vv
OCTOBER 1992 EPA
NEWS FOR, ABOUT, AND BY
EPA Names New
Civil Rights Director
On August 10, Dan Rondeau began his
appointment as Director of the Agency's
Office of Civil Rights. A federal employee
for 26 years, Dan comes to EPA from the U.S. Public
Health Service where he served as Deputy Director
for Equal Employment Opportunity.
Educated in Detroit's public schools, Dan has
advanced degrees in Legal Studies and Public
Administration. He started his career as a Counselor
Aide to the Mayor's Committee for Human Resource
Development and later served as Director of
Community Services and the Youth Development
Programs for the city of Detroit. In 1971, the U.S.
Department of Labor recruited Dan into its
internship program for mid-level managers. Shortly
thereafter, the Public Health Service selected him for
Dan Rondeau and Administrator Bill Reilly
a social science analyst position in the Health Care
Services Division. Having volunteered his services as
an EEO Counselor, Dan accepted a detail as the
acting director of the Office of EEO and Civil Rights
for PHS. The detail led to a permanent position—
Deputy Director for EEO—which Dan held for
almost nine years.
Continued on page 6
Agency Issues New Rules For
Controlling Air Pollution Oflshore
by Tom Kiernan, Deputy AA for OAR
EF
'
.
PA has issued its first regulations
to control air pollution from
offshore sources on the Outer
Continental Shelf (OCS). The regulations were
issued on August 24 under the Clean Air Act of 1990,
Inside
On the Hill 5
In the News 5
Heads Up 2 On the Move 6
HR Update 3 People and Progress ..7
R&D Awards 4 Calendar 8
which transferred authority from the Department of
Interior to EPA for these sources. Areas affected are
states along the Pacific, Arctic, and Atlantic coasts, as
well as the Gulf Coast of Florida.
Under the new rule, areas located within 25 miles
of states' seaward boundaries will be subject to the
same requirements that would be applicable if the
source were located in the corresponding onshore
areas. If EPA finds a state's regulations to be
adequate, it will delegate to that state implementation
and enforcement authority for OCS regulations at
the state's request. Sources located beyond the 25-
mile limit will be subject only to federal
requirements.
Continued on page 6
•C/\_7 Recycled/Recyclable
( A Aj Printed with Soy/Canola ink on paper that
-------
\ieade Up
A QUICK LOOK AT EPA NEWS AROUND THE NATION
EPA LABORATORIES
S Air and Energy Engineering Lab, RTF—Since
Hurricane Andrew left many families in Southern
Florida and Louisiana homeless and without food or
supplies, Susan Sharpe organized a response effort
from AEERL. Employees bought and collected
canned goods, bottled water, pet food, diapers, and
other necessities, which were delivered within a few
days to hurricane victims. (Contact: Pat Sharpe,
919-541-2821.)
/ Environmental Research Lab, Athens, GA — The
Institute of Meteorology and Water Management in
Warsaw, Poland recently honored Dr. Rosemarie
Russo, F.RL-A Director, for helping to develop water
quality modeling systems for Poland. Dr. Russo was
also commended for acquiring training in water
quality for researchers at the Institute. (Contact: Bob
Ryans, 706-546-3306.)
/ Environmental Research Lab, Corvallis, OR — For
the first time, ERL-C has entered into a cooperative
agreement with a state university to stimulate minor-
ity student interest in environmental careers.
Alex Onate, a biology major from California State
University, Los Angeles, is working on forest ozone
research for ERL-C. Through this agreement, Alex
and other students can work on environmental
problems throughout the year—on campus during
the academic year and at ERL-C during the summer.
(Contact: Grady Neely, 503-754-4684.)
EPA REGIONS
/ Region 1 — This region's Green Lights Program
now has 54 participants, including 24 corporations
and universities, three government partners, 12
lighting product manufacturers, five lighting
management companies, six utility allies, and four
endorsers. Alore than 160 million square footage is
involved, and the projected savings in energy are over
700 million k\\h and $70 million. The program is
expected to reduce the discharge of air pollutants by
480,000 metric tons annualli' for New Fngland
participants. (Contact: Norm Willard, 617-565-3243.)
/ Region 8— On September 30, Region 8 launched a
successful, multi-agency effort to open a child care
center for federal employees in downtown Denver.
The center will accommodate 105 children ages six
weeks to five years and will provide energy-efficient
lighting and recycling projects. Region 8 plans to
Lou Ella Hams
involve local senior citizens in the care and nurturing
of the children. (Contact: Linda Adams, 303-293-
1485.)
/ Region 4 — Lou Ella Harris,
an auditor in the Office of
Inspector General's Southern
Audit Division in Atlanta, GA,
was recently selected for OIG's
Gary Chin Award. This award is
given annually to the OIG
employee who best typifies the
personal work qualities—
dedication and perseverance—of Gary Chin,
an OIG employee who died in 1990 at age 33.
(Contact: Tom Maloney, OIG, 202-260-2234.)
/ Region 9 — Since the early 1980's, this region has
trained thousands of FPA, federal, and state
employees on the Agency's risk assessment and risk
management processes. Because of its success in this
effort, Region 9 was selected by the EPA Risk
Training Committee to produce a training manual on
risk and decision-making. Using Total Quality
principles, Region 9 completed the manual last July,
distributed copies to all regional and program offices,
and saved about $100,000 in contract funds. (Contact:
Gerry Hiatt, 415-744-1022.)
EPA HEADQUARTERS
/ Office of Regional Operations and State/Local Relations
— On September 10, Deputy Administrator Hank
Habicht welcomed about 80 representatives from
small communities, state and local governments,
environmental organizations, and public interest
groups from across the country. The purpose of this
pathbreaking effort is to help EPA define the
problems local governments have in implementing
EPA regulations. The next meeting is set for October
H-9. (Contact: Jim Bower, 202-260-0246.)
/ Office of Administration and Resources Management
— The Procurement and Contracts
Management Division (which may be called the
Office of Acquisition Management by the time you
read this) is having its annual Procurement Training
Conference in Chicago this year. Please mark your
calendar for November 18-20. (Contact: Jane
Rasberry, 202-260-6033.)
ERIInSight • October 1992
-------
Human Resources Update
October is National Disability
Employment Awareness Month
In 1988, the U.S. Congress passed a Joint
Resolution declaring die month of October as
National Disability Employment Awareness
Month. In 1990, Congress passed the Americans
with Disabilities Act, a landmark bill drat secures
the rights of persons with disabilities. Relevant laws
still in effect are the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
which authorises programs to promote and expand
employment opportunities for disabled individuals,
and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment
Assistance Act of 1974, which promotes the
employment of veterans with emphasis on
disabled and Vietnam Era Veterans in the
federal government.
The national theme for NDEA Month this Camlyn Johnson
year is "Working Together for Change."
EPA is observing this event throughout the Agency
with special programs and activities.
For more information, please contact your local
Disabled Employment Program Manager or Carolyn
Johnson, National Employment and Special
Programs Manager, OI1RM, 202-260-3305.
Forging Ahead—
FWP Sets Goals for Women in EPA
by Barbara Gary, Federal Women's Program Manager, OCR
Recently in Cincinnati,
Federal Women's Program
Managers from around the
Agency got together for their annual training.
Marylouise Uhlig, Director of Program Operations
and Management for OPPTS and Chair of EPA's
Awards Board, highlighted the event with her advice
on how women in KPA should prepare themselves for
managerial and executive positions.
Following me training session, die National FWP
Council installed the following officers:
/ Chair—Marcia Colvin, Region 10
/ Vice-Chair—Annette Hill, Region 4
Below are die goals the FWP Council adopted for
the forthcoming year:
/ To assess the current state of and recommend
actions to enhance career advancement
opportunities for women in EPA
S To clarify the purpose of the FWP and the role
of FWP Managers, including the representation of
women of color working in the FWP, Secretary
Advisory Councils, and Women in Science and
Engineering—both locally and nationally
V To develop a position paper addressing family
issues in EPA
KP. I InSight • October 1992
In cooperation widi the Hispanic Employment
and Black Employment Program Alanagers, to
seek increased resources for all special emphasis
programs Agencywide.
Notional Hispanic Heritage Month
From September 15 through October
15, EPA, along with other federal
departments and agencies, is observing
National Hispanic Heritage Month.
This year is a particularly noteworthy
one as the Nation will be celebrating the
500th anniversary of Columbus's
discovery of the New World on October
12. In fact, die theme for National
Hispanic Heritage Month is "Five Hundred Years of Hispanic
Heritage, 1492-1992: Contributing to America's Progress."
A series of programs and activities is already underway
throughout me Agency, and employees are encouraged to
participate in them. For more information about these events,
please contact your local Hispanic Employment Program
Manager or Mercedes Olivieri, EPA's new National Hispanic
Program Manager, OCR, 202-260-4569.
Mercedes Olivieri
I
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R&D Awarde
51 ORD Employees Honored for Research Work
by
Fred Blosser,
ORD
B
Iegun in 1980, the Scientific and
Technological Achievement Awards
Program is sponsored by the Office of
Research and Development with evaluation support
from the Science Advisory Board. ORD confers
awards each year for achievements in the following-
areas: control systems and technology: ecology;
health effects; monitoring and measuring
methods; transport and fate; and review articles.
For 1991, a total of 51 ORD employees received
STAA Awards under three levels of achievement:
Level I ($5,000)
Eric Clegg, ORD HQ (OHFA)
Ray Lassiter, ERL-Athens, GA
Luis Suarez, ERL-Athens, GA
Mahlon Barber, ERL-Athens, GA
Level II ($2,500)
Lawrence Burkhard, ERL-Duluth, MN
Neil Chernoff, HERL-RTP, NC
Robert Clark, RREL-Cmcinnati, OH
Earl Davey, ERL-Narragansett, Rl
Elizabeth Durban, ERL-Duluth, MN
Russell Erickson, ERL-Duluth, MN
Robert Kavlock, HERL-RTP, XC:
RREL Innovation Wins Major Award
For Hazardous Waste Treatment Process
EPA recently received an R&D 100 Award for an
innovative process pioneered by the Office of Research
Development's Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory in
Cincinnati. The sponsor of this award is R&D Magazine,
which cited the base catalyzed decomposition process for
treating hazardous waste as "one of the 100 most significant
R&D products in 1992."
BCD offers an efficient, cost-effective way of removing
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other toxic compounds
from contaminated soil. RREL chemists Charles Rogers,
Alfred Kornel, and Harold Sparks hold the patent for this
process.
EPA shares the award with the U.S. Department of Energy's
Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratory, the Naval Civil
Engineering Laboratory, and the Battelle Memorial Institute in
Columbus, OH. EPA's partner agencies in this effort helped to
develop the process through pilot and full-scale demonstrations.
The R&D 100 Award was presented on September 24 at a
ceremony at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.
Neal Lackie, ERL-Narragansett, RI
James McKim III, ERL-Duluth, MN
George Morrison, ERL-Narragansett, Rl
Kenneth Perez, ERL-Narragansett, RI
John M. Rogers, HERL-RTP, NC
Leslie Sparks, AEERL-RTP, NC
Mark Stanton, HERL-RTP, NC
Bruce Tichenor, AEERL-RTP, NC
Level III ($1,000)
Barbara Abbott, HERL-RTP, NC
Jeffrey Adams, RREL-Cmcinnati, OH
Gerald Ankley, ERL-Duluth, MN
Linda Birnbaum, HERL-RTP. NC
Frank Black, AREAL-RTP, NC
Philip Bushnell, HERL-RTP, NC
Neil Chernoff, HERL-RTP, NC
Robert Clark, RREL-Cincmnati, OH
Faith Cole, ERL-Narragansett, Rl (Newport, OR Branch)
Timothy Collette, ERL-Athens, GA
Audrey Cummiiigs, HERL-RTP, NC
Elizabeth Durban, ERL-Duluth, VIN
Steven Ferraro, ERL-Narragansett, Rl
(Newport, OR Branch)
Gary Glass, ERL-Duluth, MN
Stephen Hutchins, ERL-Ada, OK
Albert Klee, RREL-Cincinnaa, OH
Paul Lemieux, AEERL-RTP, NC
Ronnie Levin, ORD HQ (OTTRS)
Charles Lewis, .VREAL-RTP, NC
William Linak, MT.RL-RTP, NC
John Meier, EMSL-Cincinnati, OH
Diane Miller, HERL-RTP, NC
Teresa Norberg-King, ERL-Duluth, MN
James O'Callaghan, HERL-RTP, NC
Stephanie Padilla. HERL-RTP, NC
Sally Darney, HERL-RTP, NC
John E. Rogers. ERL-Athens, GA
John M. Rogers, 1IERL-RTP, NC
Kathleen Schenck, RREL-Cincinnati, OH
Guy Sewell, ERL-Ada, OK
Gannon Smith. FRL-Ada, OK
Robert Stevens, AREAL-RTP, NC
Thomas Ward, HERL-RTP, NC
Roy Zweidinger, AREAL-RTP, NC
AEERL-Air and Energy Engineering Research Lah
AREAL-Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Lah
EMSL-Environmental Monitoring Systems Lah
ERL-Environmental Research Lab
HERL-Health Effects Research Lab
OLIEA-Office of Health and Environmental Assessment
OTTRS-Office of FechnologyTransferand Regulatory Support
RREL-Risk Reduction Engineering Lab
RTF-Research Triangle Park
EPA InSight • October 1992
-------
On the Hill
by Robin Grove, OCLA
During the week of
September 14, EPA
Administrator Bill Reilly
testified on the North
American Free Trade
Agreement before the
Senate Finance
Subcommittee on
International Trade and
the House Ways and Means Committee. The
Administrator also testified before the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee that week on the
U.K. Global Climate Change Treat}'.
Senator Daniel Moynihan (D-NTY) has been
confirmed by the Senate as the new Chairman of the
Environment and Public Works Committee,
replacing the late Quentin Burdick (D-ND).
Representative Gerry Studds (D-M-V) has been
named the new Chairman of the House Merchant
Marine and Fisheries Committee, replacing the
late Walter Jones (D-NC).
With the defeat of two current I louse members in
primary elections on Tuesday, September 15, a total of
19 incumbents have now lost primary battles,
surpassing the post-World War II record of 18 in 1946.
"Mixture and Derived From" Rule
Senate-()n Thursday, October 1, Don Clay,
Assistant Admimstator for OSWER, is scheduled to
testify before the Senate Environment and Public
Works Subcommittee on Environmental
Protection (Chairman Max Baucus, D-MT).
The Senate u-ill adjourn for the year on Saturday,
October 3; the House of Representatives on Monday,
October 5.
In the News
EPA Joins With National Geographic Society
To Celebrate 20th Anniversary of Clean Water Act
For the sixth consecutive year, Congress has
proclaimed "National Geography Awareness
Week." This year, the event will be observed
November 15-21. The theme for this event is
Reflections on Water. Because we are celebrating the
2()th anniversary of the Clean Water Act this year, and
since Congress has proclaimed 1992 as the "Year of
Clean Water," EPA is lumping on the geography
bandwagon. For example, the Office of Water, the
()ffice of Research and Development, and the
Environmental Education Division, OCEPA, are
encouraging EPA employees to reach out and teach
someone during Geography Awareness Week. We have
also put together packets of information for EPA
employees who choose to participate in this event.
What else have we clone? We helped the National
Geographic Society develop a "Teacher's Handbook"
on geography. This handbook was recently
distributed to more than 150,000 educators and
* 1 9 9 2 if
THE YEAR OF
CLEAN WATER
20,000 policy-makers
Nationwide. E\ en the Peace
Corps is getting into the act.
The Peace Corps, the NGS,
and F,PA recently sent a joint
invitation to 50,000
returned Peace Corps
volunteers, asking them to
visit their community schools
to talk about their overseas
experiences. f
These outreach efforts can
really pay off. The NGS mmmmm^mm
estimates that, last year alone,
more than 75 million people learned about
Geography Awareness Week through the print and
broadcast media.
For more information, please contact Mary Lou
Soscia, OW, 202-260-5410.
EPA InSight • October 1992
-------
On the Move...
by Doris McCurdy, OHRM
This new feature identifies people recently
appointed to top management positions.
In future editions, EPA InSight will also
highlight people selected for GS/GM positions that
are one-of-a-kind or hard-to-fill or who've been
appointed to leadership positions on Agencywide
standing committees/ad hoc groups.
OW -Jon Cannon - Director, Gulf of Mexico
Program Office, Bay St. Louis, MS. Before joining a
local law firm, Jon was DAA for OSWER, DAA for
Enforcement (C Jvil), and Deputy General Counsel
for Litigation and Regional Operations.
OR - Gordon Davidson - Director, Office of
Federal Facilities Enforcement.
OE - Pat Alberico, certified SES candidate - Deputy
Director, Office of Compliance Analysis and
Program Operations.
OIG - Michael Fitzsimmons - Deputy Assistant
Inspector General for Investigations.
Environmental Appeals Board - Nancy Firestone -
Environmental Appeals Judge.
AO - Tracy Mehan - Associate Deputy
Administrator to Deputy Administrator Hank
Habicht. Tracy was Director of the Missouri
Department of Natural Resources and has served on
several interstate commissions dealing with the
Missouri and Mississippi Rivers and Low-Level
Radioactive Waste.
OPPE - Dennis Tirpak - Senior Program Advisor
for Global Climate Change.
OAR - Stephen Page, certified SES candidate -
Director, Radon Division, Office of Air and
Radiation.
OPPTS - Susan Hazen - Director, Environmental
Assistance Division, Office of Pollution Prevention
and Toxics.
OARM - Sandra Martin - Director, Administrative
Systems Division, Office of Information and
Resources Management.
| Editor's Note: OCEPA- Lew Crampton-
Vice President for Corporate and Public
Affairs, Waste Management, Inc., Oak Brook,
IL. Associate Administrator for OCEPA since
1988, Lew was instrumental in getting funding
and support for EPA InSight.
Thank you, Lew, and Bon Voyage\
Civil Rights Director
Continued from page 1
As OCR Director, Dan plans to emphasize
training and education as key tools in
accomplishing the Office's mission, particularly
courses in affirmative employment, the new EEC)
complaints procedures, and preventing sexual
harassment. Dan also plans to work closely with the
Agency's Special Emphasis Programs to ensure their
activities are tied to the Agency's Affirmative
Employment Program. Within the next few months,
Dan plans to set up an advisory group of
representatives from all of EPA's ethnic and gender-
based committees, boards, and groups to advise him
on issues involving civil rights and equal opportunity.
The new OCR Director said recently that his vision is
to "ensure that EPA is a place where all employees
and applicants are treated fairly and that the public
views us that way, too."
Offshore Air Pollution
Continued from page 1
The OCS rules apply to any source of offshore air
pollution in any industry authorized or regulated
under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. At this
time the only sources are in the oil and natural gas
industry adjacent to California and Alaska.
Activities covered by die OCS rules include
exploration, construction, development,
production, processing, and transportation,
mainly of platforms and drill ships.
New OCS sources must comply with the rules
immediately. Existing sources have two years to
comply. The final rule was published in the Federal
Register on September 4.
For more information, please contact Alison Bird,
Region 9, 415-744-1232.
EPA InSight • October 1992
-------
People and
"Handicapped" — The
Most Misunderstood Word
by Michael Oubowe, Environmental Criteria and Assessment
Office, EPA-Cincmnati
I remember an incident in college that had a
profound effect on me. My chemistry professor
was showing me a chemical reaction taking place
in a test tube. He was pointing at the tube and talking
to me at the same time. Since I am deaf in both ears,
I've learned to read lips, but sometimes it's not always
possible. I kept looking back and forth between the
professor and the test tube, which made me lose track
of what he was saying. I had to ask him several times
to repeat himself. As a result the professor labeled me
as "dumb." I never forgot it.
As an industrial hygienist in lr,CA.O/KPA-
Cincinnati, my job is to evaluate human health risk
from chemical exposures. 1 wear a hearing aid to
amplify speech sounds and detect noises around me.
People assume that I can hear perfectly when I wear
an aid, but that is not true. The environmental
sounds, or background noise, often make it
impossible to hear what someone is saying. That is
\\ hy it is necessary for me to read lips. When I
communicate by phone, I use special equipment
called the Telecommunications Device for the
Deaf (TDD). TDD allows me to send a typed
message to another caller v\ith a similar device.
In a way, almost everyone is "handicapped." Some-
people are nearsighted or have flat feet, so they wear
glasses or special shoes to correct the problem. But
being handicapped doesn't mean we're unable to
perform a task or lead a normal life. It is more often a
daily inconvenience to which you can adjust.
At F.PA, I reallv feel that people accept me tor v\ho
1 am and what I am capable of contributing to the
Agencv.
TQM Team Gives
"Top Treatment" to
Pretreatment Permits
by Lee Bohme, Permits Pretreatment Coordinator,
Water Division, Region 6
In January 1W2, Region 6 formed a Quality
Action Team to look at the process for reviewing
and approving modifications to municipal
pretreatment permit programs. The purpose of a
pretreatment permit program is to prevent untreated
discharges of pollutants from industries into city waste
water treatment facilities. Approximate!) 123 munici-
palities in Region 6 have pretreatment programs.
From the customers' point of view, it took too
long to get modification approvals incorporated into
their permits. So the team collected information on
permit language requirements; level of detail used for
reviewing city proposals for program changes; the
number of letters sent to permittees to get additional
information; and the timeframes used for requesting
and receiving information from permittees.
After analyzing the data collected, the team found
several ways to streamline the permit process. For
example, they developed a checklist that their
customers could use to ensure their modification
requests were complete before submitting them to
Region 6 for approval. Incomplete or incorrect
requests are now promptly returned to the
customers for appropriate followup. Also,
municipalities can now certify that local limits were
developed in accordance with EPA guidance.
We're proud to report that, by using Total Quality
principles, Region 6 has shortened the process time
from as much as three years to six months. These
improvements have also freed up more time for us to
focus on the actual environmental impacts of
pretreatment activities.
Quality Quote
"Tell me and I will forget;
Show me and I may remember;
Involve me and I will understand."
—Chinese Proverb
EPA JnSight • October 1992
-------
Calendar
DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH
M
W
i
o
Clean
Water
Month
4
Git 4-10 Fnc
Prevention Week
11
/ 6th . \nnii'enai~}'
of TSCA
18
20tb Antuversaty
of Clean Wtrtei -\ct
@25
Daylight Saving
time ends
NOV. 1
5
12
Federal Holiday
Columbus Day
(5()()th
\nniversary)
19
6
• Get 6-7 DAAs/E
Meeting on Quality
13
20
• Oct 19-22 2nd Annual Conf on
Emission Inventory (Contact Larry
Jones, RTP/AEERL, 919-541-7716)
26
Erie Canal opened,
1825
2
Sadie Ha-d'kms
Day
27
Get 25-31 \ational
Election w,
7
)RAs Leadership
14
21
8
EPA InSigbr
Kditonal Board
Meeting
^Qu 15
*
22
H Oct 2 1-22 Environmental Financial
Advisory Board .Meeting (Contact Ann
Watt, OARM, 202-260-8874)
28
Consume, i ' Week
4
>
29
5
9
16
• Oct 16
Bay City
Supercomputer
Opening
23
2MA Anntrersaty
of Ou'iiu Ditfnpmg
Ban Act
30
6
Cop\ deadline
for December
EPA hiSigbt
10
Panama Canal
opened, 1914
17
6th Annrcenai-y
of SARA
24
United AjJ^fc
\atwm jflMK?
** fS
31
/M'ZJ^
7
t cached Pacific,
1805
Fire Prevention Week: October 4-10
Basic Rules for Evacuating the Building
by Howard Wilson, Safety, Health & Environmental Mgmt Oiv, OARM
One of the most important elements of a fire prevention program
is an emergency evacuation program. Below are some basic
rules to follow in the event of smoke or fire:
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