is likely that EPA regional  offices will  perform more direct
enforcement and provide substantially more program aid and  direction to states
than  was anticipated.  The RCRA program will  revert back to EPA from at  least
some of the states.

    The  CERCLA  (Superfund)  inventory currently contains  419 of the possible
15,000  sites,  and   the  priority  list will  likely expand to 800-1200 sites.
There  are  currently  at 50-60 active enforcement cases in the Superfund pro-
gram.   These cases  are very complex, with some cases involving upwards of 500
responsible  parties.  It is anticipated that  the case load will double to 100
or more cases within the next 1-2 years.

D.  Program Trends - Regional Organizations^

    Regional   offices  anticipate several significant trends for the Superfund
and hazardous waste  programs.
     This section includes the RCRA and CERCLA programs within Regional Waste,
Air and Waste, and Environmental  Services Divisions.

-------
                                                                    VI11-4

1.   Superfund Program Trends

     t    For many of the highest priority sites Superfund activities
          will shift from site surveys to site cleanup, with signifi-
          cant construction and removal efforts.

     •    The  number  of enforcement actions taken by EPA and atten-
          dant litigation will increase substantially.  Cost recovery
          will likely be a major issue.  EPA may accept partial reim-
          bursement by firms which cannot afford to pay the full cost
          of site cleanup.

     •    EPA  will undertake more detailed tracking of costs for in-
          dividual  sites  to  support cost recovery.  In addition to
          direct  cleanup  costs, EPA will  likely include an overhead
          allocation  as  part  of total reimburseable costs, and may
          seek  to include unrecovered costs at some sites as part of
          the overhead to be allocated to other sites.

     •    The  present funding will not address all designated Super-
          fund sites.  Over the next ten years, less than half of the
          expended funds will likely be recovered.  The Congress will
          likely  enact  new  legislation providing substantial addi-
          tional funding.

     t    EPA  will  probably  designate additional sites for cleanup
          under Superfund.

     •    EPA will continue to rely heavily on contractors to perform
          site surveys and cleanups.

     •    States  will  receive  limited delegations of authority but
          will have an increasing role for some sites.

-------
                                                                    VIII-5

2.   Hazardous Waste Program Trends

     t    The hazardous waste program will  be growing rapidly in most
          regions, and will  likely become  the  single largest program
          in each region.

     •    The hazardous waste  program will continue to be  delegated
          to  state  agencies.   Several  regions  now report  complete
          delegation.    Most states will  implement the RCRA program
          successfully  with  EPA  technical  assistance  and  federal
          funding.    Congress   will   likely  extend  RCRA  compliance
          deadlines for states  if necessary.   EPA may need  to  pull
          back the  program  in  a  few  states,   and  some  states  will
          return the program if funding  is  cut  significantly.

     •    Some states  now  have  an active enforcement program.   RCRA
          enforcement  and  litigation  will  increase substantially over
          the next few  years.   However,  for sites  likely  to require
          government funds  for  cleanup,  states  may be reluctant  to
          initiate action  and subsequently  seek reimbursement.

     •    State agencies will look to EPA  to establish a  RCRA clear-
          inghouse or  information  center to make  available informa-
          tion about cleanup/containment  strategies and risks associ-
          ated with specific substances.

     •    The number of regulated  waste  sites will  increase by a fac-
          tor of  15 to  20  if the cutoff for regulated facilities  is
          lowered to 100kg.

     •    Present as well   as future goals  are  very unclear.   Regions
          expect OSW to articulate specific  goals  and  objectives fcr
          the Agency's RCRA program.

-------
                                                                        VIII-6

E.  Program Trends - State Agencies

    State  agencies  forecast  that the emphasis for both RCRA and CERCLA will
shift  to construction, removal, and permitting.  Additional resources will be
needed to support state workloads.   In addition, groundwater contamination may
prove  to  be  a  major  problem.   Some states will  integrate the DIG and RCRA
programs.

F.  Information Management Requirements and Related Applications - QSWER

    •   The  Hazardous  Waste  Data  Management System (HWDMS) serves the
        basic  RCRA  program information needs, including inventory, per-
        mits,  .inspections,  and compliance data.  However, the complete-
        ness and accuracy of HWDMS  data is suspect.

    t   There  is  a pressing need  to collect information regarding state
        RCRA  activities.  The strategy taken by other EPA offices of de-
        veloping  standard  software  tools for the states will likely be
        followed.   There is a potential for a major software development
        project to;

         --  Support  the state program management functions now ad-
             dressed by HWDMS for EPA.

             Collect  monitoring  and inspection data, including fa-
             cility, hazardous waste type or group, discharge compo-
             sition  as  compared to permit amounts, other pollution
             source, waste manager, and geographical location.

         --  Provide  EPA  headquarters the ability to summarize the
             above information and  perform analyses of:

                  The number and type of inspections performed,

                  The number and percentages of violations, and
                  some detail regarding each violation,

-------
                                                                    VIII-7
              The  time  between findings of non-compliance
              and  the  return of facilities to compliance,
              and

              Enforcement  actions  taken   in cases of non-
              compliance.

t    Several  states  have  developed  systems  to track manifests of
     hazardous  waste and follow up on discrepancies in the manifests
     to  detect  disposal  violations.  It would be very useful to be
     able to provide such software to other states on request.

•    The  Emergency  and Remedial Response  Information System  (ERRIS)
     maintains an inventory of Superfund sites.  The enforcement pro-
     gram has a need to track site specific technical information and
     may want to link this information to ERRIS.  In addition, use of
     ERRIS  may be extended to states, in order to improve and expand
     the inventory with state data.

•    The  Site  Enforcement  Status System (SESS) is now being imple-
     mented.  It will identify all Superfund sites for which enforce-
     ment  actions  have been taken or are in progress, and will  sum-
     marize the actions for each site.

•    The  Program  Management System (PMS) is being developed  to sup-
     port  CERCLA  management  needs.  The system contains three com-
     ponents:

     --  A  Project  Tracking System, which contains the summary
         status  of all  projects, has been implemented, but OERR
         is concerned with its ability to provide up-to-date in-
         formation.

     --  A  Site Coordination System, which will support on-site
         management,  is currently in the planning stage.

-------
                                                                        VIII-8

         --  An Enforcement System will be developed in the future.

    •   There  is a requirement for a system to store and classify Super-
        fund  technical information and support dissemination to regional
        and  state  on-site  coordinators and other personnel involved in
        technical aspects of site management.

    •   A  need  exists for systems to support budgeting/planning efforts
        for  both  the overall  CERCLA budget process and for project man-
        agement .

    0   An  ADP training or orientation effort is needed to make managers
        more  aware of the ADP tools and applications currently available
        throughout EPA.

G.  Information Management Requirements and Related Applications -
    Regional Organizations

    Overall  data  management for Superfund and hazardous waste sites needs to
be  improved  substantially  to support regional  and state program operations.
Designation  of  a  data  administrator  for  RCRA at EPA headquarters will be
especially  helpful.    Specific  requirements  for regional organizations are
identified below:

    •    EPA will need more reliable site-specific accounting information
         for  staff and contract resources to support enforcement actions
         for  cost  recovery and enable site managers to more effectively
         control   costs.    Existing   accounting  procedures and systems,
         especially error correction processing, must be improved.

    •    Regional  offices  and states require the capability to maintain
         cost information for many types of on-site contractor activities
         to  support a more informed evaluation of proposed prices.  Con-
         tractor  prices vary widely for materials, labor and transporta-
         tion  in  different  areas, and seem to also vary greatly within
         designated  areas.   This requirement will become more important
         as remedial actions increase  at RCRA and Superfund sites.

-------
                                                                    VIII-9
•    Regional  offices  will need automated capability to manage RCRA
     enforcement  information  for  an   increasing number of actions.
     Existing  manual systems will not be adequate.  Since most sites
     have  at least one potential violation it will be especially  im-
     portant  to denote specific types of violations to ascertain  the
     magnitude  of  non-compliance of a  site, and  include information
     for  enforcement  actions taken by  states (and their equivalence
     to  EPA  actions).  Access to a central data base of administra-
     tive  orders and consent decrees will be very useful to regional
     staff  in  preparing  new  orders   and  decrees and to EPA head-
     quarters for technical review.

•    Regional  and state RCRA site and program managers will need  au-
     tomated  tickler  files  to  manage site activities.  This capa-
     bility  must  be  sufficiently  flexible  to  support common  and
     unique  tracking  points.    Some   sites may have as many as  70+
     tracking  points.    However,  it  may  be  difficult to replace
     interim manual  tracking systems used by many managers.

•    Regional offices need the capability to integrate air, water  and
     waste  data  for  specific  facilities now, and this requirement
     will be imperative in the future.

•    EPA must initiate a major effort to manage groundwater data that
     is  now  being  collected by several programs, and an anticipated
     major increase  in monitoring data to be collected in the future.
     Many  states  and  EPA contractors collect some monitoring data,
     but  most  of  the  data  is stored in manual form.   No standard
     coding  conventions  exist  for many common data items.  Several
     regions  are currently trying to use STORE! to store some of  the
     available  data, but STORET may not be able to fully accommodate
     groundwater  data  requirements.   Requirements for a groundwater
     data base are critical.

-------
                                                                       VIII-10
    •    Many  states have developed or will be developing RCRA site man-
         agement systems.  EPA should provide software capabilities which
         will  enable  states  to use these systems to automatically feed
         data  to  EPA which meets RCRA reporting requirements.  However,
         some  state  systems  will   not maintain adequate data, and data
         definitions  across systems will vary.  Regions will require im-
         proved  data  support  analyses  of  compliance rates and permit
         processing turnaround.

    •    Proposed  regulations  for  manifest tracking will impose a sub-
         stantial  data  collection  and management burden on state agen-
         cies.  Several states have developed manifest systems which will
         meet  EPA's  requirements  and may prove useful to other states.
         EPA  may  need  to  develop standard software for use by states.
         Some states will maintain data in parallel EPA/State systems.

    •    Regional  (and  state)  RCRA  and  Superfund  program  and  site
         managers will require access to a clearinghouse that can provide
         detailed  information  about physical and chemical properties of
         wastes,  cleanup  and containment technology, and the health and
         environmental  effects  of  compounds discovered at waste sites.
         Access to a data base containing both acute and chronic exposure
         toxicity  data for rapid response risk assessments is considered
         a  vital  need.    A  clearinghouse will be vital to maintaining
         national consistency for RCRA and CERCLA.

H.  Information Management Requirements and Related Applications -
    State Agencies

    •    Many state agencies will resist providing detailed RCRA site in-
         formation  to  EPA.  EPA reporting requirements are becoming in-
         creasingly  detailed, change frequently, represent a significant
         drain  on program resources.  State agencies are more willing to
         submit summary information quarterly to EPA.

-------
                                                                       VIII-11
    •    Many  states will  use an automated site tracking capability, in-
         cluding  state  systems.   However some states, such as Nebraska
         will  have relatively few hazardous waste sites and will be able
         to support site tracking needs with manual systems.

    •    State agencies require the technical  support of a RCRA clearing-
         house.     Associations  of  state  waste  program administrators
         (i.e.,   ASTSWMO)  are now beginning to establish a clearinghouse
         function and encourage a cooperative effort with EPA.

I.   ADP Tools

    •    Regional  offices   require more user friendly software to access
         and  retrieve  information  from centralized data bases and sys-
         tems.

    •    Electronic  mail  has been very useful.  It will have increasing
         utility for communications with regions.

    0    There is a need for statistical packages to perform analysis and
         "what  if"  manipulations on existing data.  However,  some doubt
         exists   as  to  how useful  these tools will be if there is not a
         significant effort to clean up existing and new data.

    •    A  flexible graphics package and site mapping capabilities would
         be very useful to  EPA regional  and headquarters staff  (and state
         agencies)   for  data  summary  and  analysis, and for  management
         briefings.
    t
A  PERT-type  site  planning  and management capability would be
especially useful to site managers in managing large sites which
will   probably  involve  EPA,  state,  and  contractor  parallel
ac t i v i t i e s.

-------
                                                                       VIII-12
    •    Voice  mail and teleconferencing are potential tools to expedite
         enforcement  actions which require a high degree of coordination
         among  different  organizations.    A great deal of time is lost
         playing "telephone tag".

J.   Other Remarks

    •    Audits  should be conducted of major Superfund and RCRA informa-
         tion  systems  to  ensure  that  they  meet  the  needs of their
         intended users.

    •    OSWER will need to make a substantial commitment to training re-
         gional  and state users of Superfund and hazardous waste systems
         developed  centrally to ensure that the data bases are kept cur-
         rent and used effectively.

    t    The  collection of detailed site tracking and technical informa-
         tion  by  EPA  has  become a major burden for regional and state
         site  managers.    In  view  of  limited resources and the other
         responsibilities of site managers, EPA should carefully consider
         its  reporting  requirements  to  balance information needs with
         available resources for data collection and maintenance.

    •    The collection of information from states about state activities
         at  Superfund  sites  will not take place until Superfund monies
         are authorized for this purpose.  Reporting of state activity  at
         Superfund sites is not covered by RCRA reporting requirements.

    •    The  NEIC Financial Assessment System will be a potentially use-
         ful  tool  in assessing a firm's "ability to pay" when selecting
         enforcement  actions.    Regional  RCRA and CERCLA program staff
         will need to learn more about this and other NEIC capabilities.

    •    The  NEIC  literature search and research capabilities should  be
         used more effectively by headquarters and regional staff in pre-
         paring litigation.

-------
                                                                         IX-1

            IX.  ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR FOR AIR, NOISE, RADIATION

A.  Program Trends - Office of Air Quality and Planning Standards

    The air program is relatively mature  with  most  day-to-day activities con-
ducted by  state  and  local  agencies.   Regions  perform  program oversight func-
tions as well as handle program operations  where required  for states with in-
complete state  implementation  plans  (SIPs).   Headquarters  operations include
development  of  standards;  establishing  policy and  procedures;  evaluating
program effectiveness; assessing air  quality, emissions, and compliance status
and trends, and program representation  in the  public  forum.  No major changes
in program  operations  are anticipated  unless  there are major  changes  in the
reauthorization of  the Clean  Air Act.   These  changes may  include  expanded
programs to address acid rain and  air toxics.

    National ambient  air  quality  standards   (NAAQS) have been  established for
the criteria pollutants  and will  be  reviewed  on staggered  five  year cycles.
New source performance standards were to be  completed  for 68 source categories
by 1982, with reviews on a staggered  four year cycle.   It now appears that one
round of the NSPS effort will be completed between 1985 and 1988.

    National emissions standards  for  hazardous pollutants  (NESHAPS)  are being
developed  for  particularly hazardous pollutants.   Seven pollutants  have been
examined to date, with NESHAPS  established  for four pollutants.  Thirty-seven
additional  pollutants  are  currently  under  study,  and  there  is  potential  for
substantial growth in this program area.

    The prevention  of  significant deterioration (PSD)  program  is  designed to
control the  degradation  of  air  quality  in  areas that currently  meet  NAAQS.
This  program has  been delegated to  most  states, and  many  of  the  states have
delegated the PSD program to local regulatory authorities.

    Compliance monitoring  and  enforcement activities  have  largely been dele-
gated to state agencies (and,  in  turn,  to local  agencies)  with EPA's role fo-
cused largely on program oversight and ensuring that state  actions comply with
state  implementation   plans  (SIPS).    Regional  offices currently  administer

-------
                                                                         IX-2
these activities in  states  that  have not implemented a compliance  monitoring
and enforcement  program,  and  conduct inspections to  assist states in  devel-
oping enforcement actions.  EPA will be  completing delegation wherever  possi-
ble and carry out oversight to ensure that  state  programs  are working  proper-
ly.  Audits of  state programs have  been  initiated recently, and will  increase
in number over the next few years to include annual  audits  of most states.

     There  will be  a  push for more frequent  monitoring  and/or  reporting  of
compliance status.  There  are approximately  28,000 sources  subject  to  inspec-
tion.  The 17,000 NSPS, NESHAPs,  and Class Al SIP  sources  are subject  to annu-
al inspection, while the 11,000 Class A2  SIP sources  are inspected biennially.
Currently, EPA  collects  from states and regional offices  quarterly data pro-
viding a  snapshot of facility compliance, but few states  provide details  re-
garding the  number  of days a facility  is out of compliance.   The  technology
now exists to support continuous  emissions monitoring (CEM).  EPA will  require
continuous emissions monitoring  where  it is cost effective  and  presently  re-
quires CEM  for  certain classes  of  sources.   However, EPA  is unlikely  to  re-
quire CEM for the large majority of sources.1

B.  Program Trends - Office of Mobile Sources

    Mobile sources is  a fairly mature and stable  program.   Research and regu-
lations development  are performed at the national level,  while  the inspection
and maintenance program is administered by state and  local  agencies.  There is
only a minor regional  office role.  Although  program emphasis  may shift from
year to year, no major shifts in program direction are anticipated.

    The  national  program  to  test  cars  for emissions violations  has  recently
placed greater  emphasis on testing  in-use vehicles  (but will also continue to
test new  vehicles).   This  trend  may accelerate if programs that place greater
emphasis  on  determining   compliance  on   the  basis  of  in-use  emissions  are
adopted in the  future.
  NOTE:  Environmental  Sciences  Research  Laboratory in ORD believes that CEM is
        especially  important to  provide an  accurate emissions  inventory and
        eliminate a major source of error in air models.

-------
                                                                         IX-3

    EPA collects  summary data  from state  inspection programs  but does  not
request detailed records from  states.   Data for tampering  and  fuel  switching
programs,   aw  well  as  for  emissions violations,  are obtained  by other  QMS
activities  and  are  not obtained  by  the  state  inspection  and  maintenance
programs.

    There  are several  regulatory efforts currently underway regarding;

    t    Heavy duty vehicles (trucks, heavy equipment, etc.)

    •    Diesel  powered vehicles

    0    Fuels - especially for additives other than lead, blended fuels,
         and  liquid fuels  other  than  gasoline,   notably  methanol  and
         ethanol.

No major additional regulations are expected to be promulgated.

C.  Program Trends - Office of Radiation Programs

    The Office of  Radiation Programs is  relatively small  and  differs  substan-
tially from most EPA programs.  It specializes in one hazard,  addressing radi-
ation across media and across legislation.  Legislative authority is contained
in  virtually  all   major  authorizing  legislation  for  EPA  programs  including
RCRA, CERCLA, CWA,  CAA,  and TSCA.  Coverage  includes  discharges  into  air  and
water, waste disposal  of radioactive effluents,  and naturally occuring radio-
active materials.    ORP also derives  authority from other  laws  including  the
Atomic Energy Act  and Uranium Mill Tailings Act.

    Current regulatory activities of the radiation program are  aimed  largely
at completing regulations started in previous years.  Virtually no new  regula-
tory actions have  been started during the past two years.

-------
                                                                         IX-4

    The non-regulatory functions  include:

    •    Identifying,  locating,  and measuring  radiation  sources and re-
         sultant  exposures.

    t    Technical  assistance  to other  agencies, state  government and
         other groups to facilitate protection and determine  appropriate
         remedial  actions.

    •    Emergency preparedness -  including  response to radiation  acci-
         dents by measuring releases into the  environment  and  suggesting
         solutions.    This  activity includes  a   continuing  presence  at
         Three Mile  Island.

    •    Research - including keeping up with  existing scientific  infor-
         mation and  in rare  cases  conducting or sponsoring  validation
         studies.

    The office conducts  no  enforcement  program.   Enforcement  activities  will
continue to be conducted by other offices in  EPA  and offices  in other  federal
agencies  (e.g.,  NRC).    There  is  a small  regional  role in  the  radiation
program.

    The future directions of  the  radiation  program  are uncertain.   There are
few  new  regulatory  activities in progress.    On  the  other hand, the need for
the  four non-regulatory functions listed above has not changed  significantly.
Further, several  Superfund sites have been identified as  having hazardous ra-
dioactive material.   While  the  Office of Radiation  Programs  has  not yet  been
involved in  Superfund activities,  the  office may have  a future role  in the
cleanup of radioactive hazardous  materials.

-------
                                                                         IX-5

D.  Programs Trends - Regional  Organizations2

    Regional  air  program  staff  concur  with  the  headquarters  forecast  of
continued state delegation, but believe that  many elements  of  the air program
will continue to evolve over the next several years.   The following trends are
anticipated:

    •    Air  pollution  control  strategies  for  criteria pollutants  may
         shift from  an emphasis on  ambient  concentrations  to  performance
         based standards.

    •    Control of  air toxics will  likewise  reflect  a performance based
         strategy, as evidenced by NESHAPS.

    •    Continuous emissions monitoring may be adopted for certain types
         of facilities.  EPA  would  not collect CEM data from  firms,  but
         would  likely  require  reports of  non-compliance  events  and/or
         period reports of  compliance rates.

    •    Emissions trading  activity may  increase  in  some  parts  of  the
         country.  The reopening of  plants  that  are now shut  down as  the
         economy gears up and  new VOC  regulations may encourage  increas-
         ing  bubble  activity.    However,  several  regions  anticipate  no
         significant emissions trading activity.

    •    Modeling  for  criteria pollutants  may increase in some  regions
         and  decrease  in others.   Dispersion  and diffusion modeling  may
         increase  to check on  industry modeling  for  proposed  emission
         trades, and to  predict the  impact  on air quality of  Superfund
         site cleanup efforts.   More complex models  will be developed  for
         long range acid  deposition  and ozone.

    •    State  agencies  will   continue to  need  technical  assistnce  and
         training on the use of air  quality models.
p
    This section include  the  air and radiation  programs  within Air,  Air  and
Waste, and Environmental Services Divisions.

-------
                                                                         IX-6
    Regional  offices will have continuing role in the mobile source programs.
Regional  activities  will address fuel switching, tampering, state inspection
and maintenance, and local transportation control management plans.  TCM plans
will  be  needed in more localities if the current CO standard is not relaxed.
Complex models for CO diffusion will be needed to support TCM planning.

    Regional offices also will have a continuing role in supporting the radia-
tion  program.    Radiation issues will arise for a number of Superfund sites,
and  regions  will  also assist states in preparing and reviewing radiological
emergency response plans developed to address potential accidents.

E.  Programs Trends - State Agencies

    EPA  has  addressed  many tough problems for controlling air pollution for
criteria  pollutants,  and  will  in the future address more difficult problems
for  controlling air toxics.  In the short term, state and local agencies seem
to  be  more  aggressive  than EPA  in controlling toxic emissions.  EPA is ex-
pected to speed up the NESHAPS program to quickly develop an effective federal
program and obtain more national consistency.

    •    State agencies would like to see more continuous emissions moni-
         toring.   CEM will make enforcement easier and will be essential
         to  effectively enforce bubbles.  Several EPA new source perfor-
         mance standards will require CEM.

    •    States anticipate limited growth in emissions trading.  Shifting
         EPA policies and limited state funds will inhibit growth.

    •    Delegation  of  air programs to states will continue and will be
         successful  if  EPA provides technical assistance, and if suffi-
         cient  federal  state and  local resources are available for pro-
         gram  operations.  If funds are cut significantly, delegation of
         some  programs  will not be completed and several states may re-
         turn the air program to  EPA.

-------
                                                                         IX-7
    •    EPA  audits of state air programs will commence in FY84, and may
         become  more  detailed  and  address  a larger number of program
         areas  in future years.  Many state agencies support audits as a
         means to ensure national consistency and a strengthening of pro-
         grams in some states.  Audits will probably be conducted annual-
         ly in each state.

    •    Mobile  source  programs  will   not  change significantly at the
         state  level,  although  some states or localities may implement
         tampering  and  fuel switching programs as an alternative to in-
         spections and maintenance programs now required by EPA.

    •    Congress  may  authorize  a  major new acid rain control program
         within the next five years.

F.   Information Management Requirements and Related Applications  - QANR

    •    There will be a continued effort to collect and maintain a large
         volume  of  air quality, emissions and compliance data.   Much of
         the data required is currently collected by state or local  agen-
         cies.  Both the Congress and EPA staff will be raising questions
         that require access to large volumes of raw data, such as:

              Time series of emissions data for NSPS and best avail-
              able control technology (BACT) development and review.

              Compliance  status of a facility or industrial classi-
              fication,  including identification of specific pollu-
              tants and quantitative measures of non-compliance.

    •    The potential  exists for a significant increase in the amount of
         data maintained by EPA information systems and  data bases:

              The  number of monitoring stations is  increasing.

-------
                                                                     IX-8
          The number of pollutants, especially toxics, that will
          be  monitored  and  regulated is expected to increase,
          and in turn will  require more monitoring.

          PSD  provides  for continuous monitoring in many cases
          (although  EPA  will  probably  not collect continuous
          monitoring data for all sources).

          While  EPA  might like to have the states maintain the
          data,  and provide EPA access to the data, many states
          do  not  have  automated systems to maintain the data,
          and access to data maintained in some state level sys-
          tems would be extremely difficult.

•    EPA  wants improved access and more efficient maintenance of air
     quality  data  for  criteria pollutants.  The AIRS system is ex-
     pected  to  be operational for air quality data by 1985, and for
     emissions and compliance data in 1986.  AIRS will provide direct
     access  to  states and regions.  Approximately 2/3 of the states
     will  eventually use the AIRS system exclusively for maintaining
     ambient  data,  while the remaining states are expected to main-
     tain  their  existing systems and submit monitoring data to AIRS
     in  automated  form.    Functions  now  performed  by  CDS  will
     ultimately  be incorporated in AIRS, but not in the initial AIRS
     implementation.

•    EPA  needs organized access to state and local air program regu-
     lations  through  a "clearinghouse".  Obtaining specific regula-
     tions  can be difficult, time consuming and costly.  However, no
     specific initiatives to address this problem are contemplated at
     this time.

•    There will be a moderate increase in air quality modeling activ-
     ities,  and  more  accurate  models  will be required.  Computer
     based  models  will  process larger volumes of data and increase
     significantly  in computational complexity to improve on the im-

-------
                                                                      IX-9
     precision  of  existing  models.  Some new models will encompass
     large regions, such as models for ozone and for acid deposition.
     In general, models will require increasing computing power.

          A  shift  away  from  an  air quality based regulatory
          strategy  would  result  in  a  reduction in modeling.
          This  shift   is  considered  unlikely  within the next
          three to five years.

•    The  amount  of  paper  shuffling of SIP revisions between state
     agencies,  regions,  and several headquarters offices should de-
     cline as EPA makes greater use of word processing and electronic
     mail.    However,  no  decline in the number of SIP revisions  is
     anticipated.

•    Overall  state  use of the Compliance Data System (CDS) will in-
     crease.    More  states will  begin using CDS, and state input  of
     compliance data will expand.

          An  enhancement to provide on-line input and retrieval
          may  entice increased state use of the system.  In ad-
          dition,  states will require in an improved management
          reporting capability.

          EPA will continue an effort to standardize definitions
          of  compliance  monitoring and enforcement activities.
          Until   data  definitions are standardized, summary in-
          formation can be meaningless and even misleading.

0    The  Office of Radiation Programs previously initiated a compre-
     hensive  Population  Dose Assessment Program, utilizing an auto-
     mated  system  to  track total  exposures to radiation throughout
     the  entire country.   The system was never completed, but may be
     revived.

-------
                                                                        IX-10
    t    There  has  been  a substantial amount of dumping of radioactive
         materials into the ocean.  Little knowledge exists of how dumped
         materials  are  transported  by ocean currents, and there may be
         significant benefit in developing a model of radiation transport
         in ocean environments.

    •    Existing  administrative systems (e.g., finance, personnel) fail
         to meet program office requirements.  An off the shelf automated
         document  control  register  would  be useful to program offices
         that do not have the resources to develop a custom ADCR system.

G.  Information  Management  Requirements  and Related Applications - Regional
    Organizations

    Regional  offices  share  many of the information management needs of OANR
and have several unique requirements.

    •    Regions and state will require more sophisticated information to
         support  compliance  monitoring  and enforcement of increasingly
         complex  stationery source programs.  Examples include emissions
         trading, and potential seasonal variation of VOC emission stand-
         ards.

    •    Regional offices and many states will use the new AIRS system to
         maintain  and retrieve air quality and emissions data.  However,
         some  states are skeptical about the actual capabilities of AIRS
         and  its ease of use.  AIRS will need to improve on existing in-
         terfaces  to  state systems that feed data to EPA.  In addition,
         the  integration  of  compliance and enforcement data with emis-
         sions data within AIRS should be given a higher priority and im-
         plemented soon.

    •    Regional  offices  require the capability to examine air quality
         data  over  specified  time  periods and perform trend analyses.
         Access to only current data is inadequate.

-------
                                                                     IX-11
•    A  major   acid rain program would likely require the  integration
     or  linkage  of   large  data bases for least four types of data:
     emissions, precipitation, ecological effects, and air quality.

•    Adoption of CEM will generate a requirement for systems to main-
     tain  compliance  information  submitted  by  firms and help EPA
     staff identify facilities with major recurring incidents of non-
     compliance.

•    Greater emphasis on toxics will be accompanied in the regions by
     a more multi-media perspective.  Regional staff will require the
     linkage  of  compliance  data across media.  Regional staff also
     will  focus  more  on  the  health risks of toxics across media.
     Direct access to CSIN may be useful.

t    Emissions  and  enforcement  data related toxics will be claimed
     confidential  by  some  firms  and will require that appropriate
     safeguards be built into ADP systems.

•    Radiological emergency response plans will be developed for many
     facilities  and may be required of several counties for a single
     nuclear  facility.    Regional  radiation staff will require ADP
     support to monitor the status of RERPs.

•    Air  quality models for criteria and other pollutants may change
     significantly  over  the next 3-5 years.   The next generation of
     models  will  be more complex, utilize actual meterological data
     to  reflect  local conditions, and generally process larger vol-
     umes  of  data than present models.   Models for CO will  be espe-
     cially  complex.     States with limited ADP support will  seek to
     use EPA computers for modeling capabilities.

t    A  new ADP system may be needed to support the evolving  air pro-
     gram audit function.

-------
                                                                        IX-12
    t    There should be a stronger link between automated emissions, air
         monitoring, and compliance data and the Administrator's account-
         ability system.  Improved collection of data from states will be
         essential to making this link useful.

H.   Information  Management  Requirements  and  Related  Applications  - State
    Agencies

    •    Many  state  agencies  will   continue to use EPA data systems to
         maintain  large  volumes  of monitoring data, including data for
         monitors not included in the national monitoring network.  Agen-
         cies  with limited ADP capabilities will also maintain emissions
         and compliance data on EPA systems.  However, states require im-
         proved access to EPA air data systems and will require continued
         ADP training support.

    •    State  agencies  would like EPA to establish a central clearing-
         house  for  air  toxics information related to control technolo-
         gies,  emission limitations, and health studies conducted by EPA
         and  other  organizations.  Information about the range of toxic
         emissions for specific industries would also be useful.

    •    Automation of the SIP revision process should help speed up pro-
         cessing  of  these  actions.  Significant improvements have been
         realized  in the past two years as a result of parallel process-
         ing by state agencies and EPA, and "direct to final" approval of
         non-controversial actions.

I.   ADP Tools

    •    Graphics have appeared to be useful in the past, but the cost of
         using  existing  graphics  packages  has proved to be too great.
         Inexpensive graphics would be very useful for management presen-
         tations and to help interpret the output of air quality models.

-------
                                                                         IX-13
    •    Electronic  mail  has already proven useful to OAQPS and the re-
         gions  and could be used to speed up communications for SIP pro-
         cessing  and the review of proposed policy and standards.  Elec-
         tronic mail connections between the states and the regions would
         also be valuable to improve SIP processing.

    •    Regional  offices and state agencies require an automated mapping
         capability  to  help  track the significant number of changes in
         designations  of attainment and non-attainment areas of specific
         pollutants.    An  isopleth mapping capability is needed to help
         interpret the output of air quality models.

    0    Regional   offices and state agencies need an improved capability
         to access and retrieve data stored in national  data bases.

    •    There is  an increasing awareness that effective communication of
         large  volumes of information to end users is frequently as much
         or  more   of a problem than collecting data.  OAQPS is currently
         studying   alternatives  to  the voluminous printouts of existing
         systems  for  communicating  information to program managers and
         staff.

J.   Other Remarks

    •    OAQPS  is currently unaware of specific directions in office au-
         tomation,  but  would  be interested in obtaining information on
         current   and   planned   capabilities   to   assess   potential
         applicat ions.

    •    Senior managers  should receive mandatory training on the capa-
         bilities, uses,  and limitations of EPA's information systems.

    •    Some  state  agencies prefer to use EPA software but do not want
         to  store  all   air program data on EPA's computers.  The Agency
         should  investigate  providing  minicomputers to state agencies.
         Several   states   have  already  purchased  minicomputers  from a

-------
                                                               IX-14
variety  of  manufacturers.    If EPA finds it cost-effective to
provide   minicomputers   to  state  agencies,  the  funding  of
computers by different programs within EPA should be coordinated
to  ensure  the  acquisition of compatible hardware and software
across programs.

-------
                                                                           X-l

       X.  ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR FOR PESTICIDES AND TOXIC SUBSTANCES


A.  Program Trends - Office of Pesticides Programs

    The  pesticides  program  is  relatively mature and stable, with few major
changes  anticipated  during the next several years.  EPA will continue to de-
termine  potential health and environmental effects of pesticides, focusing on
both  new and existing formulations.  Many studies will be performed by indus-
try and contract laboratories.  These studies are expected to increase in com-
plexity  (e.g.,  stochastic processes) to more accurately assess the potential
risks  of  exposure  to  pesticides,  and  reflect a variety of exposure path-
ways -- water,  groundwater, food chain, etc.  OPP will be working with ORD to
determine  the  feasibility  of  developing standard models to assess specific
risks  (e.g., runoff in streams, leaching into, groundwater) and may make these
models  available  to industry to obtain more consistent and rigorous analyses
of  these  risks.   OPP also will be placing particular emphasis on making the
results of studies reviewed by OPP available to state agencies and the public.

    Two  initiatives  may  result from a reauthorization of FIFRA.  First, EPA
may  be authorized to collect fees for registering pesticides, with fees fully
loaded to reflect direct costs and a proportionate share of overhead expenses.
Second, EPA may be directed to increase monitoring for pesticides in the envi-
ronment .

    The overall responsibilities of state agencies and OPP are not expected to
change  significantly.    OPP will continue to provide technical assistance to
state  agencies and review state agency registrations of pesticides and exemp-
tions.

    OPP  will  also  continue present efforts to monitor staffing requirements
for  activities  within each of its major functions and for different types of
studies to develop improved models for workload forecasting and management.

-------
                                                                           X-2
B.  Program Trends - Office of Toxic Substances

    Overall,  there  will be no significant changes in the responsibilities of
OTS,  regions and state agencies, with most program development and management
functions  centralized within OTS.  There will likely be substantial growth in
the  volume  of  chemical information collected by OTS under Section 8 of TSCA
and  other  EPA program offices may use the TSCA authority to collect informa-
tion  on  toxic  pollutants  (e.g., OAQPS for toxic emissions).  Other non-EPA
regulatory  programs  may also collect information under TSCA authority.  Pro-
mulgation of a substantial number of new test rules is anticipated, which also
will  result  in  the collection of large volumes of data.  The number of test
rule  studies  conducted  is  expected  to increase from 200 in 1983 to 600 in
1986.

    Premanufacture notifications for new chemicals have not leveled off as an-
ticipated  and  are expected to grow over the next few years.  OTS anticipates
collecting  increasing volumes of data for each PMN, with a significant number
of  PMN  submissions  containing confidential business information (CBI).  OTS
may  also  initiate a major effort to update the information maintained in the
existing chemicals inventory (i.e., CICIS).

    OTS  anticipates  that states will increasingly want access to much of the
information  collected  by OTS, especially exposure and monitoring data.  How-
ever, access will of necessity be constrained by OTS'  requirement to safeguard
confidential  information.  OTS is developing an information sharing plan with
EPA  regions,  state  agencies,  other  Federal  agencies,  and  international
organizations  that will address this issue.  OTS also has recently proposed a
regional and state support program.

C.  Program Trends - Pesticides and Toxic Substances Enforcement Division

    Compliance  monitoring  and  enforcement  trends for FIFRA and TSCA differ
significantly, with the most significant changes related to TSCA.  Enforcement
authority for FIFRA has been delegated to 52 of the 57 jurisdictions.  Most of

-------
                                                                           X-3
the  59,000 annual inspections of pesticide producers, distributors and appli-
cators are now performed by state agencies.  Certification of pesticide appli-
cators  has  been  delegated  to 51 of the 57 jurisdictions.  Regional offices
provide  oversight of state programs and conduct inspections and take enforce-
ment actions in non-delegated states.  Headquarters functions include:

    •    Providing  policy and guidance to regional and state enforcement
         programs,  including  guidance  on neutral inspection strategies
         and  assistance to regions in setting targets for state enforce-
         ment activities;

    t    Conducting laboratory audits;

    •    Processing annual  pesticide production reports;

    •    Providing  assistance  to  regions and coordination with the De-
         partment of Justice on criminal enforcement actions; and

    •    Serving  as  liaison  with OPP for issuing "stop sale" and other
         emergency orders.

    The  TSCA  compliance  monitoring  and enforcement program is still in the
early  stages of implementation.  As more regulations and sections of the laws
become enforceable, the size of the program is anticipated to grow rapidly.  A
TSCA  enforcement  program  is  currently  in place for PMS', dioxin, CFCs and
PCBs.    The compliance monitoring and enforcement programs for asbestos, sec-
tion  8,   and  sections 12 and 13 will begin this year.  There is currently no
authority  in  TSCA  to delegate enforcement to states, although EPA may issue
grants to states and contracts to private firms to conduct TSCA inspections.

-------
                                                                           X-4

D.  Program Trends - Regional Organizations^-

    The  regional  FIFRA  role will consist largely of program oversight, with
most  emphasis  on enforcement.  For states that do not have a pesticides pro-
gram,  regional  environmental  services divisions or contractors will conduct
inspections  of facilities.  Over the next few years, regional ESDs anticipate
an increasing emphasis on multimedia inspections.

    Regional pesticides staff also forecast increasing analysis by OPP and ORD
of  pesticide  fate in soil and water.  The Congress and state agencies have a
great interest in potential exposures to pesticide residues.

    Regional  offices  feel that the future regional role with respect to TSCA
is  less  certain, and will be determined largely by the TSCA budget.  Regions
will  concentrate  on  inspection  and  enforcement, utilizing contractors for
field  studies and ESDs for analysis of samples.  Grants may be issued to some
states  for inspection support, but TSCA is not a delegatable program and will
be managed by EPA.

E.  Information Management Requirements and Related Applications - OPTS

    OPP, OTS and PTSED share a number of requirements for improved information
management   capabilities,  and  also  have  several  unique  needs.    Common
requirements include the following:

    •    Both  OPP  and  OTS  require improved access to large volumes of
         technical  information on chemicals and references to health and
         environmental  studies.    Each office anticipates developing or
         enhancing  major  systems  which  will automate large volumes of
         bibliographic data.

              A  new  Pesticides  Document Management System will control
              bibliographic  data  for the approximately 250,000 existing
              studies  regarding  pesticides  as well as the thousands of
     This  section includes the pesticides and toxic chemicals programs within
Air and Waste Management Divisions and Environmental Services Divisions.

-------
                                                                            X-5
              new  studies  conducted by EPA and other organizations each
              year.    Copies  of these studies will be  indexed and main-
              tained on microfiche.

              The OTS Global Index of documents will be  enhanced to main-
              tain  additional  reference  information.  Voluminous paper
              copies of studies will be reduced to microfiche.

              Joint  efforts  between  OTS and ORD laboratories will con-
              tinue  to  address  the extraction of technical  information
              from published and unpublished sources.

    •    Resource constraints will require increased sharing of technical
         data between OPP and OTS, and with other EPA offices.  Moreover,
         OTS  anticipates  a significant increase in use by other Federal
         agencies, EPA regional offices, and state agencies.   OTS intends
         to  make  the  physical and chemical properties data, health and
         environmental effects data, and environmental effects data main-
         tained in SPHERE system widely accessible to other users.

    •    Both  OPP  and  OTS require the capability to identify chemicals
         included  in  technical  data  bases  that have similar chemical
         structures.   A related requirement is the capability  to identify
         apparently  new  chemicals as being the same or similar to known
         chemicals,  and  to  determine  if the information regarding the
         known chemical is applicable.

Additional  OPP needs  are as follows:

    •    OPP  may  develop  a  very  large  system  to  maintain  raw and
         summarized technical  data on chemicals and pesticides.

-------
                                                                           X-6
    •    Automated  transmission  of  pesticide  test results from regis-
         trants  or  independent laboratories to EPA is a distinct possi-
         bility.  Several laboratories utilize automated data capture and
         appear  to  be  willing to work with EPA to develop the required
         data conversion and communication software.

    •    OPP  currently  tracks 20,000 to 30,000 registration actions an-
         nually, and requires an improved capability to:

              Track deadlines for firms to submit requested technical in-
              formation and generate notifications

              Use  expected  submissions  to  EPA  to plan work loads and
              schedules.

    Within OTS there is a need to be able to provide the public, industry, and
Congress  with  access  to the data that is used for decision making.  This is
balanced  by  the  requirement to protect confidential  business information in
both hardcopy and in automated systems.  There will be an increasing volume of
confidential  business  information  collected, with stringent access restric-
tions effectively requiring dual systems.

    To  handle  OTS'  increasing  workload  and  integrate roughly 25 existing
information that support the assessment of chemical risks under TSCA, OTS will
be  converting  its  existing  DEC  2020  applications  to  an  IBM-compatible
processing  environment.    This effort will be dependent on the use of common
data elements.

    The  new  FIFRA  and  TSCA and Enforcement System will be used to by PTSED
support  both  FIFRA  and  TSCA  enforcement  requirements.   PTSED  intends to
provide  direct  access to states for entry and retrieval of FIFRA data, and a
significant   increase   in  data  volume   is  anticipated.    Another  likely
enhancement  will be the capability to automatically generate "custom" letters
based on specific criteria (e.g., key ingredients of pesticides).

-------
                                                                           X-7
F.  Information   Management  Requirements  and  Related  Applications  -
    Regional Organizations

    •    Much  of  the  ADP  support required for FIFRA oversight and re-
         gional  FIFRA  and TSCA operations will be provided by the FIFRA
         and  TSCA Enforcement System.  However, regions must obtain more
         complete  information from state agencies and ensure that states
         use consistent data definitions in reporting to EPA.

    t    Regions  will  require  improved  access  to current information
         about pesticides health effects to respond to public information
         requests.  The existing microfiche-based retrieval system is not
         sufficiently current.

    •    A  multimedia inspection initiative would require integration or
         stronger  linkages  among permit, registration, and other facil-
         ity-oriented  systems.   A data base of inspections conducted to
         date and findings would be especially useful.

G.  ADP Tools

    •    Software  development  tools are needed which will enable OTS to
         quickly  develop  data bases to support one-time data collection
         efforts for new test rules, for Section 8 studies, and for other
         information-gathering efforts.

    •    OPP will increase its use of electronic mail to communicate with
         regional offices, and requires the addition of state agencies to
         the mail network to support:

              EPA  issuance of emergency exemptions to allow uses of pes-
              ticides  that  are normally prohibited or restricted.  Cur-
              rent  use  of  special  mailings takes up to 15 days to get
              through  both  the internal  EPA mail  system and postal  ser-
              vice,  and is unacceptable.

-------
                                                                       X-8
          Prompt notice to OPP for proposed state pesticide registra-
          tions.   State registrations become de facto federal regis-
          tration unless EPA disapproves them within 90 days.  Prompt
          notification  would  enable  OPP to conduct a more in-depth
          review within the allotted timeframe.

t    A graphics capability is needed, especially by PTSED, to support
     presentations and briefings for senior managers.

t    An  automated  mapping capability is needed to target inspection
     sites  based on proximity to other inspection sites, and to sup-
     port analyses of patterns for chemical spills or disposal in de-
     veloping enforcement cases under TSCA.

•    Automated  data  capture in the form of light pens and bar codes
     is  needed  to  assist in managing documents containing TSCA CBI
     and the TSCA 1ibrary.

•    OTS requires local processing capability (e.g., minicomputers or
     microcomputers)  to improve record-keeping and analysis by indi-
     vidual   staff,  reduce  the current overload of batch data entry
     and  processing,  and  will  be  examining  the use of micropro-
     cessors/microcomputers  to support scientific applications.   OTS
     is  now conducting a study on the integration of terminals,  word
     processors,  and microcomputers, and on the feasibility of using
     microcomputers  both  as  data  entry  devices and as analytical
     tools.

-------
                                                                         XI-1
          XI.  ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT


A.  Program Trends - Office of Research Program Management

    ORPM  anticipates  that the principal mission and functions of ORD are not
expected  to change significantly over the next three to five years.  ORD will
continue  to  provide environmental research and development services to other
EPA  programs,  although priorities among different types of R&D (e.g., health
effects, environmental effects, control technologies) may change over time.

    From  a financial management perspective, ORD will continue to have a very
complex  budget  structure  and to monitor funds at many levels of detail, in-
cluding crosswalks to many decision units and program elements.

B.  Program Trends - Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratories

    EMSLs  forecast many significant trends for environmental monitoring.  The
following trends are anticipated:

    •    Much more monitoring at landfills and Superfund and hazard-
         ous  waste  sites,  including both quick response and rela-
         tively sophisticated monitoring for toxics.

    0    Less  emphasis  on fixed station monitors and greater focus
         on  monitoring  human  exposure using portable monitors and
         microcomputers  to record data, and including monitoring of
         indoor air.

    •    Development  of  a monitoring network for organic toxic air
         pollutants, expanding from a three station pilot to a fifty
         station network in two years.

    •    Increasing  analysis  of  the  interaction of multiple com-
         pounds (i.e., multivariate analysis) in the air.

-------
                                                                         XI-2
    •    Growth in monitoring related to acid deposition, with rapid
         growth  if  Congress  authorizes a major new acid rain pro-
         gram.

    •    Increasing  automation  of  monitoring equipment, with many
         functions  now  performed  by software or people handled by
         computer chips.

    •    Continuing  strong  emphasis  on  quality assurance/qua!ity
         control  for monitoring data, and utilization of sample file
         control  systems within EPA laboratories.

    •    Continuing  development  of standard test procedures (i.e.,
         methods  research) for all media.

    •    Close  working  relationship  between  EMSL and state water
         programs  to  improve  QA/QC for water monitoring data gen-
         erated by states.

C.  Program Trends - Industrial and Municipal Environmental Research
    Laboratories

         lERLs  and  MERL  may be consolidated in a proposed reorganization of
ORD.   However, consolidation will likely have a minimal impact on actual work
requirements  of   these  laboratories.    Specific program and research trends
anticipated by MERL include:

    •    Greater   emphasis on quality assurance/quality control over
         laboratory data, with real-time QA/QC of data as it is gen-
         erated for some studies.

    •    Increasing modeling of the operations of waste water treat-
         ment  plants  to'assess their ability to treat toxic wastes
         and to project equipment maintenance needs.

-------
                                                                         XI-3
    •    Implementation of new approaches for operating small remote
         treatment  plants  from  a  central   location  using micro-
         computers and minicomputers.

    •    Development  of  new  modeling  capabilities  to assess the
         impact  of  upstream  discharges  on  downstream  municipal
         drinking  water  supplies,  and  continued  assessments  of
         effluent  on water quality even though water standards will
         be oriented to control  technologies.

    0    Much  greater MERL role in responding to spills and cleanup
         of  Superfund  sites, and a potential increase in Superfund
         research.

    •    Increasing  automation  of laboratory activities to improve
         overall   productivity.     (MERL  is  currently heavily auto-
         mated .)

    •    Establishment of an Innovative Technology Clearinghouse for
         use by other EPA offices.

Specific trends anticipated by lERLs include:

    •    Greater   use  of  computers  as feedback/control devices on
         laboratory processes.

    •    Continued strong emphasis on quality assurance/quality con-
         trol for laboratory data.

    t    Development  of  new automated models for control technolo-
         gies, such as incineration of hazardous  waste.

    •    Use  by   permit writers in regional  offices and states of a
         new effluent guidelines design and  costing model.

-------
                                                                         XI-4
    •    Development  of  new data bases and growth of existing data
         bases  for  organic  chemicals  production, hazardous waste
         destruction, and other research data.

    t    Potential   shift  to  more  in-house  work, less extramural
         (i.e., contractors).

    •    Development  of  internal  inventories of chemicals and de-
         tailed  "cradle  to  grave"  tracking  systems for chemicals
         handled  by  EPA  laboratories to meet Agency-wide chemical
         handling rules.

    Delegation  of  programs  to  states  will   have no major impact on lERLs.
Little direct interaction with state agencies is anticipated.

D.  Program Trends - Environmental Research Laboratories

    ERLs  anticipate  many research trends with important implications for ADP
support.  Specific trends include:

    t    Development  of  complex  models  to  conduct  analyses  of
         smaller  particles and secondary materials found in the air
         that are produced by conversion of gases to particles.

    •    Continued  shift  from  short distance to more complex long
         range  air  transport  and  regional  models  from  both  a
         standards setting and R&D perspective.

    •    Potential   adjustment  of  air quality standards to shorter
         intervals (e.g., one hour standard).

    •    Generation of large volumes of data by laboratory and field
         experiments.

    •    Development  of  multimedia  models  oriented  to idividual
         chemicals.

-------
                                                                         XI-5
    t    Development  of very complex estuarine models to assess the
         resiliance of estuaries and biota to various pollutants.

    t    Increasing  automated  collection  of  salinity,  dissolved
         oxygen, and PH data, and automated tracking of water clean-
         up acitvities within marine laboratories.

    •    Overall  much greater emphasis on real world ecosystems and
         potential  shift away from purely technology-based standards
         for  water  effluent (e.g., "use potential" of streams con-
         sidered in writing permits).

    •    Increasing  application of office automation within labora-
         tories.

E.  Program Trends - Environmental Criteria and Assessment

    Environmental  Criteria  and  Assessment  Offices will continue to support
other  program  offices by furnishing the best possible scientific information
to  those  responsible  for  making  regulatory  decisions regarding pollution
control.    This  information,  in  the form of assessment documents, criteria
documents,   and  special  reports,  must be the most comprehensive and current
evaluation  of relevant literature possible.  The ECAOs will  therefore continue
to  seek  improvements  in  timely  research  data acquisition, retrieval, and
presentation.    Specific areas of information needs are identified in several
trends:

    0    EPA  will   face  increasing  pressure from the Congress and
         from  within to establish standard protocols and guidelines
         for  conducting  risk  assessments and standardize  analytic
         methodologies where practical.

    •    ECAO's will  be investigating theories of toxicity to enable
         EPA to more easily and reliably predict the toxicity of new
         chemicals  and substances.

-------
                                                                         XI-6
    ECAOs are  unique  within ORD in  that  they do not generate research  data,
but collect  and  evaluate the scientific  literature  produced by national  and
international  researchers.    Access  to  the  most current  and  comprehensive
information  on  pollutants  under   study  is   crucial   to  document  quality.
Integration of the  reference data base  resulting from literature  search  and
review  with  text  and  graphic  components  of  the   documents   must   occur
expeditiously, as  successive drafts  of  the  300 to  1200 page documents  are
typically produced against very stringent schedule requirements.

    ECAOs also  anticipate  an  increasing emphasis on  air  toxics   beyond  the
forty pollutants targeted  to date.   As many  as  500  to  1,000 toxic pollutants
may need  to be regulated.   ECAOs  also will  participate  in  ongoing review of
existing  pollution  standards,  and  anticipate providing  more support in  the
future to  OTS and OPP for  chemical  assessments, and to  regional  offices  for
Superfund site  assessments.   ECAOs may  also establish  information  exchange
programs with  the  Center for Disease  Control  and other  Federal  agencies  who
require access to EPA health research information.

F.  Programs Trends - Center for Enviromental  Research Information

    CERI will continue to  perform three  major  functions - technology transfer
among EPA  labortories, with state  organizations, and to  a  lesser extent with
industry; production  of  research reports  produced by all  components of ORD;
and general  office  administration functions.   CERI is uncertian  of the future
mix of these  functions.   Report production  activities could decrease signifi-
cantly  if  EPA's  research  role  is  diminished  by  state  delegation  (but
delegation  of  research  is not  anticipated).  However,  CERI would continue to
perform a clearinghouse function.

    CERI  intends to  automated  more of  the  document  production  process  by
utilizing  automated  transmission capabilities between  ORD  laboratories, CERI
editors,  and  typeset operations to avoid rekeying of  documents.

-------
                                                                         XI-7
G.  Program Trends - Health Effects Research Laboratories

    HERL research related  to  water health effects will  continue  to  include a
large  proportion  of toxicology  studies.    Epidemiology studies  may also  be
conducted for  all  media and would  be  performed largely by contractors.   For
air and  other  media,  HERL  research will continue to  emphasize  human clinical
studies,  animal  studies,   genetic  toxicology,  nonionizing   radiation,   and
neurotoxicology with  increased  emphasis on teratology  (i.e., birth  defects),
neuropathology, and neurochemistry.

    There will  also  be a  strong  emphasis on determining the contribution  of
air and  water  pollution to cancer using bioassays and  potency  analysis.   For
animal  studies  the  goal   is  to  provide  better  models  to  quantitatively
extrapolate  animal   data  to  humans.    Other  emphasis will  be  to  produce
dose-response data  on  the  toxic effects  of pollutants  and develop  models  to
improve our ability to use  toxicological data in risk  assessments.

    HERL  anticipates  no  significant   increase over   the  limited  technical
support it now provides directly to states.

H.  Information Management  Requirements and Related  Applications - Office
    of Research Program Management

    •    ORD's  requirements  for scientific  information are  specific  to
         individual   studies  and laboratories.   It is  ORPM's  view  that
         there  is a  limited  need  to share data across  studies;  however,
         some  studies  require  scientific  and  technical   data  (e.g.,
         monitoring)  maintained  in  systems  operated  by  other  program
         offices.  This requirement will continue.

    •    In ORPM's view, it is extremely difficult to  predict  overall ADP
         support  requirements for  scientific  work.     However,  current
         trends indicate that laboratories will  require the  capability to
         support  the  automated  collection of  greater  volumes of  data
         being generated by laboratory experiments.

-------
                                                                         XI-8
    •    To support  headquarters'  requirements for  management  informa-
         tion,  ORPM  will  continue  to  develop  and  enhance  the  ORDIS
         system,  a comprehensive system  encompassing many  administrative
         functions  and   implemented   on   a  network  of  microcomputers.
         Future enhancements of  ORDIS include establishing an  automated
         interface with EPA's  Financial  Management System  and  Resources
         Management Information System,  and  adding contract plans  to  the
         ORDIS  data base.

    •    ORD will  likely  standardize  the management  systems used  by  the
         laboratories and establish  a communications link  between these
         laboratory systems  and ORDIS.

    t    ORD budget  staff require  a more  current (possibly real  time)
         obligations register within  EPA's Financial  Management  System to
         support  control  of  spending, especially  for monitoring end-of-
         year obligations balances.

I.  Information Management Requirements and Related Applications - Field
    Organizations

    The program  and  research trends  projected by  ORD  laboratories and other
field organizations will have significant implications  for  information manage-
ment and ADP support.

    •    There  is  a  strong  need  to  share research  data and  its
         derivatives across  project  and  program  lines.   The demands
         for  quality  assurance, engineering  design  and  economic
         recommendations, exploration of program  interfaces, and the
         maintenance  of  organizational   technical  "memories"   all
         require broadly-based data  management strategies.   It  will
         be  especially  important  to  develop  standards  for  common
         data  items to ensure compatability of data across projects.

-------
                                                                     XI-9
•    ECAOs, EMSLs  and other  users require  the  addition of  QA
     indicators to air monitoring  data  bases  and  the  submission
     of QA  data  for  other monitoring data  bases that  now  have
     indicators.

•    Most laboratories require  improved access to  the  Agency's
     major  central   data bases,   including  technical,   biblio-
     graphic  and administrative  data.    ORD  headquarters  and
     laboratories should  have  an  opportunity to  participate  in
     the  redesign of Agency-wide administrative  systems  now
     operated  by the  Office of Administration.

•    Many  laboratories   will  need  an   automated  capability  to
     track  chemicals handled  in   the  laboratory.   A  standard
     application would be  appropriate to  conform  to Agency-wide
     guidelines.

t    ECAO  and  other   laboratories  require access to  additional
     outside bibliographies and literature search capabilities.

•    ORD has  a very  complex budget  structure  due to the  large
     number of program  areas  served,   and  types of  accounting
     information  required  by AAORD.    ORDIS  will  probably  not
     meet all  information needs of laboratory managers.   Supple-
     mentary information  management  systems will remain  neces-
     sary to monitor  lower levels  of data for  day-to-day opera-
     tions.

0    Virtually  all   ORD  field  organizations  require  atuomated
     support of  local  applications -  project  tracking,  document
     management,  equipment and supplies  monitoring,  and  others.

-------
                                                                        XI-10
J.  ADP Tools

    ORD laboratory functions will  require access  to  a  number  of  ADP  tools.

    t    Many laboratories (e.g.,  EMSLs,  ERLs,  HERLs,  lERLs)  will  be
         using  minicomputers  and  microcomputers   to  collet   data
         directly  from  laboratory  and  field  equipment.    Examples
         include:

              strip chart recorders
              brain stem analysis
              salinity monitors for estuarine field  studies

         Automated  sensors  will   also   be  used  increasingly   for
         behavioral studies to reduce staffing needs for observation
         and recording data.

    •    Many laboratories, especially ERLs and HERLs, will  be  using
         computers to operate  laboratory equipment  and  provide  data
         in real time to staff scientists and technicians to  monitor
         and control experiments.   Examples include:

              control human exposure chambers
              electroencephalograms

    •    Most  laboratories  require the  capability  to access  and
         manipulate  research  and  financial   data.    User-friendly
         statistical  software  packages   are  a major  requirement  of
         ECAOs  and  HERLs,  and  these organizations  also  require  much
         greater  participation from  applied  statisticians  in  the
         design  and analysis of health research experiments.

    •    Many scientists require a user-friendly capability to  inte-
         grate  word  processing,  data processing,  and model  outputs
         to  more efficiently prepare research reports.   This  capa-
         bility  is especially  important to  ECAOs  in  reducing the
         time  needed  to produce  and  review  criteria and assessment
         documents.

-------
                                                                        XI-11
    •    Most  laboratories  and headquarters staff require an easy-
         to-use  automated  graphics capability.  Graphics capabili-
         ties  are  especially  useful  in displaying model results.
         HERL  has  a high priority to produce high quality hardcopy
         graphs and ECAO requires a three-dimensional graphics capa-
         bility.     Most  laboratories  require scientific and color
         graphics.    ORDIS  now  provides a graphics capability for
         management and financial  data.

    •    Electronic  mail   capabilities are quite useful in communi-
         cating  between  headquarters  and  laboratories.   A small
         increase  in  use  is anticipated.  Several laboratories do
         not yet  have access to the mail  network.

    •    CERI requires a capability to transmit large documents from
         other laboratories to CERI for editing and production.  The
         ability  to  transmit  engineering  sketches  and graphs in
         addition to text  is needed by lERLs and CERI.

K.  Other Remarks

    0    HERLs,  EMSLs  and  other  laboratories  will   continue  to
         require   access to big computers to operate models, perform
         complex   analyses,  and  process  the large volumes of data
         associated with many experiments.

    t    HERLs requires improved local computer capabilities to sup-
         port more rapid collection of data generated by some equip-
         ment used in a single experiment.

    •    Many  laboratories  anticipate significant use of word pro-
         cessing   by  scientists.    Several laboratories need to re-
         place  old equipment that is  not reliable.  CERI  requires a
         spelling  checking  capability  that can support  many tech-
         nical  terms and check spelling for documents quickly.

-------
                                                                    XI-12
0    Several  laboratories  require  improved  ADP  training for
     technical and administrative staff.

•    EPA  needs to improve its ADP procurement process to enable
     ORD  laboratories 'to  acquire  relatively  inexpensive ADP
     equipment  (e.g., microcomputers)  needed to support labora-
     tory operations.

•    HERL Cincinnati  identified a need  to increase the number of
     on-site scientific ADP support staff.

-------
                                                                    A-l
                                APPENDIX A
                           Interview Guidelines
     The purpose of the interviews is to identify how EPA's key program-
matic functions are likely to operate in the long-term (e.g., five years
fron now) and what this implies for ADP support.
1. Whaf trends do you foresee for your program's goals and operations and
   related ADP support needs over the next five years?


2. What are the main forces within and external to EPA which will affect
   your program over the next five years?


3. In response to these trends, how do you-expect"the functions of EPA
   headquarters and regional offices, and of state and local agencies,
  . to evolve?  What are the implications for related ADP support?


4. What new information needs do you expect to have?  Are you aware of
   any existing sources for this information?


5. Which of your current functions require improved automated support?
   What major changes or enhancements to current ADP systems would allow
   you to do your job more efficiently or effectively?


6. What other needs or uses of ADP support can you envision?

-------
                         APPENDIX B - INTERVIEWEES
1.  Staff Offices to the Administrator

         Joseph Foran
         Clayton Jones
         Grace Moe
2.  Associate Administrator for Legal and Enforcement Counsel

    •    Office of Enforcement Counsel

         Michael A. Brown
         Richard H. Mays

    •    National Enforcement Investigation Center

         Thomas Gallagher


3.  Associate Administrator for Policy and Resource Management

         Ronald Brand


    •    Office of Policy Analysis

         Richard D. Morgenstern
         Fredrick W.  Allen
         Michael Alford

    0    Office of Standards and Regulations

         C.  Ronald Smith
         N.  Philip Ross


    t    Office of the Controller

         John C. Chamber!in
         Edward Callahan
         Judy Lum


    •    Office of Management Systems and Evaluation

         Lewis Crampton

-------
                                                                          B-2
4.  Office of Water

    t    Office of Water Enforcement

         Bruce R. Barrett
         James Elder


    •    Office of Water Regulations and Standards

         Steven Schatzow
         Edmund M. Notzen


    •    Office of Water Program Operations

         Henry I. Longest, II


    •    Office of Drinking Water

         Victor Kimm
         Avrum Marks


5.  Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response

    •    Office of Waste Programs Enforcement

         Gene A.  Lucero


    •    Office of Sol id Waste

         Michael  B. Cook


    •    Office of Emergency  and Remedial  Response

         James Lounsbury
         Elaine Stanley


6.  Office of Air, Noise, and Radiation

    0    Office of Mobile Sources

         Richard  Wilson
         Laszlo  Bockh

-------
                                                                          B-3
         Office of Air Quality, Planning, and Standards

         Sheldon Meyers
         Richard Rhoads
         Bernard J. Steigerwald
         George Bonina
         Edward E. Reich
    •    Office of Radiation Programs

         Raymond Brandwe in


7.   Office of Research and Development

    t    Office of Research Program Management

         Samuel Rondberg
         Thomas DeMoss


    •    Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - RTF

         Thomas Hauser
         Gerald Akland
         Jon Clark

    •    Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory - Cincinnati

         Robert Booth
         Terri Firestone
         Ann Alford

    0    Industrial Environmental Research Laboratory - RTP

         David Stephan
         Clyde Dempsey
         William Candy
         Albert Klee
         Thelma Johnson

    •    Industrial Environmental Research Laboratory - Cincinnati

         Jim Dorsey

    •    Municipal  Environmental Research Laboratory

         Francis Mayo
         Fred Bishop
         Jon Herrman
         Diana Bakhaus
         Warren Schwartz

-------
                                                                      B-4
•    Environmental Research Laboratory - Athens
     David Cline
•    Environmental Research Laboratory - Gulf Breeze
     Henry Enos
•    Environmental Research Laboratory - Corvallis
     Thomas Murphy
•    Environmental Sciences Research Laboratory - RTP
     Alfred Ellison
     Robert Browning
•    Health Effects Research Laboratory - RTP
     F. Gordon Hueter
     Gerald Nehls
•    Health Effects Research Laboratory - Cincinnati
     Richard Bull
     Judy Stover
•    Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office - RTP
     Michael Berry
•    Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office - Cincinnati
     Steven Lutkenhoff
     Richard Hertzberg
•    Center for  Environmental Research Information
     Robert Edgar
Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances
•    Pesticides,  and Toxic Substances Enforcement Division
     A. E. Conroy, II
     John S. Seitz
     Ken Shiroishi

•    Office of Pesticide Programs
     Edwin L. Johnson

-------
                                                                          B-5
    •    Office of Toxic Substances

         Marcia Williams
         Linda A. Travers

9.  Office of Administration

    •    Immediate Office of the Assistant Administrator

         John P. Horton
         Samuel A. Schulhof
         Martha McDonald
         Susan Gordon

    •    Office of Administration - Cincinnati

         William Benoit

    •    Office of Administration - RTP

         John DeFord
         John Knight

    •    Office of Personnel and Organization

         Kenneth F.  Dawsey
         Clarence Hardy
         Robert Magor
         Victoria W. Pierce
         Don Webb


    •    Office of Fiscal  and Contracts Management

         Clarence E. Mahan
         Harvey Pippin
         Steve All bee
         Paul A. Martin
         Tom Me Intyre
         Gordon R. Takeshita
         John Sandy


    •    Office of Management Information and Support Services

         Edward Hanley
         Carol  Alexander
         Stormy Friday
         Jack Sweeney

-------
                                                                          B-6
10.  Region I

     •    Office of Intergovernmental Liaison

          Stephen Ells

     t    Office of Regional Counsel

          Sam Silverman

     •    Administrative Services Division

          Louis Gitto
          Robert Goetzl
          Wayne Wirtanen
          Nancy Lewis
          Daniel Regan
          Phillip Cincotta
          Michael MacDougall

     •    Air Management Division

          Harley Laing
          Harold Kazmaier
          Marvin Rosenstein
          John Hanisch

     •    Waste Management  Division

          Dennis Huebner
          Mary Grealish
          Robin Lind
          Ruth Leabman
          Dennis Gagne

     •    Water Management  Division

          Jerome Healey
          Charles  Bishop
          Clyde  Shufelt
          Al  Ikalainen
          Larry  Brill
          Carol  Wood
          Anthony  DePalma

     t    Environmental  Services  Division

          William  Walsh
          Donald Porteous

-------
                                                                           B-7
11.  Region II

     •    Deputy Regional Administrator

          Richard Dewling

     •    Assistant Regional Administrator for  Policy  and  Management

          Herbert Barrack
          Robert Messina

     •    Air and Waste Management Division

          Conrad Simon

     0    Environmental Services Division

          Barbara Metzger

12.  Region III

     0    Uater Program Division

          Leonard Mangiaracina

     0    Air and Waste Management Division

          Stephen Wassersug

13.  Region IV

     0    Deputy Regional Administrator

          John A. Little

     0    Air and Waste Management Division

          Thomas Devine

     0    Environmental Services Division

          James Finger

14.  Region V

     0    Air Management Division

          Steve Rothblatt

     0    Environmental Services Division

          William Sanders

-------
                                                                           B-8
15.   Region VI
     •    Deputy Regional Administrator
          Frances Phillips
     •    Assistant Regional Administrator for Management
          John Fleeter
     •    Water Management Division
          Kenton Kirkpatrick
          James Graham
     •    Air and Water Management Division
          Robert S. Jorgensen
     •    Environmental Services Division
          William Librizzi
16.   Region VII
     •    Assistant Regional Administrator for Planning  and Management
          John Arend ale
     •    Water Management Division
          Alan Abramson
17.   Region IX
     •    Administrative Services Division
          James Thompson
     •    Office of Regional Counsel
          Robert Thompson
18.   Region X
     0    Deputy Regional Administrator
          R. Edwin Coate
     •    Environmental Services Division
          Gary O'Neal

-------
                                                                           B-9
19.  State  and  Territorial  Air  Pollution   Program  Administrators and Asso-
     ciation of Local Air Pollution Control Officials
          S. William Becker
20.  Association   of   State    and    Interstate    Water    Pollution   Control
     Administrators
          Robbi Savage
21.  Association of State and Territorial  Solid Waste  Management  Officials
          Sue Markland Morel and
22.  State Agencies (through ASTSWMO)
     •    Oklahoma State Department of Health, Waste Management Service
          H.A.  Caves
     •    Nebraska  Department   of  Environmental   Control,   Water   and  Waste
          Management Division
          Maurice W. Sheil

-------