United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
vvEPA
Information Resources
Management
(PM-211A)
April 1992
The Catalyst
Information for Environmental Action
An Information Service for EPA HQ Staff from the Headquarters Library
They're Here!
The newest
bibliography in the
Innovative Management
Strategies series has
arrived. The Customer
Strategy will help you learn about
understanding customer needs and meeting
customer expectations. How can managers
in the public sector best serve citizens? What
about customers within the organization?
Find the answers in The Customer Strategy
— supporting EPA's efforts to provide quality
management and be responsive to public
concerns about environmental protection.
The bibliography contains summaries of
journal articles, books, and multimedia
materials. Pick up your complimentary copy
in the Headquarters Library or contact 202-
260-5921 to have a copy sent to you. «t»
Yes, We Have a Subject
Guide to HQ Library Journals
The Subject Guide to Journals was
developed to assist EPA staff in identifying
and locating journals currently held in the EPA
Headquarters Library. The journal collection
encompasses a wide range of subject areas
on various environmental, scientific, and
management topics.
Journal titles are arranged in the
Subject Guide under categories such as acid
rain, conservation, environmental health, law,
pollution prevention, and water.
For more information on journal
holdings (specific volumes and years that a
journal is held in the Library), please refer to
the EPA Journal Holdings Report which
Jour ne%t/reat idea is
provides detailed information on the EPA
Library Network's journal holdings. The
Report Is available at the Reference Desk and
the Circulation Desk in the EPA Headquarters
Library. Articles found in journals not
available in the EPA Headquarters Library
may be requested through Interlibrary Loan, a
special service that allows us to borrow
material from other libraries.
We hope you will find this publication
useful and would appreciate any suggestions
for future editions. To request your copy of
the Subject Guide to Journals, call 202-260-
5922 or stop in and pick up a copy at the
Headquarters Library (M2904). »:»
Save Steps When You Visit
Interlibrary Loan
**
Interlibrary Loan has recently moved to
a new, more convenient location in the
Reference Staff area at Headquarters Library,
right behind the new periodicals shelves.
When you need information beyond what can
be found in Headquarters Library, pay a visit
to Interlibrary Loan. »!»
Sorry, Wrong Number!
Barbara Roth, Project Officer for the
RCRA Hotline, can be contacted on 202-260-
2858 for information regarding the RCRA/
Superfund/Office of Underground Storage
Tanks and Emergency Planning and
Community Right-to-Know (EPCRA) Monthly
Hotline Reports. Her number was incorrectly
listed in the March issue of The Catalyst.
We're sorry for any inconvenience. *
in the, 22E# Headquarters Library
EPA Headquarters Library (PM-211 A) WSM2904 202-260-5922 <&> Printed on Recycled Paper
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New EPA Information Tool
The Register of Lists (RoL) is now
available to assist EPA technicians and policy
makers in keeping track of the complex array
of chemicals regulated by this Agency. This
tool was designed and developed by EPA
staffers to answer a very simple question, '
"Does EPA regulate chemical X?", and if so,
"Where can I get additional information
regarding X?" Due to complexities in the
regulations and the multi-media nature of
many chemicals, such a question has been
difficult to answer without making several
calls. This has created great frustration both
to EPA staffers and to members of the public.
An Agency-wide workgroup determined
that an electronic catalogue of regulated
chemicals was needed and agreed on a
"pointer system" design. A user enters
chemical identification data and the system
"points to" other sources of information
regarding that chemical. Other system design
characteristics include the following: (1) it
must operate on a personal computer, (2) it
must be LAN compatible, (3) it must contain
the relevant lists from all EPA program areas,
and (4) it must contain current, accurate
information.
The uses of RoL are many and varied.
It will play a major role in reducing duplicative
efforts among the program offices in
evaluating chemicals. A user can determine
immediately all other offices that are
regulating that chemical.
RoL is highly portable; an enforcement
official can determine, on site, every
regulatory list containing a given chemical,
thus giving the user more options regarding
the choice of enforcement authority.
RoL will prove useful in identifying a
chemical when information is sketchy. RoL
contains a powerful searching capability that
can quickly search through over 3,100
chemicals and 8,000 synonyms to identify
those of interest based upon a "string-search"
conducted on a portion of a name or a
little-known synonym.
EPA staff interested in participating in
a demonstration of RoL or in receiving a
copy of RoL to install on their own personal
computer, may contact Jim Daley, System
Manager in the Information Policy Branch
(IPB). Jim's FTS number is 260-2743. EPA
staff can also access RoL in the
Headquarters Library. »!«•
1 for the Money
Understanding Risk, a two-volume
audio tape lecture, is now available in the
Headquarters Library. In a very lively,
humorous presentation, Dr. Peter Sandman,
a world-famous expert on environmental risk
communication, outlines basic risk
communications procedures to avoid
alienating the public, and to educate them as
to actual vs. perceived environmental risks.
Cassette tape players with
headphones and rechargeable batteries are
available for EPA staff to borrow from the
Library. * . .
2 for the Show
Two new books have been added to
the collection. Check them out! (Pun
intended).
Earth in the Balance: Ecology and
the Human Spirit by Senator Al Gore
GF41 G67 1992. The future of the earth is
being threatened by overpopulation, global
warming, ozone depletion and destruction of
the Amazon rain forest. Senator Gore
discusses these issues and proposes a
U.S.-led "Global Marshall Plan."
THE CATALYST APRIL1992
PAGE 2
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The Truth About Where You Live: An
Atlas for Action on Toxins and Mortality by
Benjamin A. Goldman provides a
comprehensive picture of communities across
the country that are suffering from
disproportionate shares of environmental
contamination and death. With the aid of
maps and tables, the reader can see at a
glance where people are dying at rates
significantly above the national norms, and
where toxins may pose particular problems for
the environment and human health. There
are two copies in the Library, one in the
Reference section and one in the general
collection. The call numbers are
REF RA566.3 G65 1991 and RA566.3 G65
1991. *
3 to Get Ready
Did you ever feel like you were
drowning in organization?
Strengthening productivity and
eliminating ineffectiveness are
keys to ensuring that an organization follows a
true course. This month, we're featuring a few
titles from our management videos in the
Headquarters Library collection that portray
organizational issues.
The Bolero uses the orchestra-and-
conductor as a model of an effective
organization. Zubin Mehta conducts a
performance of Ravel's Bolero, as individuals
describe problems and pleasures in their craft
in contrast to their careers as members of a
productive team.
Excellence in the Public Sector
features Tom Peters and five case studies of
management excellence at work in public and
not-for-profit organizations.
The Quality Revolution asks the
question: How did American manufacturers
lose their competitive edge and worldwide
dominance in the years following World War
II? Answers come from Ford Motor Company,
Globe Metallurgical, Inc., and Eastman
Kodak.
EPA Headquarters staff can watch
these and many other videos on their own
equipment or in the Library. Come in or call
(202) 260-5922 and find out more about our
multi-media collection. <»
And 4 to Go
Hello and welcome to "Journal
Kernels." Each month in this column, we will
tell you something about a few of the journals
in the Headquarters Library. Some you may
be well acquainted with. Others may be as
familiar to you as prime rib is to shoppers in a
Moscow supermarket.
This month's column focuses on some
of the International Journals in the Library's
collection. Current issues of the following can
be found on the shelves of the INFOTERRA
(International) Collection in the Headquarters
Library, while back issues are located in the
Library's back periodicals collection:
Buzzworm— Examines international
environmental conservation. Provides
readers with a means of active participation in
environmental opportunities. (6 issues/yr.)
(Holdings: Jul/Aug 1991-present)
Global Climate Change Digest—
Provides information on greenhouse gases
and ozone depletion and other climate
changes resulting from human activities
worldwide. (Monthly) (Holdings: Vol. 2,
No. 1 1989 - present)
International Environment Reporter
— An information and reference journal
covering international environmental law and
developing policy in the major industrial
nations. (Monthly) (Holdings: 1978 - present)
THE CATALYST APRIL 1992
PAGE 3
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International Environmental Affairs
— Seeks to improve knowledge of
environmental policy and management at the
international level. (Quarterly) (Holdings:
Winter 1990 - present)
For more information about these
journals, please call (202) 260-5922. •*
Legislative
Library
The Legislative Library assists EPA
employees with their daily work as it relates to
Congress. One of the ways we do this is by
tracking the status of environmental, budget, and
personnel legislation before Congress. This is
done by the use of Legi-Slate, a powerful online
database, which enables the library to have up-to-
the-minute information on legislation. The library
compiles lists and reports on the status of the bills
pending before the current and past Congresses.
This information is organized by subject, bill
number, sponsor, committee, etc., and is available
upon request. You may also request special
searches to be done on the database, and the
library will prepare customized reports for your
office as time permits. Please feel free to contact
the library if we can be of assistance to you.
—Joan Platten
EPA Legislative Librarian
(202) 260-5425 *
Conferences, Meetings,
Symposiums, Workshops
If you wish to have an upcoming event listed
here, please forward the information to The Catalyst,
HQ Library, 401 M St., SW - PM-211 A, Washington,
DC 20460. Please submit the information as soon as
possible before the meeting, because we list events
that are scheduled at least three months in advance of
each publication date.
Design, Operation, and Closure of
Municipal Solid Waste Landfills Seminar.
July 8-9,1992, Honolulu, HI. Sponsored by the Center
for Environmental Research Information, USEPA. For
more information contact: Dan Murray at FTS
684-7522.
Environmental Audits. July 7-9,1992, Hilton
Head, SC. Sponsored by Government Institutes, Inc.
For more information contact: 4 Research Place, Suite
200, Rockville, MD 20850 or call the Education
Department at (301) 921-2345 or Fax (301) 921-0373.
Practical Environmental Regulation
Course. July 15-17,1992, Washington, DC.
Sponsored by Executive Enterprises, Inc. For more
information contact: Executive Enterprises, Inc., 22
West 21 st Street, New York, NY 10010-6904 or call
(800) 831-8333 or (212) 645-7880 or Fax (212)
645-8689.
Fifth International Workshop on QSAR in
Environmental Toxicology — Bridging
Theory and Application. July 16-23,1992,
Duluth, MN. Sponsored by the Environmental
Research Laboratory, Duluth, USEPA. For more
information contact: Oilman D. Veith at FTS 780-5550.
The Future Direction of Municipal Sludge
Management: Where We Are and Where
We're Going. July 26-30,1992, Portland, OR.
Sponsored by the Water Pollution Control Federation
Residuals Management Committee. For more
information contact: Libby Strickland, WEF, at (703)
684-2417 or Robert K. Bastian, Sludge Conference
Chairman, U.S. EPA PMPC (WH-595), 401 M Street,
SW, Washington, DC 20460 or call (202) 260-7378 or
Fax (202) 260-7883. <*
Eelerenee
dgwagtexs Library is
COIR&f) InfoiBaation. Access, Brame^ ' f ,\
THE CATALYST APRIL 1992
PAGE 4
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United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA/IMSD
April 1992
Info Page: Organic Gardening
1991 organic suppliers directory: a catalog of
suppliers serving organic farms, gardens,
orchards and homesteads ed. by S. R.
Williams. Plymouth, OH: Ohio Ecological
Food & Farm Association, 1991.
Bugs, slugs & other thugs: controlling garden
pests organically by R.M. Hart. Pownal, VT:
Storey Communications, 1991.
Common harvest: an alternative food and
agriculture resource directory comp. by D.
Guenthner and R. Bonlender. Minneapolis, MN:
Minneapolis Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America Board for Church in Society,
Minneapolis Horticultural Society, 1991.
Controlling vegetable pests created and
designed by the editorial staff of Ortho Books.
San Ramon, CA: Ortho Books, Chevron
Chemical Co., 1991.
Dorling Kindersley encyclopedia of organic
gardening ed. by G. Hamilton. New York, NY:
Dorling Kindersley, 1991.
Ecological gardening: your path to a healthy
garden by M. Harris. Toronto, Canada:
Random House of Canada, 1991.
The environmental gardener: the solution to
pollution for lawns and gardens by L. Sombke.
New York, NY: MasterMedia, 1991.
The environmentalist's guide to garden pest
control by K. March. London, England:
Ian Allan, 1991.
The essential kitchen gardener by F. Arkin.
New York,NY: Henry Holt, 1990.
Feeding plants the organic way by J. Hay.
London, England: New York: Garden Matters,
1991.
G is for ecogarden: an A to Z guide to a more
organically healthy garden by N. Dudley and
S. Stickland. New York NY: Avon Books,
1991.
Gardening at a glance: the organic gardener's
handbook on. vegetables, fruits, nuts & herbs
by T. Denckla. Franklin, WV and Traverse City,
MI: Wooden Angel Pub., 1991.
Gardening for a greener planet: a
chemical-free approach by J. Erickson. Blue
Ridge Summit, PA: Tab Books, 1992.
Greening the garden: a guide to sustainable
growing by D. Jason. Philadelphia; Gabriola
Island, B.C.: New Society Publishers, 1991.
How to get your lawn & garden off drugs:
pesticide-free gardening for a healthier
environment by C. Rubin. North Vancouver,
B.C.: Whitecap Books, 1991.
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How to grow more vegetables than you ever
thought possible on less land than you can
imagine: a primer on the life-giving
biointensive method of organic horticulture
by J. Jeavons. Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press,
1991.
An Illustrated guide to organic gardening by
the editors of Sunset Books and Sunset
magazine. Menlo Park, CA: Sunset Publ. Corp.,
1991.
In nature's hands: an organic gardening
potpourri, from armadillos to zucchini by
L. Riotte. Dallas, TX: Taylor Pub., 1992.
J. Howard Garrett's organic manual:
landscaping, gardening, agriculture by H.
Garrett. Dallas, TX: Lantana Pub. Co., 1989.
The natural food garden by P. Lima. Rocklin,
CA: Prima Pub., 1992.
Oregon Tilth's gardening naturally: an
introduction to creating & maintaining your
yard & garden naturally by B. Allen. Tualatin,
OR: Oregon Tilth, 1991.
Organic garden vegetables by G.F. Van Patten.
Portland, OR: Van Patten Publishing, 1991.
Organic gardener's handbook of natural
insect and disease control: a complete
problem-solving guide to keeping your garden
& yard healthy without chemicals ed. by B.W.
Ellis and P.M. Bradley. Emmaus, PA: Rodale
Press, 1992.
Organic gardening ed. by G. Hamilton.
Pleasantville, NY: Reader's Digest Association,
1992.
Organic gardening in cold climates by
S. Perrin. Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Publ.
Co., 1991.
Prentice-Hall pocket encyclopedia, organic
gardening ed. by G. Hamilton. Scarborough,
Ont.: Prentice-Hall Canada, 1991.
Rodale's all-new encyclopedia of organic
gardening: the indispensable resource for
every gardener ed. by P.M. Bradley and B.W.
Ellis. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 1992.
Rodale's chemical-free yard & garden: the
ultimate authority on successful organic
gardening ed. by A. Carr etc. Emmaus, PA:
Rodale Press, 1991.
The Simple guide to organic gardening by
B. Sherman. London, England: Collins &
Brown, 1991.
Yardening by J. Ball. New York and Toronto:
Macmillan Pub. Co., 1991.
The preceding list of books may help
provide answers to some of the issues
involved in Organic Gardening. EPA staff
can borrow these items through the
Headquarters Library. *
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