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ADMINISTRATIVE
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&EPA
I a n .1 .' /> e c 1 a I i .' I .' UNITED STATES E N V I R O N M E N T A L PROTECTION AGENCY /-,•/<;//<>/!.' ,' p e c [ ,1 I t .' t .
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OUR WORKFORCE AT EPA IS ONE OF GREAT
DIVERSITY. WHATEVER YOUR OCCUPATION, YOUR
INVOLVEMENT IS IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY,
AND YOUR EFFORTS ESSENTIAL TO FULFILLING
THE MISSION OF THE UNITED STATES
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.
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PRESERVING OUR
FUTURE TODAY
EPA
In 1974, the Sate Drinking
Water Act (SDWA) authorized
EPA to establish regulations
to limit the amount of various
substances in water used [or
drinking.
The 1987 Clean Water
Act amendments require certain
industries to "pretreat"
their wastewater so that toxic
chemicals and other harmful
substances do not enter sewage
systems that were not designed
to treat them.
The new Clean Air Act
contains provisions for large
reductions m emissions of sulfur
dioxide and nitrogen oxides
to combat acid rain. The new
national goal for year 2000 is to
reduce SO2 emissions
nationwide by 10 million tons.
•
The Resource Conservation
*~ and Recovery Act regulates
hazardous waste from
over 200,000 generators, through
transportation, storage
and treatment to final disposal.
Hazardous waste handlers
must now clean up contamination
resulting from past waste
management practices as well as
from current activities.
Work is underway to reduce
municipal solid waste through a
combination of source reduction
and recycling measures.
The 1990 Farm Bill
could further reduce agricultural
pesticide use and enhance
environmental quality.
This includes promoting more
environmentally sound crop
rotation practices, promoting
research and education, and
providing incentives lor farmers
to adopt more environmentally
ouncl lubil .
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W we're a dynamic team of diverse people dedicated to improving and preserving the
quality of the environment. ;* The United States Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) was founded in December 1970 to consolidate the government's environmental
INTRODUCTION TO EPA. . .
regulatory' activities into a single agency- Over the past 20years, EPA has greatly
expanded its scope and responsibilities in meeting environmental challenges. <"»•
Located in Washington, D.C., EPA headquarters is divided into twelve offices: Office
of the Administrator; Office of Water; Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response;
Office of Air and Radiation; Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances;
H£
Office of Research and Development; Office of Administration and Resources
Management; Office of Enforcement; Office of General Counsel; Office of Policy.
Planning and Evaluation; Office of International Activities; Office of Inspector
General. These offices develop environmental policies, set standards, manage complex
research and development programs, and develop regulations for pesticides, toxic
substances, hazardous wastes, air, radiation and water. In addition, every EPA program
office is developing new technologies designed to prevent pollution. ;* There are also
ten Regional Offices which administer EPA programs and provide technical assistance
to state, local and tribal governments. World-class research and development in all the
environmental disciplines is carried out in our 20 research facilities. <• At last count,
EPA employed almost 19,000 and the numbers continue to grow.
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Treatment and disposal
of waste arc not
enough; pollutants must
/v prevented from being
generated in the /irst
place. We have learned
the' inherent limitations
oj treating aiul burying
u'uste. A problem
suhvJ in DHL' parr of [he
environment may
hccnme a ru'U1 problem
in another part. We
must curtail pollution
closer to its point o/
origin so that it is not
transferred from place
to place.
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SETTING STANDARDS EPA is responsible for setting standards that help
protect the public's health and welfare. Whether
this involves restricting pesticide use or setting
emission levels for automobiles, EPA is taking steps
to ensure a cleaner future.
ENFORCEMENT AND
MONITORING
TRENDS
FOR THE
FUTURE
T
he Agency's philosophy has been to encourage voluntary compliance by
private industry and communities, and ensure that state, local and tribal
governments perform enforcement activities necessary to meet EPA standards.
;* Various types of monitoring processes and activities exist within EPA. Some
are broadly based inonitonng programs that determine whether pollution levels
and emissions are increasing or decreasing. Other methods of
evaluation determine if the various abatement programs
EPA's 20 year
efforts toward a cleaner
environment and improved
human health have been vigorous. Worldwide, the belief that
industry cannot endure the restrictions of environmental
controls, is being replaced by an awareness of industry's role
in nurturing the environment. * Protecting the planet is a
huge commitment and to be successful it will take everyone
working together. Complementing EPA's efforts have been
state, tribal and local governments, citizen's environmental
organizations, and countless individuals, many of whom have
been working on pollution control for years. EPA has
developed five new themes which reflect future directions for
ensuring a cleaner environment: pollution prevention,
voluntary action, reducing risks, economic incentives, protect-
ing natural resources. It's time to develop a new pattern of
environmental management — working with nature.
developed by EPA and state and local
governments are as effective as they
should be.
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GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS
ADMINISTRATIVE CAREERS IN EPA
EPA headquarters is located in
Washington, D.C., one of the
country's most culturally-rich areas.
Although one-third of EPA's
positions are in our nation's capital,
we hire administrators at all ten
Regional Headquarters and Field
Offices. The Regional Offices are
located in major cities throughout
the U.S. with Field Offices and Labs
located in areas that geographically
and environmentally enhance each
lab's mission.
T
he future of the environment will require that diverse teams
of professionals work together to meet the growing
The following publications can \ ••- •
provide you with more information J.^
on environmental careers. J^fe*™ *
Newsletters
Environmental
Opportunities
Box 670
Walpole.NH 03608
Job-Scan
The Student
Conservation Assn., Inc.
P.O. Box 550
Charleston, NH 03603
The Job Seeker
Rt. 2. Box 16
Warrens, Wl 54666
The Nature People
Career Services
P.O. Box 98
Warrens, Wl 54666
Environmental Careers
Circulation Dept.
760 Whalers Way, Suite
100-A
Fort Collins, CO 80525
Periodicals
Resource Recycling
P.O. Box 10540
Portland. OR 97210-9893
Biocycle
Journal of Waste
Recycling
Emmaus, PA 18049
Buzzworm
P.O. Box 6853
Syracuse, NY 13217-7930
E: The Environmental
Magazine
P.O. Box 6667
Syracuse, NY 13217-7934
Garbage
P.O. Box 51647
Boulder, CO 80321-1647
Friends of the Earth
218 D Street, SE
Washington DC 20003
202 544-2600
WorldWatch
P.O. Box 6991
Syracuse, NY 13217-9942
Books
The Complete Guide to
Environmental Careers
Island Press
Box 7, Dept. 4CC
Covelo, CA 95428
demands and challenges to preserve and, when possible, restore our
environment. Individuals who have backgrounds in liberal arts,
business, accounting, law enforcement, education and many
other disciplines are essential to achieving EPA's mission. '•
Before choosing a career m the environmental field, consider
a few questions: What do you enjoy doing? Where do you excel?
How much education do you want to pursue? In other words,
narrow down your goals and then investigate the various jobs that
deal with improving the environment. There are many ways to find
out more about careers in the environment. Write or call any EPA
Human Resources Office for more information.
EPA does not necessarily endorse these publications.
This list is provided as a sample of available information
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A DAY IN THE LIFE OF
"H
ello, my name is Eric. I work in OPPTS (Office
of Prevention, Pesticides & Toxic Substances) as
Ejtelle » "I'm a budget analyst for the Office of Inspector
General (OIG). My primary responsibility is to determine
whether budget allocations are being made within the
confines of our guidelines and also to ensure
they are in line with the primary goals
of the Agency. If it sounds like a
lot of number crunching, it is.
But, number crunching is
what I enjoy. I like to see
things balance. You
might be surprised to
know that there's
actually a great deal
I
of diversity in this
kind of work. In the
OIG we deal with
every EPA office on
an on-going basis
* Things have been
changing so rapidly that my
job has remained very challeng-
ing. » Although I truly enjoyed the
work I did in the past for a private
company, I find this is the work that makes me feel
vital. Plus, the little extras are a real plus. Even though there
are so many of us here, the benefits are very people and
family-oriented — like the Flexible Work Schedule, which
almost everyone who has a family uses. It's nice to know
that if you want to, you can come in at 7:30 am and leave at 4
pm. It's the flexibility built into the Agency policies that
enhances my family life. I'm very appreciative of that."
an environmental protection specialist (EPS). Although
I'm considered a specialist, I'm learning new things every
day. We've done some pretty harsh things to our planet. I
know it takes dedication and discipline to be environ-
mentally responsible, but after
you've seen and heard some
of the things I have,
you would never
even consider the
wasteful lifestyle
you once did. ;*
The most impor-
tant part of my job
as an EPS is to draft
and issue compliance
monitoring strategies. In other
words, if a pesticide is cancelled or
suspended, my job is to instruct the regional and state
inspectors in what actions to take. •* Working with EPA
has done a lot for me to further my goals. I was originally
an attorney but wasn't feeling fulfilled. Now, I realize
there are unlimited avenues for growth. I'm working with
Susan in Human Resources to plot my career path at
EPA. What more could I ask for?"
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JOB REQUIREMENTS
FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
ADMINISTRATIVE
CAREERS
.
T
here are hundreds of rewarding and fascinating jobs in EPA
for you to investigate. Our scientific and engineering
colleagues work closely with many other specialists to develop and
implement program activities. Here at EPA, we have professionals
from every background. You will find budget analysts, environmen-
tal protection specialists, education specialists, computer specialists,
information resource specialists, program and management analysts,
economists and human resource specialists to name a few of
n Q
Students seeking undergradu-
ate degrees may prefer to
major in traditional areas
rather than concentrate on environmental
studies. Federal, state and local government
agencies often hire persons from traditional
fields and train them for environmental appli-
cations. Also, students with such educational
backgrounds are in a strong position to
compete for jobs in non-environmental
companies if they are unable to find employ-
ment in environmental fields. •» Most jobs at
EPA are in the competitive service, which
means that applicants compete with other
candidates and must be evaluated by the
Office of Personnel Management (OPM). In
order to get on the appropriate lists, contact
the nearest Federal Job Information Center to
see whether applications are being accepted in
your area for the kind of work you want. If you
are not sure what kind of work you want, a job
information specialist may be able to suggest
the type of work for which you qualify, based
on your education and experience.
the occupations which
are needed to get the
important \vork of EPA
done. Each occupation
has separate qualification
standards depending on
the position to be filled.
The following page pro-
vides information on basic
requirements for a few of
the more common admin-
istrative occupations.
-------
SELECTED JOB TITLES
AND DUTIES
U S. EPA Headquarters Library
Mail code 3201
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
" Washington DC 20460
I
f you have a specific occupational area you are interested in
and it is not listed here, please contact any EPA Human
Resources Office for more information.
AUDITOR/ACCOUNTANT « Auditors review financial and program
management. They are interested in identifying ways for the Agency to be
SL
ij,- more effective and reduce costs. Often they are required to travel to
programs both inside and outside of the Agency. * Most of the accountants
at EPA are responsible for ensuring that debits and credits are
posted to the proper accounts, correcting misapplied
charges, and disbursing funds. Some accoun-
tants are involved in developing policies
and procedures, and others work with
computer specialists to design
and maintain EPA's automated
financial management systems.
> A bachelor's degree in
accounting or a bachelor's
degree in a related field with 24
semester hours in accounting or
a certain combination of work
experience and education is
required for entry-level positions.
Graduate degrees or specialized experi-
ence is required for more advanced positions.
~\
MANAGEMENT AND PROGRAM ANALYST
In tkese positions you would serve as a staff analyst,
evaluatcr, or advisor to management. Management analysts work on
administrative management matters such as organization design.
distribution of work assignments and delegation of authorities. •* As a
program analvst you would be involved in planning, analyzing, and
evaluating EPA programs and operations. You will set and assess program
objectives and policies; measure work operations and progress; and
develop resource estimates. Qualifications vary by position and grade.
Entry-level positions require an undergraduate degree or appropriate
experience which demonstrates qualifications lor ihe specific position.
Advanced positions will require specialized experience or a graduate degree.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SPECIALIST • There are over
2,000 environmental protection specialists (EPS) who perform a wide
variety of duties at EPA. An EPS can be involved in anything from
monitoring the implementation ot environmental plans, to overseeing the
distribution and effectiveness of grants. Professionals in
this occupation work to conduct research related
to environmental programs with scientific
and engineering colleagues. •• Due
to the diversity of positions in this
occupational area, qualification
requirements are quite broad.
Entry-level positions require
either a bachelor's degree
or general experience.
Superior communication
skills are a kev lor success m
this occupational area.
*£ BUDGET ANALYST,
*fl»
CONTRACT SPECIALIST,
FINANCIAL SPECIALIST > If
you are interested in management of
financial resources, these specialities would be
for you. Budget analysts formulate budget and cost
estimates to support program plans. « Contracting services are an
integral part of getting the work done at EPA. In this capacity you would be
involved in contracting with commercial and noncommercial sources for services
and products to support EPA clients around the Agency. * Financial specialists
perform a wide variety of work in support of the Agency's various financial
functions. Many specialists are involved in development of financial policies and
procedures, while still others design formats for reporting financial information
and preparing financial reports for use by Agency management. » There are no
specific degree requirements for these occupations. Entry level jobs are usually
filled by individuals with a bachelor's degree and an interest in financial or budget
areas. You may also qualify if you have three years of experience in relevant
administrative or professional areas.
-------
HOW TO APPLY
w
:i're looking for high quality people — hard
workers and self-starters willing to persevere in
any task undertaken. Entry-level positions start at grade levels
5 and 7 of the General Schedule. Nearly 100 different types of
occupations are filled through this program, using one of two
options: a written examination or
direct appointment based upon
superior academic credentials.
'f vou have an overa" GPA of 3-5 or greater, or
graduated in the top 10% of your class, you are eligible for non-
competitive appointment for some entry-level positions
(General Schedule grades 5 and 7) through the Outstanding
Scholars Program. This allows you to submit your Application
for Federal Employment directly to an EPA office in the
geographic area of your choice. .-» A written examination
managed by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Administrative Careers with America
(ACWA) is required for all other entry-level applicants except auditors and accountants. You can find out more
about the examination, such as when and where it is given, by contacting your nearest OPM Federal Job
Information Center, or by calling (900) 990-9200. **• Individuals who qualify for auditor and accountant positions
should submit their completed Application for Federal Employment (Standard Form 171) to the nearest OPM
facility to be rated for your occupational series. Once you have received your rating you may submit your
application to an EPA office that has appropriate vacancies.
EPA HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICES
EPA Headquarters
401 M Street, SW
Room 3020
Washington, DC 20460
202 260-5055
Regional Offices
EPA Region 1
JFK Federal Building (PHP)
Boston, MA 02203
617 565-3719
EPA Region 2
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278
212 264-0016
EPA Region 3
841 Chestnut Street
8th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215 597-8922
EPA Region 4
345 Courtland Street, NE
Atlanta, GA 30365
404 347-3486
EPA Region 5
77 West Jackson Blvd
(MP-4J)
Chicago, IL 60604
312 353-2026
EPA Region 6
1445 Ross Avenue
(6M-HP) 12th Floor
Dallas, TX 75202-2733
214 655-6560
EPA Region 7
726 Minnesota Avenue
Kansas City, KS 66101
913 551-7041
EPA Region 8
999 18th Street
Suite 500
Denver, CO 80202-2405
303 293-1487
EPA Region 9
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
415 744-1111
EPA Region 10
1200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
206 553-2959
Research and
Development
Laboratories
EPA
MD-29
Research Triangle Park, NC
27711
919 541-3014
EPA
26 W Martin Luther King Dr
Cincinnati, OH 45268
513 569-7812
EPA
P.O. Box 9851 6
Las Vegas, NV 891 93-851 6
702 798-2401
Also serves labs in:
Ada, OK
Athens, GA
Corvallis, OR
Duluth, MN
Edison, NJ
Grosse Me, Ml
Gulf Breeze, FLA
Narragansett, Rl
Newport, OR
Warrenton, VA
Field Offices
EPA
CrH
Building 53
Box 25227 (DFC)
Denver, CO 80225
303 236-5114
EPA
2526 Plymouth Road
Ann Arbor, Ml 48105
313 668-4220
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Another way to help our environment—
Reuse, Recycle, Restore.
'/ \\
E° * i
PA recognizes the value of
Ws and strives for
ecti^eMJman Resources
an^gerrwnt. The Agency is
^ /
q^ally dedicated to
>«y
acbne^ng a representative
force. To this end, EPA's
olicy is to provide equal
employment opportunity for
everyone; to prohibit
discrimination in employment
because of race, color,
religion, sex, age, national
origin, or disability; and to
promote the full realization
of equal employment
opportunities on the basis of
merit and fitness through
a continuing affirmative
employment program.
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United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
National Recruitment
Program (PM 224)
Washington DC 20460
EPA 210-K92-008
August 1992
Morg
en
printed on recycled paper
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