Insight EPA

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vvEPA In
SEPTEMBER 1992 EPA-175-H-92-00? NEWS FOR,
EPA EMPLOYEES
U.S.,, Canada, Mexico Reach
"Green" Free Trade Agreement
by Dan Esty, Deputy AA tor OPPE

n August 12, President Bush,
Ambassador Carla Hills, and
the governments of Canada
and Mexico announced the completion
of negotiations of" a North \menain Free
Trade Agreement. This Agreement is the result of 14
months of negotiations and contains a number of
pathbreaking environmental provisions.
The N \FFA, which if ratified will take effect on
Jamurv 1, 1994, creates a unified continent-wide
market of more than 360 million people and stands
to improve the global competitiveness of all three
countries.
Kev provisions include:
/ Elimination of all tariffs among the United
States, Mexico, and Canada over the next 15 vears;

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Up
A QUICK LOOK AT EPA NEWS AROUND THE NATION
EPA LABORATORIES
.)

n mental Research I Mb,. Ithcns, (! /—Together
with the American Chemical Society, KRL-A recently
sponsored an environmental chemistry workshop tor
high school science teachers from IS Georgia
school systems. The intensive six-day workshop
featured lectures, lab experiments, "hands-on"
classroom actnities, and the use ol FP \-developcd
computer modules. A similar workshop is planned for
Summer 1995. (Contact: Kate McDaniel, 706-S46-
3524.)

>/ (). IR.M, (Cincinnati—The I luman Resources
Management Division recently sponsored its first-
ever "Community Service Fair." Oxer 20 local
nonprofit agencies providing sen ice to the
community participated, including Books for the
Blind, American I lean Association, Council on
Aging, and local hospices. The event \\as well
received and will be expanded next year. (Contact:
Vicki Horsley, 115-S69-7802.)

y I'lnriroin/iciittil Resi-anh I Mb, \tiiTttgansett, Rl—Dr.
NorhJaworski, KRL-X Director, was recently
invited to the University of Rhode Island's Graduate
School of Oceanography to moderate a session on
(Ihttmctenzing l'.cos\>stein I'lxposttre tint! \itn>gen A///.VV
I .(Hidings and ttcnsystmi Response. Participants included
scientists from state environmental agencies and the
Woods I lole Oceanographic Institute and Alarine
Biological Laboratory. (Contact: Doug'Mills, 401-
782-3000.)

EPA REGIONS
S Region >—The State of Illinois recently proposed a
mollification of a consent decree with Chemical
Waste Management for RCRA violations at its
Southeast Chicago facility. The modification would
add a S3 million fine, which would raise to $11
million the total of state and federal fines levied on
this facility since 1990. Recent findings leading to the
additional fine include drum mislabelins>, inventorv.
violations, and inadequate waste analysis. (Contact:
George Hamper, 312-886-0987.)

/ Region d — This region has the largest percentage
of employees v\ ith savings bond deductions of any
EPA Region (i >.}%). Len Pardee, Water
Management Duision, is headintr Region 6's Savings
~ i kT> o r1
Bond Drive this \ear. (Contact: Linda Thompson,
/ Region .)

EPA HEADQUARTERS _
/ (). IR \ 1— Joan Schnell,
Volunteer Program Director,
recently established a Volun-
teensm (Council to encourage
I IO employees to become active
in community volunteer efforts.
Alembers include Diane Bazzlc,
U); Maureen Delaney, (HR;
Cindy Sayers, ( >ARA1; Greg
Marion, Of'; Paul Frazier, (XIC;
Marilyn Katz, < )1 \; Edgar Thornton, ( )PP1 ;
Barbara Burke, OPPTS; Linda Smith, ORD;
Nancy Allinson, ()S\\ f R; and Alice Walker, < HV.
(Contact: Joan Schnell, 2()2-26()-iC)()0.)
Joan Schnell
ER 11/iSiobt • September 1992
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HRComer
WITH JOHN SKINNER, HRC CHAIR
and John Duff, Region 9
ASCMS—A System That Really Works
AICMS stands for the Administrative
Support Career Management System,
which the 1 luiTun Resources Council
Lnmched some months ago for K.P \ employees in
.ulimnistrative support positions.
'Hie \SC.\1S includes a comprehensive plan and a
step-by-step guide tor both support stalt and their
supervisors so that thcv can work together to:
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In the Newe
"Design for the Environment"—
A Driving Force in Pollution Prevention
by Mark Greenwood, OPPT Director, OPPTS
What is "Design for the Environment"?
It's a prevention ethic that is realK
picking up speed here ami abroad—
particular!} in Japan and in the I'urupean
Coiniminitv—and it represents the next \\a\e <>t
industry pollution pre\ention programs here in the
L nitcd States. More and more, industn is focusing
on preventing pollution through product design
rather than continuum 10 dispose of or treat millions
ot pounds of \\.iste and emissions even, \ear.
The Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
has launched a number of initiatives to stimulate
industn to shift toward designing and using chemical
substances and processes that are cm ironmentallv
sound, such as:
/ Chemical Design Project—the purpose of this
project is to iiiimmi/,e or eliminate use or
production of toxic chemical substances in the
manufacture of chemical compounds. I hese
substances are used as feedstocks, catalysts, and
solvents in manutacturinu chemicals. Quite
frequently they are also the In products ot
manufacturing processes.
/ Printing Project and Dry Cleaning Project—
these projects involve small businesses that are
generally unaware of the pollution they generate.
\ major effort is underway to develop information
on chemicals, processes, and technologies for these
businesses to use in making informed choices
about establishing safer operations.
/ National Pollution Prevention Center—the
University of .Michigan is the site of this initiative
to develop model curricula for engineering, natural
resources, anil bjsiness schools. The ultimate aim
is to educate those \vho \\ ill chart the course of
business decisions about the prevention ethic.

\Ve are also enthusiastic about \\orking with the
Department of Energy and the computer industry
to apply DfF principles in environmental research.
As we make progress with our DfF projects, we will
keep you postetl through l\P. I I/iSigl't and other forums.
New Standards

for Agricultural Workers

Continued from page 1
workers who use, or mav be exposed to,
agricultural pesticides;
•/ Emergency equipment be made available in the
event of a pesticide-related accident or injury;
/ Restricted entry intervals after the application ot
the pesticide be obeyed, except in certain
instances;
•/ Kmplovers inform workers about the risks of
pesticides; train them in proper safety procedures;
and make available a listing of pesticide
treatment procedures to be used in the event of
an accident.

Editor's Note: The II 'orkcr Protection Standards ii-cre
published in the Federal Register on August 21.
North American

Free Trade Agreement

Continued from page !
environmental standards;
•/ Commits the three countries not to lower
environmental standards or loosen
enforcement to attract ne\\ investment and
permits each coiiiitn to impose stringent
environmental requirements—such as environ-
mental impact assessments—on ,ill new investors;
/ Protects the trade sanction provisions of
international environmental agreements, such
as the .Montreal Protocol;
/ Provides special protection for the environ-
ment in the resolution ot trade disputes.

Congress is expected to begin its review of NAFTA
when it reconvenes on September 8, but a final vote-
will not take place until the middle ot next year.
I-'.P. I I/iSigbt • September 1992
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On the Hill
The U.S. Senate will return from its recess on
Tuesdav, September 8, at winch time it has
scheduled floor debate to begin on FP \\ \"\ '95
\ppropriations Hill (the 1 louse passed FP\'s
\ppropriations Bill onjuh 29). Following Senate
action later in the week, the bill will be referred to a
conference committee to resoke differences between
the two versions. ()l major concern to the \gcnc\ is a
proposed cut of S94 million in I'l' \'s Salaries and
Fxpenses (SM') \ccotint In the Senate \'\, 111 I) and
Independent \aenties \ppropri.itions Subcommittee
(Chair Barbara ;\Iikulski. I)-\1D).
The U.S. House of Representatives reconvenes
on \Vednesdav , September 9.

North American Free Trade Agreement
House—On Fuesdav, September 15, \dmmistrator
Bill Reilly, accompanied In Secret.in of J ,abor Lynn
Martin, will testify before the 1 louse \Va\s and
Means Committee (Chairman Dan Rostenkowski,
D-IF) on N \FT\ and the environment.

Superfund
House—Also on September 15, Dr. Walt Kovalick,
OSUT.R, and Alfred Lindsey, OKI), will testih before
the I louse Public Works and Transportation Subcom-
mittee on Oversight and Investigations (Chairman
Robert Borski, D-P \) on Innovative 'Fechnologies in
the Superfund Program. Representatives from Region
3 and Region 4 are also expected to testify .

Scientific Advisory Board
Senate—On Fndav, September 18, the Senate
Fnviromnent and Public \\orks Committee
(Chairman Quentin Burdick, D-ND) will conduct a
hearing on legislation that \\ould add two committees
to the S \B to address relativ e risks and em ironmental
benefits.
Winners All Around
EPA Announces First Recipients of Environmental Education Grants
byDi Brad Smith, OCEPA
Two months ago, \dmimstratorBill Reilly
announced the first annual winners of FPA
grants to tarn out environmental education
projects. Congress authorised these grants under the
National F.m ironmental Fducation Vet of I WO.
\ SI/) million grant went to a consortium of
universities, businesses, and non-profit organisations
led In the University of Michigan. Consortium
members are: Howard University, University of
Illinois; Michigan State Univesity; Sonoma State
University in CA; Aspen Global Change Institute;
Center for Environmental Study, Global Rivers
Environmental Education Network; The
Greening of Detroit, North American Association
for Environmental Education; Sonoran Anthropod
Studies, Inc./Prima Community College; Apple
Computer, Inc.; Electronic Data Systems; and
Turner Educational Sendees.
Grunt awards totaling $2.4 million were divided
among 218 schools, universities, and not-for-profit
organisations in all 50 states and the District of
Columbia. Thirtv percent of the awards went to
Administrator Bill Reilly and University of Michigan Provost, Gilbert H Whitaker, Jr

public schools; 26 percent to state and local govern-
ment agencies; 24 percent to environmental groups;
1 7 percent to universities; and 3 percent to other
institutions.
1'or more information, please contact Mike
Baker, OCFP \, 202-260-4962.
I-/'. 1I//Sii>bt • September 1992
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The Do's and Don'ts

of Political Activity

Employees may:
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Wa&te Not... Want Not
Recycling is Picking
But So Is Municipal
Up-
Solid Waste
by Sylvia Lowtance, OSWDirectoi, OSWER

W_-'rc glad to report that reading has
increased substantial!) nationwide. In
1990, \mericansgenerated 195 million
tons ot municipal solid waste. Ot this total, >3 million
tons were recovered tor recycling or composting. 1 hat
amounts to a 17 percent recycling rate, compared to
13 percent in 19X8. 1 his news comes In>m a recent
report on municipal solid \\aste generation, disposal,
combustion, and recovery, \\hich was released in
\ugust In F.P \\ Office of Solid \\'aste.
Ijctwecn 19H5and 1990, the amount of material
recovered from municipal solid waste more than
doubled. '1'he amount of yard debris that was
collected for municipal composting increased
dramatical!} during the 1988-1990 period, rising
from 2 percent to 12 percent. If current trends
continue, recovers ol materials lor recycling and
composting is expected to rise from the current 17
percent to ahout 20-M) percent in 1995 (FP Vs goal is
to reduce and recycle 25 percent of municipal solid
waste In the end of 1992) and then up to ahout 25-35
percent In the end ol the century.
In 1988, \mencans produced ahout 4 pounds per
person per day (ppd) of garbage. In 1990, the rate
increased to 4.3 ppd, an 8 percent increase since
1988. KPA projects that the amount of garbage
generated in the United States \\ill increase to about
4.5 ppd In the year 2000.
The new data also show that 16 percent of uarbage
was managed In combustion in 1990, up from 14
percent in 1988, and that the remaining 67 percent
was landfilled, down from 7 i percent in 198H.
The report's executive summan, (FP \/5 i()-F.-019)
and related fact sheets are available to F.P \ employees
from the R( ]R \ Information (Center (lor address and
phone numbers, please see "Fin ironmental lips" on
this page).
Environmental Tips of the Month

Each consumer can help reduce \menca\ mounting waste
problem 1>\ making environmentally -aware decisions
both at home and at work. Source reduction—reducing the
amount or toxiciu of waste generated in the first place—is the
preferred solution to the waste problem. 1 lere are some
common-sense tips from I be (jici'\' ILuidbook for Reducing
Sulid II c/.f/i', a new booklet Irom the Office of Solid Waste.
^ ( Containers and packaging amounted to about a third ot the
municipal solid waste produced in 1990. So consider
Inning products, such as laundn detergent and juices, in
concentrated form. Thc\ often require less packaging and
less energy to transport, sa\ing monev as well as natural
resources.
^ Reducing the amount ot toxic substances in waste is
another important component ot source reduction. One
\\ay to do this is to choose household batteries with
reduced mercury content (when possible, use-
rechargeable batteries).

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Calendar
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH September 15 - October 15
M
W

Be Kind
to Editors
and Writers
Month!
6
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jar the \'ei"
ll'ni Id, 1620

13
(ii(indf)iiit'ut\ *
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OCT. 4
mOitober-t-lll
/•'in- 1'iei-entioii
11 n-lc
7
Federal
Holidav
Labor Da\

14
WSO Workshop
(Contact Georgia
Dun away, Cinci/
RRI I , >H-S69-:CoO)
21
Imeruaii-matle
g,l*olitte uir. 1893

15
47th session of
United Nations
opens in X \
22
9
10
• Sept 9/10 National 1 echnologv
Initiative (NT 1) Workshop, Cincinnati
(Contact Mike Moore, ORD, 202-
260-7671)
16
Opening of
XKTI-West
(see below)
23

17
11

18
• Sept 17 Trilateral Meeting
(Contact Edgar Thornton, OPPF,
202-260-1 H3)
24
• Sept 22/25 1992 Symposium on Radon with Hank Habicht
(Contact Timothy Dyess, RTP/AEERL, 919-541-2802)
• Sept. 23/24- RAs Meeting with

29
• Sept 29/iO NTI
Research Triangle 1
Mike Moore, ORd
6
Bill Reilly, Region 9
30
Workshop,
ark (Contact:
,202-260-7671)
7
• Oct. 6/7 DA'WDRAs Leadership
Meeting on Quality

OCT. 1

8
KP 1 1nSight
Editorial Board
Meeting

V < 25
; -^
Bill of Right*

2
C>opv deadline
(or No\ ember
EP -/ hiSight
9

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& 19
V /

CAcannp Dtiy
26

10
Panama Canal
opt'iiid, 1914

Coming Soon—

EPA's Newest Training Center

September 16 is around the corner and so is the opening of
F.I' Vs newest training- center, the West Facility of the
National Enforcement Training Institute. NETI-Wetf is
one of sexeral training facilities at which XFTI courses will be
developed and delivered. Deputy Vclministrator Hank Habicht and
Herb Tate, A \ tor Kntorcement, u ill he among the VIl's at the
ribbon-cutting ceremony in Denver.
NETI was established by the Pollution Prosecution Act of 1990
to tram federal, state, and local la\\\ers, inspectors, civil and criminal
investigators, and technical experts in the enforcement of the
Nation's environmental la\\s. It is managed by Incentive Director
Ellen Stougb out of OK I leadquarters.
The XFTI functions as (I) a curriculum design and review group;
(2) a clearinghouse of enforcement training information; and (3) an
organization and network that delivers training through classroom
and other innovative methods. The opening ot NETI-fFert
represents a significant step in the achievement of XFTl's third
pnman function.
NETI-West\\ ill be managed In the National Enforcement
Investigations Center, with facultv dra\\n from many KPA
organizations and various other agencies.
For more information, please contact Carroll Wills, Facility
Director, 305-969-S815.
EPA
Bill Reilly
Administrator
Hank Habicht
Deputy Administrator
Lew Crampton
.L-l, Cammimiramm,
Education, and Public Affans
Charlie Osolin
Director, Editorial Scnw\ Dn man
Kym Burke
Editor
Norman Black
Field liditm (Ang -Sept )
Region 4
Krista Wright
Assistant Editoi (Septembei)
OARM

EDITORIAL BOARD
Laks/FiM Offices
Rhoda Rit/,enberg, RTP/OSORD
Randy Brady, RTP/OARM
Elaine Samel!, RTP/HF.RL
Gloria Koch, RTP/ARF AI,
Pat Sharpe, RTP/AEERL
Bob Ryans, Athens
Carroll Wills, NEIC
Nomia C-ase, Corvalhs
Mike CJruenfeld, Kdison
Tom Osberg, Env Photo
Terry Grady, LV7EMSL
Pan Cooke, Cincinnati
Trudy Oliver, Stennis
Bob Drummond, Duluth
Jan Prager, Marragansett
Betty Jackson, Cjulf Bree/e
William Wilson, Gulf of Mex
C,harles Petko, Montgomeiy
Regions
Frank Mclmyre, Region 1
Paul Medley, Region 2
Carolvn S/umal, Region 3
Norman Bia^k, Region 4
John Rapsys, Region 5
Linda Thompson, Region 6
Row ena Michat-ls, Region 7
Linda Adarm, Region 8
John Duff, Region 9
Jean Baker, Region 10
1 tettil/fuiirten
Betty VV'onkovicb, AO
Karen Smith, O-\R
C.raig Hooks, O\RM
Robin Cirovc, OCLA
Sandie Fncdland, OCR
Bill Frank, OF
Wanda Ford, OEX
Craig Anncar, OGC
Dale Medeans, OIA
TomMalonc),OlG
Fdgar Thornton, OPPE
Tom Kean, OPPTS
Fred Blosser, ORD
Leu Kerestes>,OROSLR
Scott McMurray, OSWER
Vicky Green, OW

DESIGN/EDITORIAL
SERVICES
Floise Dav,s. OCEPA
Steve Delaney, OCEPA
Gilah Langner
Free I land Press
F.PAlnSight • September 1992
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