JVEWS  FOR  AMD ABOUT EPA EMPLOYEES
  INSIDE:
   •  Human Resources Center
   •  Partners-ln-Education
 VOLUME 6
NUMBER 2
FEBRUARY 1989
 Reilly to  Head EPA
 William K. Reilly of the Conservation
 Foundation and World Wildlife Fund,
 nominated by President Bush to serve
 as the next Administrator of EPA, has
 been confirmed by the Senate and
 awaits swearing in as we go to press.
  Lee Thomas says .Reilly's record of
 accomplishment, his willingness to
 tackle controversial issues and his
 ability to build consensus "make him
 an outstanding choice for this
 demanding job. I have had the
 pleasure of working with Bill on such
 successful efforts as the Wetlands
 Forum that concluded this fall. His
 other work on groundwater
 protection, Superfund improvements
 and rain-forest preservation has been
 equally outstanding. He enjoys the
 respect of environmentalists, industry,
 governors and other leaders  in our
 continuing efforts to protect public-
 health and the global environment."
  We all look forward to Reilly's
 arrival here as EPA enters its 19th
 year.


CFG Goes Over

the Top

Continuing an 18-year pattern, EPA
again exceeded its Combined Federal
Campaign goal for 1988. Some 2,560
people gave $397,933, which is 105%
of target. About 55% of agency staff
gave—that's fewer than last year, but
each donor averaged more, so dollars
were up. Clarence Hardy, chairman of
the campaign, reported that EPA is a
"blue ribbon" winner as one of the
top agencies of 40 participating.
Notably, seven more of EPA's
organizational units exceeded their
1988 goals.


APAC

Launched

An EPA Asian and Pacific American
Community (APAC) has been formed
to promote the general welfare and
career advancement of its members in
                                              OOON89001
          conjunction with the Office of Civil
          Rights. APAC has held its first general
          ballot, electing Takeshi Toma as chair,
          Aparna Koppikar as vice-chair, Henry
          Lau as executive secretary and
          Francisca Liem as treasurer.
           APAC  holds a  monthly meeting on
          the first Tuesday of each month, from
          12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.,  notices of
          which are routinely sent  to the
          membership and interested parties. A
          Heritage  Week is being planned at
          Headquarters for May, 1989 to
          promote  awareness of the cultures of
          the Agency's Asian and
          Pacific-American employees. For
          information, call Takeshi Toma,
          557-1900 or Henry Lau, 382-2709.
          Model HQ for  '92

          The Office of Administration has been
          trying to improve indoor-air quality at
          Waterside Mall by fine-tuning the
          ventilation system and checking the
          dampers to make sure they admit
          sufficient air. Now, a recognized
          expert on indoor-air quality in
                     commercial buildings, Hal Levin, has
                     been given responsibility for ensuring
                     maximum efficiency and fully
                     adequate heating, ventilation and air
                     conditioning systems in the new
                     headquarters facility planned for
                     1992. Call Nelson Hallman on
                     382-2030 if you have any proposals
                     that could help this vital planning
                     succeed.

                     Leave Samaritans

                     During FY 88, 5.579 hours of annual
                     leave were donated by 401 people for
                     53 of the 70 employees agency-wide
                     who  requested sick leave assistance,
                     and both requests and donations are
                     still pouring in. Indeed, as of this
                     printing, more than 100 requests have
                     been registered altogether. Medical,
                     family or other emergencies may
                     qualify if you have exhausted your
                     sick leave and will be off at least 10
                     days. Note that only annual leave may
                     be donated, not sick leave. For
                     information call Marcia Brooks,
                     382-2678.

                     Health Survey

                     The agency's first questionnaire-based
                     health survey, approved by OMB last
                     fall, is now underway, so if you
                     haven't turned in your answer sheet
                     as yet please do so ASAP. A private
                     contractor is conducting the survey
                     and the National Institute for
                     Occupational Safety and Health
                     (NIOSH) will analyze the findings to
                     determine what pathologies may have
                     been  triggered by conditions here at
                     headquarters. The air will be
                     monitored concurrently by ORD and
                     NIOSH; results should be available in
                     March.
                      Meanwhile, substantial indoor
                     air-quality progress has  been made
                     over the past three years. Facilities
                     Management and Services Division
                     (FMSD) has developed an integrated
                     pest control plan for headquarters to
                     limit  the use of toxic pesticides, and

                                (continued on next page]

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(Continued from front page)
has spent $250,000 to repair and
rebalance the existing ventilation
system. FMSD, EHSD and the
National Federation of Federal
Employees (NFFE) conduct monthly
inspections of the air-intake dampers,
and EHSD takes monthly carbon
dioxide readings.  FMSD and EHSD
hold monthly  meetings for employees
to discuss their concerns. NFFE has
negotiated a contract with the Agency
requiring a safe, healthy environment,
including a smoking policy.

Partners-ln-Education

Last October, EPA's
Partners-in-Education Task  Force
entered into a formal arrangement
with DC's Bertie Backus Junior High
School (see August Times] that has
already attracted 120 highly motivated
Agency volunteers. Based on a series
of discussions with officials of that
school and the District of Columbia
system, EPA will sponsor several field
trips, science project support,  role
modeling, a recycling campaign, a
youth  leadership program conducted
by the EPA Toastmasters club, an
Environmental Day and a speakers
bureau providing  weekly classroom
presentations.
   The  goals are to stimulate interest
in science and mathematics, introduce
students to environmental career
opportunities, and provide students,
faculty and the community  with a
basic understanding of urban
environmental issues. The  Agency
encourages your participation in this
project in whatever fashion you
choose, from administrative support
to on-site student  guidance, lectures
and mentoring. For information on
PIE contact the liaison for your
AA-ship (see PIE posters), or call
Carolyn Scott (475-8833) or David
Grim (382-4588).

Clean Workspace
The  Agency has acquired alternative
workspace to accommodate employees
experiencing contamination problems
in the Waterside complex.  It's located
at 1001 3rd St., SW., next to the East
Tower. The Office of Human
Resources Management has issued
guidance to managers on how to
handle employee  requests for
alternative workspace. Meanwhile, if
,you  have any  questions, contact
Marita Llaverias, OHRM, 382-3319.
Human Resources Center

Have you ever wondered where to go
with questions on health benefits,  life
insurance, retirement, career
counseling, the thrift investment plan,
personnel forms, job vacancies,
training requests or where to get a
merit promotion announcement?
  Well, that is what the  new Human
Resources Service Center is  all about
— a "one-stop" emporium to meet th<
needs of each employee. The staff xvil
either provide the information you
need to make an informed decision 01
refer you to an expert who can.
  The Center opened last fall with a
ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring
Charlie Grizzle, AA for Resources
Management. We encourage you to
make use of this new service, located
in Room 3906 Waterside Mall
(475-9686).
Free Check-up

Mark Bradley, a board-certified
physician with more than 25 years'
experience in occupational medicine,
has joined the Health Unit and is
available every Wednesday from 1-3
P.M. Make an appointment to use this
service,  free of charge to all  EPA
employees, by calling 382-4347.
Medical information is strictly
confidential and cannot be released
without written permission  from the
employee. General information such
as trends in symptomatology or
demographic  data can be reported to
health experts, but no individual can
or will be identified.

Champion Blood  Donor

Carol Buckingham of the Office of
Pesticides and Toxic Substances has
received an award from the  National
Institutes of Health for donating vital
blood platelets every month during
the past year. She was honored during
a dinner at the Bethesda Armory. The
continued commitment  of donors is
essential to basic research in
leukemia, aplastic anemia and many
other hematological disorders.
Congratulations to Buckingham for
her signal contribution to this worthy
program.
                               Grizzle opening Human Resources Center
Security:

Still an Enigma

Christmas demonstrated that crime
never takes a holiday here at
headquarters, and thieves are again
targeting government offices as handy
sources of revenue. So don't be a
sucker, make life hard for them. Here
are some tips which, sad to say, are
always timely.
•  Don't leave valuables, money, credil
cards or checkbooks in, on or under
your desk.
•  Don't assume the stranger in your
office is somebody's brother-in-law.

•  Don't leave your office unlocked or
unattended during the workday.
•  Make a list of your purloinables,
including brand name, model and
serial numbers  and place purchased.
Keep all receipts for tax loss or
insurance purposes.
   Know the phone numbers for the
Security Office during the day,
382-2010, and Guard Control at night
and on weekends, 382-5040. Report
any losses or any suspicious activity
at once. The Editor, himself robbed
recently, speaks from painful
experience.

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 Sci-Tech Opportunity

 In 1987, Congress established a
 nationwide task force to develop a
 long-range plan  lor broadening
 participation of  women, minorities
 and the handicapped in the sciences
 and engineering. The task force,
 comprising leaders from 15 federal
 agencies, educational institutions and
 the private sector, has issued an
 interim report with recommended
 action and has required agency chiefs
 to describe progress toward
 implementing these actions by
 December 1989.  A work group  has
 been appointed  to determine how best
 to implement task force
 recommendations here at EPA.
 Chaired  by Clarice Gaylord of ORD,
 the group includes Tom Clark  (ORD),
 Eileen Claussen (OAR), Tim Eields
 (OSWER), Clarence Hardy (OHRM),
 Ed Johnson (OIA),  Harold Keeler
 (ORD), Denise Link (ESD Reg. VIII),
 Clarence Mahan (ORD), Harold Podall
 (OTS) and Dave Ryan (OARM).

 Drinking Water  Survey

 A joint task force of OA and ODW
 staff has  applied a test protocol
 developed and field tested by ODW to
 EPA Headquarters drinking water. All
 fountains and representative taps in
 every restroom in our Waterside Mall,
 Eairchild and Crystal City facilities
 were examined on a worst-case
 basis—water samples were taken  on
 Sundays during  a period of little  or no
 water use, so  that lead would be
 expected to accumulate.
  The results? Some  91% of the water
 outlets tested provided water with
 less than 20 parts per billion (ppb) of
 lead—the maximum recommended.
 Six coolers that provided water with
 elevated  lead  content were taken  out
 of service at once and replaced with
 bottled water  for the time being.
  The Facilities Management and
 Services  Division staff is now running
each restroom tap with more than 20
 ppb lead and  all untested taps every
morning, thus ensuring that all
washroom faucets are thoroughly
cleared of any standing water which
could possibly contain more than 20
ppb. Most of the dubious sinks are in
 newer areas ot the complex. None was
 in the West or East Towers at
 Waterside Mall.  In any case, the
 procedure will continue until taps
 consistently provide less than 20  ppb.
This type of ''water ranger" program
has proven successful in several
Connecticut buildings.
  In addition, remaining sinks will be
sampled to determine the lead content
of the water they provide. Follow-up
samples will track down the cause of
elevated lead levels and permit
permanent  corrective action. Finally,
the agency  will make sure that our
new building is constructed with
lead-free pipes and solder.
  If you have questions, call Stephen
Buchanan,  Environmental Health and
Safety Division, 382-3648.


No Nimby Here

The bad news is that America's
landfills are filling up, and finding
new locations is becoming impossible
due to the "Not In My Backyard"
(NIMBY) syndrome. The public is
concerned about health and
environmental hazards of incinerator
emissions and ash. The good nevys is
that the recycling bug is spreading
among the public and is entering a
new phase  at EPA.
  A collection program targeting
computer paper and white office
paper has been in motion here tor
several years. This year, a recycling
work group has recruited  activist
members to encourage even greater
participation, and has procured new
recycling boxes,  now available free to
all at the headquarters supply store.
They should make the process more
convenient, and  all employees are
urged to use them, but not to
contaminate them with
non-recyclables.  Headquarters will
also be investigating the purchase of
recycled papers and programs for
recycling aluminum, glass and other
tossables, and is sponsoring a
Recycling Awareness Week, a
slogan/logo contest and an analysis of
the headquarters waste stream. Some
offices have already set up their own
newspaper, glass and paper recycling
programs. Region I recycles all
computer paper and white office
paper. Massachusetts has  a bottle bill,
so cans and bottles are returned to the
store for the deposit. "Earthworm", a
local group, picks up the Region's
paper. Region II in New York also has
a bottle bill and recycles computer
and other paper throughout the office.
  Region III recycles aluminum cans,
newspapers, computer paper and
office paper. These materials are
picked up every two weeks by a local
non-profit group, Old City Recycling,
which plants trees in Philadelphia
with the proceeds. Regions IV, V and
VII actively recycle paper, and
aluminum cans are recycled in the
Water Office of Region V. Region VI
has just begun recycling aluminum
cans through the Employee
Association. Region VIII recycles
aluminum cans and newspapers along
with office paper, etc. through WISE
(Women in Science and Engineering).
Regions IX and X recycle white office
paper and computer  paper, and
Region X's cans are "born again"
through a separate program.
  Remember always  to recycle the
EPA Times.

A  Headquarters Profile
Catherine Milbourn joined EPA on
December 12, 1988, in the immediate
office of the Acting Assistant
Administrator for Water as a
community relations specialist
working in communication strategy.
Prior to joining EPA, Milbourn spent
ten years as a consultant to the
Department of Energy, the federal
emergency management team, EPA
and various state environmental
agencies where she coordinated
public affairs activities among state
governments, Indian  tribes, utilities,
interest groups  and the public.
  Milbourn and her husband Gordon,
also an EPA staffer, are committed to
historic preservation. Through
letter-writing campaigns to
Congressmen, Boards of Supervisors,
preservation magazines and local
newspapers, they helped rescue
Manassas Battlefield  from developers,
who proposed a giant shopping mall
on the site. Recycling is routine in the
Milbourn household. On a bi-monthly
basis, the couple take newspapers and
bottles to the West Ox recycling
center in Fairfax, and encourage
county residents to use one of three
recycling plants.

Cream or Sugar?

A survey of top federal women in
Government Executive Magazine has
revealed that:
• 26 percent say being a woman has
hurt, instead of helping, in getting
promotions.

            (Continued on back page]

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• Nearly one-third of the executives
felt their personal lives are subject to
much closer surveillance than the
off-duty social and sexual habits of
their male counterparts.
• More than half sense resentment
when they assign male subordinates a
task.
• 63 percent say they've been
mistaken for secretaries at meetings
and automatically asked to serve
coffee, take notes or run errands.
• 65 percent believe their views are
not taken as seriously as men's.
• 21 percent said they have felt
sexually harassed, much fewer than
the 42 percent reported in a June
survey by the Merit Systems
Protection Board, whose data
included lower-level women said to
be more likely targets of colleagues or
bosses. Unwanted sexual teasing,
humor, remarks, questions and
innuendoes  are the most frequently
reported incidents.
  Although  48 percent of the federal
white-collar work force is female.
women held only 627, or 8.9 percent,
of 7,076 SES jobs. The median age of
women in the SES is 44 years  (it's 50
for  men), women have 15  years of
service compared with 22 years for
men, and about 23 percent of women
are political or noncareer appointees
versus 8.3 percent of men.  Social or
personnel-oriented agencies (Labor
Department, Office of Personnel
Management, Departments of
Education and Health and Human
Services) have the highest percentage
of female executives. Agencies with a
military or scientific mission, such as
Army, Navy, NASA and the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, have the
smallest. One woman being
interviewed for a top U.S. job was
asked if her  husband would let her
travel. Another said, "it only takes
one high-ranking man with an
anti-female bias to exert a chilling
effect on others' behavior in hiring,
counseling and promoting women."


Computer Stress
Encore

Using a computer can be a pain in the
neck, plus the back, the arms, the
wrists, the shoulders, the knees, the
eyes,  etc. But it doesn't have to be
that way, according to recent research.
  The jury is still out over the
long-term health risks of personal
computers, at least regarding low-level
electromagnetic radiation from the
monitor. It appears to be especially
prudent for pregnant women to limit
computer time and avoid the backside
of the monitor, the most likely source
of emissions. Moreover, poor working
conditions are common around
terminals: both private and public
sectors have installed computers
rather absent-mindedly, putting
terminals on desks or tables designed
for the age of typewriters, and
ignoring chair design, illumination
and break patterns.
   Studies have shown  that computer
operators stare at their screens
without blinking for much  longer
periods than their typewriting
predecessors. Also,  computer screens
reflect glare from windows, overhead
lights and even the  user's own bright
clothing. It is not surprising, then, to
hear of eye-muscle strain and optical
symptoms like the Karl Marx
effect—the pink afterglow one
experiences upon looking away from a
green screen.
   But that isn't all.  To avoid glare,
operators cock their heads, squint and
turn slightly in their chairs. To reach
attached keyboards  they lift their
arms, rotate their wrists inward and
lean forward. Hours pass without a
7th-inning stretch to obviate back
strain.
   Here are some  steps  you can take to
miminize health  risks:
•  Arrange an eye exam every year.
•  Follow the 20-20-20 rule. Keep your
face at least 20 inches  from the screen
and  pause every  20 minutes for 20
seconds to look  around the room,
focusing on distant objects.
•  Get  a glare filter; it should polarize
light without blurring  the characters.
Reorient the screen to  avoid
reflections from windows or overhead
fluorescents.
•  Order a stable, comfortable,
adjustable chair. Some prefer
ergonomic backless stools that put all
the weight on the knees. Few people
have access to adjustable tables, the
kind with a lowered front platform for
the keyboard, but adjusting chair
height can compensate.
•  Above all, abandon  the computer
from time to time; this will preserve
your sanity as well as  your sacroiliac.
One Of US  By David Wann

 David Schaller, Region VIII's
 innovative Superfund section chief
 and once an OFA-Headquarters
 staffer, is locally famous as a running
 enthusiast. Not so well known is his
 background as an amateur
 anthropologist, solar energy pioneer
 and Peace Corps volunteer in the
 South Pacific.
   Not long ago Schaller flew down to
 Utirik Atoll in the Marshall Islands to
 check out a newly-installed
 photovoltaic power system first-hand.
 Utirik, a 0.63 square-mile speck
 boasting 410 inhabitants, lies some
 2200 miles southwest of Hawaii at th
 far end of the global oil
 "pipeline"—an ideal spot to test
 remote solar operations.
   Schaller had the right stuff for this
 follow-up study; he had been a
 member of the federal team
 investigating the solar potential
 several years before. It struck him as
 kind of reparations to try to bring safe
 renewable energy to a community
 heavily impacted by fall-out  from the
 hydrogen bomb tests  of the 50s.
   Schaller found the  new solar unit ii
 a clearing at the center of the island,
 delivering a steady 18 kilowatts
 underground to 45 households. He
 also discovered, much to his surprise,
 that night lighting had fomented a
 social revolution. People stayed up
 later, recalling ancient tribal  tales,
 playing games and working on their
 unique crafts, which might become a
 economic asset if overseas markets
 could be exploited. Since the
 islanders went to bed  later and had
 other things  to occupy their time, the
 fertility rate was trending downward,
 thus easing pressure on local  resourc
   And that's not all. The local
 electrician, formerly a landless man
 without  any  particular prestige, was
 now a leading figure in island society.
 The old  electrical system had been set
 up so the matriarch's residence would
 be the last one to lose its juice if the
 voltage dropped. "But he must be a
 socialist," Schaller speculated. "He
 rewired the system so that when it
 loses power, all the lights go off at the
 same time. I guess that's democracy i
 action."
   Schaller enjoys his Superfund work
 as much as his overseas expeditions.
 "It's all part of the task of saving the
 ecosystems that sustain all life on
 earth". Right on.

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