United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Issue No. 23
March 21, 1983
Page 87
EPA TIMES
A Publication for EPA Employees
OOON83001
Ruckeishaus Nominated As EPA Administrate!
said his immediate task will be "to stab-
ilize EPA and reinstill the dedication of
the people there...and to get on wi th the
enormous job of protecting the environment."
The President praised Ruckeishaus1
previous government service which included
three years as Administrator of EPA, acting
FBI director, and Deputy Attorney General.
Ruckeishaus would replace Anne McGill
Burford, who resigned as EPA Administrator
on March 9.
Senate Republican Leader Howard Baker said
that he will try to get the Senate to move
swiftly on the Ruckeishaus nomination. He
described the selection of Ruckeishaus as
"an excellent choice." Senate Democratic
Leader Robert Byrd also praised Ruckeishaus,
describing him as "a good administrator. He
certainly is perceived as one who is able,
a man of integrity."
Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) termed
Ruckeishaus one of the "rare" public
servants "who has the administrative
ability and integrity that builds public
confidence."
House Speaker Thonas O'Neill also praised
Ruckeishaus. "Bill's a nice guy and he's
extremely able," he told reporters. "I'll
be able to work with him."
Rep. Mike Synar (D-Okla.), who chairs a
subcommittee investigating EPA, called
Ruckeishaus "a good man for a tough job.
He has a fine reputation for integrity
and independence. I hope the White House
will give him enough control to change the
management, operations and policies at EPA
in order to restore the agency"s credibil-
ity."
Jay Hair, executive vice president of the
National Wildlife Federation, said that
"over 10 years ago, Bill Ruckeishaus did a
superb job of putting the EPA together. Now
he's starting over and we expect to support
his restoration effort."
William D. Ruckeishaus, a forest products
conpany official who served as EPA1 s first
administrator, has been nominated by Presi-
dent Reagan to again assume leadership of
the Agency.
In announcing the selection of Ruckeishaus,
the President said that "no one could bring
more impressive credentials...he is the right
man for the right job at the right time."
President Reagan also described Ruckeishaus
as "tough, fair and highly competent."
Ruckeishaus, senior vice president of
Weyerhaeuser Co., said that he has been
given "a free hand" to run the Agency after
he has been confirmed by the Senate. He
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88
Ahlfeld to Head EPA Public Affairs EPA Job Fair Held
William J. "Bill"
Ahlfeld, a former
executive in charge
of communications
for the American
Forest Institute,
has been named
Director of the EPA
Office of Public
Affairs.
Ahlfeld, 60, whose
career has included
experience as a
Chicago newspaper
reporter, a Navy
pilot, a speech writer at U.S. Ste€;l and
public relations officer at Mead Corporation,
is a member of the Professional Society"of
Journalists (Sigma Delta Chi), and of the
Public Relations Society of America.
"At AFI I was in charge of a national
information and education program which
stressed the importance of our nation's
forest resources and their management for
greater productivity in the national best
interest," Ahlfeld said.
"My responsibilities have always involved
communications to help build understanding
and support based on the truth. I believe
credibility is a function of candor and a
value that must be earned by actions first
and words second."
Ahlfeld said his experience in the steel
and paper industries convinced him that
"the environmental laws have helped achieve
greater progress in cleaning up our nation's
air and water. The laws set uniform stan-
dards and thus helped correct the competitive
disadvantage that had existed when one
company did clean up and another did not.
"I firmly believe the environmental laws
must be enforced fairly. I'm aware that
reasonable people may differ over methods of
measurement which are now extremely conplex
and confusing. But our national goals of a
cleaner and safer environment for psople are
shared by all."
Ahlfeld, a resident of Bethesda, Md.,
came to Washington in 1980 as vice president
-communications for the American Forest
Institute. He worked for 17 years as the
executive in charge of public relations and
advertising for Mead Corporation in Dayton,
Ohio. In 14 years at U.S. Steel, Ahlfeld
served in Chicago and New York in a number
of posts including speechwriter for chief
executive officers Ben Fairless and Roger
Blough.
A job fair was held at EPA Headquarters last
week to assist the Agency's regional offices
in filling vacancies.
Representatives fron the regions were
available to conduct interviews and to dis-
cuss employment opportunities.
The fair was part of a program to help fil
openings by recruiting staff fran within the
Agency. The new program on intra-agency
transfers was set up because of Agency—wide
limitations on hiring outside EPA.
Anyone who could not attend the job fair
but is interested in regional openings can
contact Carol Jordan, Mobility Coordinating
Office, Room 2111M, EPA Headquarters (8/382-
7067).
A list of the job opportunities which were
still open last week is carried on the oppo-
site page.
Performance Review
April is the time for EPA employees to
review their current Performance Management
System agreements and to revise these ex-
pectations if necessary.
For those employees in the Senior Exec-
utive Service and Merit Pay systems, as w
as for those non-Merit Pay employees who are
part of the Performance Management System
(PMS), the April mid-year review also pro-
vides the opportunity for supervisors
and employees to discuss goals, progress
made toward achieving those goals, and
specific employee performance strengths and
weaknesses.
For employees who are not officially in
the Performance Management System, April is
the time for the annual evaluation. As in
previous years, these employees will be
rated under the provisions of EPA Order
3110.11A, using standards defined in the
employee's performance agreement. After
supervisors have discussed performance with
individual employees, the ratings will be
forwarded to the Personnel Office.
As conditions may vary at EPA locations
around the country/ additional guidance
will be provided by responsible Personnel
Offices.
The EPA Times is published every two weeks
by EPA's Office of Public Affairs, A-107, 5
Washington, D.C. 20460, to provide current
information for all EPA employees. It is
punched with three holes for binding for
future reference.
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89
Job Vacancies
REGION 1 - Boston
REGION 2 - New York
REGION 3 - Philadelphia
REGION 5 - Chicago
REGION 6 - Dallas
REGION 7 - Kansas City
REGION 8 - Denver
REGION 9 - San Francisco
REGION 10 - Seattle
GS-0028 Environmental Protection Specialist (GS-7-12)
GS-0334 Computer Specialist (GS-9-12)
GS-0819 Environmental Engineer (GS-7-12)
GS-1301 Environmental Scientist (GS-7-12)
GS-0221 Position Classification Specialist (GS-9-12)
GS-0230 Employee Relations Specialist (GS-12)
GS-0301 Grants Management Specialist (GS-5-11)
GS-0332 Computer Programmer (GS-9-12)
GS-0345 Program Analyst (GS-9-12)
GS-0525 Accounting Technician (GS-5-7)
GS-0819 Environmental Engineer (GS-7-12)
GS-0893 Chemical Engineer (GS-7-12)
GS-1160 Financial Analyst (GS-9-11)
GS-1301 Environmental Scientist (GS-7-12)
GS-1315 Hydrologist (GS-9-12)
GS-1320 Chemist (GS-7-11)
GS-1889 Import Inspector (GS-7-12)
GS-0819 Environmental Engineer (Combustion) (GS-9-12)
GS-0893 Chemical Engineer (GS-9-12)
GS-1315 Hydrogeologist (GS-9-12)
GS-0028 Environmental Protection Specialist (GS-9-12)
GS-0334 Computer Specialist (GS-7-12)
GS-0819 Environmental Engineer (GS-9-12)
GS-0893 Chemical Engineer (GS-11-12)
GS-1301 Environmental Scientist (GS-9-12)
GS-1320 Chemist (GS-13)
GS-0028 Environmental Protection Specialist (GS-7-11)
GS-0203 Personnel Clerk (GS-4-5)
GS-0530 Cash Processing Clerk (GS-4)
GS-0819 Environmental Engineer (GS-5-12)
GS-0881 Petroleum Engineer (GS-12)
GS-1301 Environmental Scientist (G-5-12)
GS-1311 Physical Science Technician (GS-5-9)
GS-1320 Chemist (GS-7-12)
GS-1350 Geologist (GS-12)
GS-1530 Statistician (GS-9-11)
GS-0221 Position Classification Specialist (GS-11)
GS-0301 Governmental Relations Specialist (GS-12)
GS-0334 Computer Programmer (GS-11)
GS-0345 Program Analyst (GS-11-12)
GS-0819 Environmental Engineer (GS-12-13)
GS-1035 Public Affairs Specialist (GS-11-12)
GS-1301 Environmental Scientist (GS-12-13)
GS-1310 Physicist (GS-12)
GS-1315 Hydrologist (GS-11-12)
GS-1320 Chemist (GS-12-13)
GS-1350 Geologist (GS-11-12)
GS-0405 Pharmacologist/Toxicologist (GS-12)
GS-0881 Petroleum Engineer (GS-11-12)
GS-0028 Environmental Protection Specialist (GS-7/9/11)
GS-0819 Environmental Engineer (GS-11/12)
GS-1035 Public Affairs Specialist (GS-12)
GS-1315 Geologist (GS-11-12)
GS-1350 Hydrologist (GS-11-12)
GS-0510 Accountants
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90
Longest Wins Engineering Award EPA Meets Water Deadline
Henry Longest was named EPA1 s Engineer of
the Year at a recent awards ceremony
sponsored by the National Society for
Professional Engineers.
Longest, Director of EPA's Office of
Water Program Operations, was presented with
the society's award by Dr. John W. Hernandez,
Jr., EPA Acting Administrator.
The purpose of the award is to recognize
the accomplishments of engineers who serve
the Federal government.
The award noted that Longest was selected
because of his ability to achieve desired
results by using his leadership abilities
to inspire people and produce change.
Longest manages EPA's multibillicn-dollar
program for construction of municipal waste-
water treatment facilities. Last year he won
the Presidential Distinguished Service Award
because of his outstanding leadership skills
in the construction grants program.
Henry Longest, Director of EPA's Office
of Water Program Operations, receives the
EPA Engineer of the Year Award from Dr.
Hernandez, Acting Administrator of EPA. The
award is sponsored by the National Society
of Professional Engineers,.
A comprehensive regulation has been proposed
by EPA to control 98 percent of the pollu-
tants in wastewater discharged by manufac- m
turers of organic chemicals, plastics and ^
synthetic fibers.
The proposed rule is the last of the major
regulatory proposals required under a court-
approved consent decree that goes back
to 1976. The decree calls for industry-
specific, technology-based effluent guide-
lines and standards to control the discharge
of pollutants into waterways and community
treatment systems.
Since June 1982, EPA has proposed 12 reg-
ulations and issued 11 others in final form
to get the Agency on schedule in meeting
court-ordered deadlines for the first time
since the settlement was reached.
The organic chemical industry is the
nation's largest discharger of toxic pollu-
tants. The proposed regulation would apply
to about 2,100 plants manufacturing nearly
25,000 products valued at $80 billion in
1980.
Controls required under the proposal would
require an industrywide investment of about
$1.7 billion, EPA estimates. The annual
cost of maintaining these controls would
be about $800 million.
Pollutants that would be controlled include
38 toxic organic compounds, seven metals and
cyanide. Discharges of two conventional
pollutants, biological oxygen demand (BOD)
and total suspended solids (TSS), also would
be regulated.
It's estimated that implementation of the
rule would reduce discharges of toxic pollu-
tants by 813 million pounds a year. Dis-
charges of conventional pollutants would
drop by 251 million pounds a year.
The initial level of control required under
the proposal, "best practicable technology"
(BPT), is to be met as soon as possible
after the final regulation is issued. That
is scheduled for March 1984.
More stringent controls, "best available
technology" (BAT), are to be in place by
July 1984 to comply with the deadline set by
the Clean Water Act. The Administration
proposed last year to extend that deadline
but Congress has not acted on amendments to
the law.
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