Vol. 5, No. 8
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
August 1976
OXIDANTS, HYDROCARBONS,
AND YOU
A farmer suffers a coughing spell
while mending a fence. The early
afternoon skies are a little hazy,
but the winds are steady. No smoke-
stakes around. Who would suspect
air pollution?
His wife develops a headache and
assumes it is that fierce mid-
summer heat. But it may well be
oxidants in the air—photochemical
smog formed from emission sources in
the city, fifty miles upwind.
How oxidants get in the air we
breathe is hard to explain without
talking about photochemical reactions,
chemical precursors, and hydrocar-
bon emissions. However, two basic
facts are grasped easily: (1)
Oxidant exposure in many parts of
the United States is in gross ex-
cess of the national standard set
to protect the health and welfare
of all sectors of the population and,
(2) These high oxidant levels can be
hazardous to your health.
Where do oxidants come from? No
automobile engine or smokestack emits
oxidants. But, autos, smokestacks,
oil wells, gasoline stations, dry
cleaners and a host of other sources
emit ingredients that, when com-
bined in the atmosphere, can result
in the formation of oxidants.
It is morning. You stop on your
way to work to fuel your car. The
nozzle clanks into the intake pipe;
the pump clicks and whirrs. You
see a shimmering vapor rising.
Those are hydrocarbons. They are
given off by service stations, re-
fineries, gasoline storage areas,
and dry cleaning establishments.
Hydrocarbons also come from smoke-
stacks, automobile exhausts, and
home chimneys. Anytime fossil fuels
are burned or evaporated, we put
more hydrocarbons into the air. In
fact, many of the products which you
are accustomed to using in everyday
life, contribute hydrocarbons to
the atmosphere. Painting the backyard
fence with oil base paint or using
some of the common household cleaners
causes small amounts of hydrocarbons
to be emitted to the atmosphere.
To complicate matters further,
nature itself, expecially in rural
areas, produces significant amounts
of hydrocarbons. Thus, unlike some
of the other air pollutants, which
can be traced to a few specific
sources, hydrocarbons have many small
and diversely located origins.
Hydrocarbons rise in the air and
mix with other pollutants including
nitrogen oxides emitted from smoke-
stacks and automobile exhausts. If
it's nighttime, nothing changes these
pollutants right away. Brisk winds
carry them 40 to 50 miles into the
country. Or a high-pressure, low-
wind system may cause the stuff to
hover over the city. But as soon as
sunshine hits a pocket of mixed
hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides, a
photochemical reaction occurs,
creating oxidants (also known as
photochemical smog).
The work "oxidant" is a catchall
term that includes a lot of different
chemical compounds, but in the
(Continued on p.2)
TRIANGLE AREA
STUDENTS AWARDED
EPA SCHOLARSHIPS
There was stiff competition this
year for EPA scholarships, but five
of our local students "made it."
They were among 27 sons and
daughters of EPA'ers across the
country to receive scholarship checks
this year. Our students were Alice
Terry, George Robert Gill is, Jr. and
Janie Elizabeth Gillis, Glen
Whaley, and Wanda Margolin.
The awards were presented by Dr.
John Burchard, Director, IERL/RTP,
Mr. John H. DeFord, Director of Ad-
ministration, and Mr. Richard G.
Rhoads, Acting Director, CPDD/OAQPS.
This is the fourth time Alice Terry
has received a scholarship. She will
be a senior at UNCG this Fall and Is
majoring in special education.
Alice's mother, Abbie Terry, is an
accounts maintenance clerk, FMD/OA.
George Robert Gillis, Jr. received
his second scholarship this year. He
is attending High Point College,
High Point, N.C., where he is a
sophomore majoring in human relations.
Janie Elizabeth Gillis will be
starting her freshman year at
Methodist College in Fayetteville,
N.C., the end of August and she plans
to major in physical education.
George and Janie Gillis1 father
is a mechanical engineering techni-
cian, IERL/RTP.
Glen Whaley is a rising senior at
UNC, Chapel Hill, N.C., where he is
majoring in organic chemistry.
Glen's mother, Mary Whaley, is a
secretary in EPA's CPDD/OAQPS.
Wanda Margolin Is the second mem-
ber of her family to receive a
scholarship check. She is a sophomore
(Continued on p.8)
1
-------
Hydrocarbons...cont'd from page 1
afternoon when oxidant levels are
highest about 90% of the "oxidants"
is ozone, a form of oxygen. An
ozone molecule contains' three atoms
of oxygen whereas the life sustain-
ing form of the oxygen molecule is
composed of two atoms. This seemingly
small difference is important; ozone
can significantly affect the human
respiratory system and cause damage
to vital heart tissue.
To some, ozone may not be a bad
word at all. We know ozone as the
material in the stratosphere that
screens out harmful ultraviolet rays--
a beneficial layer that some
scientists say is getting thinner
and therefore less effective as we
keep using freon-propelled products.
But that ozone is seven miles or more
above the earth. The harmful ozone
which is a large part of the oxidant
problem is down here, all around us.
The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency has determined that the
oxidant concentration in a community's
air should not exceed .08 parts
oxidant to one million parts of air
for more than one hour, once a
year. Some industry spokesmen say
this national oxidant standard is un-
real istically low. Some medical
people say it is too high. In a
recent report prepared for Congress,
the National Academy of Sciences,
which is composed of scientists from
all fields, concluded that they
could find no basis for changing the
standard.
One of the earliest warning flags
about oxidants went up when a west-
coast study showed that long-distance
runners on a high school track team
invariably posted slower times on
days when oxidant concentrations
were high.
Later, a careful, two-year study
of 200 healthy, young nurses found
that headaches, eye irritation,
coughing, and chest discomfort in-
creased as the oxidant level in-
creased. The nurses did not know
that air pollution was even involved
in the study. They were asked to
keep diaries recording painful
symptoms of any kind.
Findings from the nurses'
diaries begin to take on meaning when
examined in the light of known pollu-
tion levels. The nurses reported
the following complaints:
- An increase in the number of
headaches when oxidant levels
were slightly above the national
standard,
- An increase in cases of eye irri-
tation when oxidant levels were
slightly below the standard,
- An increase in chest pains and
a prevalence of coughing when
oxidant levels were above twice
the national standard.
These symptoms were observed in
a group of normal, healthy, young
adults. People with chronic heart
and lung disease, such as asthmat-
ics, have been observed to experi-
ence adverse effects from exposure
to oxidant levels only about 50%
above the national standard.
In Japan, scientists have studied
public students' reaction to smog
episodes in which maximum hourly con-
centrations reached .24 ppm, a level
quite common to many American cities.
The students experienced increased
coughing, eye irritation, headaches,
and throat pain during those peak
concentration periods. Furthermore,
the students developed the same
symptoms when oxidant levels were
much lower (.10 ppm) but persisted
over a 24-hour period.
In carefully controlled labora-
tory experiments, using human sub-
jects, ozone has been observed to
cause decreased lung capacity, chest
discomfort, windpipe irritation, de-
creased general visual acuity (espe-
cially decreased night vision), and
difficulty in mental concentration.
While results from such experiments
indicate these symptoms occur only
when the ozone level is two to four
times higher tlfan the national stand-
ard, medical experts caution that:
- Such experiments are performed
using only normal healthy adults,
- Experiments do not measure the
combined effect of exposure to
more than'one pollutant at the
same time,
- Effects are measured only for
short-term exposure.
Obviously, there are limitations
to the type of experiments which can
be conducted with human subjects.
Consequently, scientists frequently
use animals to try to obtain knowledge
of the health effects of oxidant ex-
posure. While a wide variety of
harmful health effects (from simple
slow-down of activity to increased
mortality) has been observed in ex-
periments with animals, perhaps those
most disturbing to medical researchers
have been:
- Chromosome breakage,
- Irreparable damage to lung tissue,
- Breakdown in ability of the body
to resist infectious bacteria,
- The combined effect of exposure
to ozone and another pollutant
(polycyclic organic matter) which
can sharply increase the risk of
cancer as compared to breathing
either pollutant in the absence of
the other.
It is hard to relate observed
effects in animals to expected effects
in humans, but the disturbing fact is
that these symptoms have been observed
when animals breathe ozone in con-
centrations quite similar to that
found in the atmosphere. How high
are oxidant levels in the United
States? Almost a^l major cities are
(Continued on page 6)
The CLEANER TIMES n published monthly by Public
Affairs, Office of Administration. U.S Environmental Protec-
tion Agency. Research Triangle Park, N.C. 27711.
Liz Martin .. -
Dorothy Rose
Elaine Hymen ....
..... ...... Editor
__ _ Assistant Editor
_.. Reporter
Produced with the assistance of the Word Processing Center.
Graphics, Composition, and Printing Sections, ISO, Forms
and Publications Center, GSD
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WHO'S UP FRONT
The three secretaries who are "Up
Front" this month are Brenda C.
Millar, CPDD/OAQPS, Anita J. King,
ESRL/ERC, and Jean E. Ewing, PMD/OA.
this office with her talent, charm,
and efficiency, and helps to make the
day at the office a pleasant ex-
perience. We salute you, Brenda."
Brenda Millar
Brenda is secretary to Norman
Dunfee, Chief, Control Programs
Operations Branch. She has been
employed by EPA for six years.
Before joining this Agency she was
employed by the Air Force, Army, and
Internal Revenue Service.
Brenda graduated from Durham High
School and attended Kings Business
College in Charlotte, N.C. She is
married and has two sons, Kenneth,
5 years, and Kevin, one year. Her
husband, John, is a programmer at IBM.
Her hobbies are ceramics and sewing.
In talking with Brenda's supervisor
Norm Dunfee, he said, "Over the years
it has become clearly evident to me
that the focal point of any office is
its clerical staff. Most always, the
first contact with any office is with
the secretary and the impression she
makes is a penetrating and lasting
one. Her attitude generally re-
flects the character and personality
of the entire office staff. I am de-
lighted to commend Brenda Millar as
a person who consistently brightens
Anita J. King
Anita J. King is a secretary in
the Gas Kinetics and Photochemistry
Branch of ESRL. Her supervisor 1s
Dr. Joseph J. Bufalini. She also
works for the Air Characterization
and Special Projects Group.
She was born in Virginia, but has
been living in North Carolina for nine
years. She is a graduate of Hard-
barger Business College, Raleigh,
N.C. Anita has been employed by EPA
for six years. She is single and
currently lives in Parkwood. Her
hobbies are playing the piano, col-
lecting antiques, traveling and read-
ing.
When contacted, Joe Bufalini said,
"Anita is a good executive secretary.
She gets the day-by-day work done In
a pleasant and efficient manner. This
is not an easy task since the people in
our branch have diverse personalities.
Nonetheless, she accomplishes this
difficult task without a flaw. I'm
happy to have her as a secretary and
I'm certain that my co-workers feel
the same way. I'm also pleased to
hear that she has been chosen as this
month's "Up Front" secretary for ERC.
She justly deserves this honor."
(Continued on page 4)
August 26, 1920. The
Secretary of State declares
the Nineteenth Amendment law.
Women are allowed the right
to vote. It was a good day.
REPORT ON EEO COUNSELORS MEETING
by John H. DeFord, Acting EEO Director
The end of July I held a meeting with the newly appointed EEO counselors.
We discussed training for them and Jim McDuffie outlined the courses avail-
able. The basic correspondence course is available immediately to all
counselors. This course and others will help train our counselors to insure
high quality service. There are also several courses in the EEO area for
Federal employees who do not have the responsibility for managing EEO pro-
grams. Supervisors and managers are encouraged to take one of the more
comprehensive courses so that they will thoroughly understand the EEO pro-
gram and be able to implement it more effectively.
We discussed the issue of privacy at this meeting since some counselors
do not have a private office. The EEO Associates for each organization,
John Haines, OAQPS, Denny Martin, ORD, and Dee Houston, OA, will be working
closely with the counselors to provide privacy and preserve confidentiality.
All EEO Counselors are available to all EPA employees. They will serve
as a bridge between employees and management to resolve problems connected
with equal employment opportunity.
Please do not hesitate to use their services.
includes:
List of EEO Counselors
Name
Alfred Campbell
Daniel DeRoeck
Francis P. Duffield
Elaine Hyman
John Jefferies
Kathryn MacLeod
Roosevelt Rollins
Organization
Ext.
OAQPS-SASD
OAQPS-CPDD
ORD-HERL
OA-PA
OA-CMD
ORD-HERL
ORD-ESRL
291
226
2525
2952
1401
2725
1271
Location
Mutual Building
Mutual Building
ERC
Wing C, ERC
Admin. Building
Monsanto
ERC Annex
-------
Who's up Front...cont'd from page 3
Secretary is the notation that such
a person is a "loyal and trusted"
assistant. While this is clearly
true of our association, Jean brings
far more to her work including a
special measure of common sense,
absolute integrity, versatility, and
a sincere willingness to do her share
and more. She also possesses a
realistic optimism about people which
is always a desirable trait, but
which is absolutely vital in personnel
management. It is good to be able to
comment publicly about Jean's excel-
lent performance. The Federal Ser-
vice is fortunate to have people such
IN MEMORIAM
Glen A. Fairchild
Commissioned Officer
U. S. Public Health Service
Senior Research Scientist
HERL/RTP
1934 - 1976
Jean Ewing
Jean Ewing is secretary to Gerald
Groon, Director, Personnel Manage-
ment Division, OA. Jean grew up in
Pennsylvania and received her busi-
ness training from Bryant and
Stratton Business Institute in
Buffalo, N.Y. Although Jean and her
family have moved around the United
States a lot, she considers coming to
North Carolina their best move.
Prior to joining EPA she held a
variety of jobs with an auditing firm,
insurance company, military service
club, social services agency, military
college, office of the justice of the
peace, and at one time owned a motel.
Jean is married and has a family,
but still has-time to become involved
in various community activities such
as participating in the Chamber of
Commerce Board of Directors, Welcome
Wagon Club, coordinator for Meals on
Wheels, "Mother in Charge" for
kindergarten field trips and at one
time was certified by the State of
Pennsylvania as a District Magis-
trate. During her six years in
government she has received three out-
standing ratings, a QSI, a meritorious
service award and two outstanding
division awards.
Her supervisor, Jerry Groon, says,
"Included in the definition of a
MAKING FRIENDS
THE EPA WAY
It was a sunny, clear day out in
Whittier, California, last February
and a fourth grade class was out on
the playgound for their physical
education period. As they were play-
ing kickball, a balloon slowly drift-
ed down into the school yard. The
fourth graders rushed over to it and,
The following was received by
Glen Fairchild's colleagues. It is
a thoughtful tribute we would like
to share.
"Personal and scientific integrity
were the hallmarks of Glen's private
and professional life. He was
quiet and unassuming, yet highly
respected by all who knew him. Glen's
devotion to his research and to his
family was carefully and thought-
fully balanced in the way that many
seek but few attain. Long hours at
work were followed by frequent trips
to the countryside to share with his
family a deep appreciation of nature.
Glen's desire for the Agency was
depth and quality in research and con-
fidence and trust in administration.
He was sensitive to the twin problems
facing the Agency -- the need to re-
spond quickly and effectively to
much to their excitement, found a
bottle tied to the end of the balloon, immediate environmental problems,
In the bottle was a note from Paul
Haskins, EMSL, asking the person who
found the bottle to write.
According to the fourth graders'
letters "... the balloon floated down
about 1:40 p.m. and the temperature
was 75°. Arthur saw the balloon
first but his friend, Eddy, ran and
got the balloon first. I got it
second. We all jumped and the girls
screamed and we made a hole in the
balloon because we were so excited."
Paul had been in the Los Angeles
area on the L.A. catalyst study. He
and other EPA'ers were monitoring -^———————-^—^i—i—*'-^—.——
along the freeways, sampling for sul- "-"m"mi
-------
PERSON TO PERSON
Gary Rzasa, son of Frank Rzasa,
CMD/OA, was selected to play the
role of Archie Kramer in the student
production of Tennessee Williams'
"Summer and Smoke." Gary is a
student at Cary High School.
An investment club has been
formed by employees of EPA. Anyone
wishino to obtain more information
about the club may contact James
Kinn (.'1D-72), extension 2617.
Susan Sharpe, Chemical Processes
Branch, IERL/RTP, gave birth to a
9 Ib. 6 oz. boy, Samuel Norris,
July 7. Susan's husband Fred is
football and track coach at Southern
High School. Susan will return to
work September 7.
Cathy Jo Jones, AV/ISD, and
Bobby Poole, TP/ISD, were married
September 3, at 8:00 p.m. at the
First Baotist Church in Hillsborough.
We all wish them lots of luck and
happiness.
Nancy Rhew, GSD/OA, got her wish.
She gave birth to an 8 Ib. 10 oz.
girl, Kimberly Dawn, July 11.
Claire Thomas, CPDD/OAQPS, has re-
turned to work after having had heart
surgery in April. We all missed
Claire and are delighted to welcome
her back. And, incidentally, Claire
has agreed to be a recruiter for EPA's
blood program. She was one of our
regular donors until her surgery when
she realized in a very personal way
how Important EPA's blood program is.
But as Claire says, "Don't wait to
be asked to give. Blood comes only
from people, and your gift could mean
life for a sick child, an accident
victim, or a person facing surgery."
Gary L. Johnson, Environmental
Engineer with the Special Studies
Staff, Industrial Environmental Re-
search Laboratory, has been elected
Vice-Chairman of the Eastern Carol inas
Section of the American Nuclear
Society for 1976-77.
Gary was a pivotal figure in the
formation of the Eastern Carol inas
Section in the spring of 1975 and
served as Interim Chairman. He was
Chairman of the Program Committee
during 1975-76 and also served on
the Executive Committee.
Carmen Hoover, ESED/OAQPS, our FWP
"Employee of the Month" last June,
recently underwent a "bilateral
hemilaminectomy and foramenotomy"
which sounds serious even if you do
not know what that is. Actually, it
is a complex surgical procedure in-
volving the vertebra at the base of
the neck. The operation was a
success, and Carmen has been dis-
charged from the hospital and is con-
tinuing her recovery at home. We all
miss her pretty face and enthusiasm
and look forward to her return in the
near future.
The Eastern Carol inas Section of
the American Nuclear Society repre-
sents scientists and engineers in the
eastern Piedmont and Coastal Plains
regions of the two Carol inas who are
interested in the study of the atomic
nucleus and the benefits to be
derived by mankind. In one year, over
eighty professionals have joined the
Eastern Carol inas Section.
Lula Knotts has a brand new hus-
band, Kenneth Murphy, of Durham.
The couple was married July 10, in
Sanford, N.C. Mrs. Murphy is a
Personnel Clerk in PMD/OA. Con-
gratulations and best wishes to both
of you.
Carol Whaley, daughter of Mary
Whaley, CPDD/OAQPS, is spending the
summer in Tunisia as an American
Field Service exchange student. Carol
left the U.S. June 21 and is living
with a Tunisian family. She speaks
French with the family and is learn-
ing some Arabic. She will return
to this country late August.
IN MEMORIAM
Ernest T. Allen, Jr.
Biological Laboratory Technician
Health Effects Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park
1943 - 1976
The editors of the Cleaner Times
and all friends and associates of
Miriam Harper, ISD/OA, extend their
deepest sympathy to her on the death
of her husband, Alan A. Harper,
July 28, 1976.
The Facilities Management Branch,
GSD/OA, welcomes Shirley Walston,
who will be working in Preventive
Maintenance for one year.
CHANGE IN
MAIL DROP NUMBER
In order to ensure that copies of
the "Cleaner Times" reach all
employees at their respective mail
drops, we would appreciate it if
employees changing jobs or locations
would notify the Public Affairs
Office immediately, so that we can
change our records accordingly.
REFERENCE MATERIALS
IN
PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE
The Public Affairs Office, C-233,
Tech Center, receives single copies
of speeches, statements, and con-
gressional testimony by EPA officials
along with all press releases from
EPA's Washington Press Office. These
are reference copies only. They may be
used in the Public Affairs Office or can
be checked out for a week at a time.
Recent speeches are listed below.
Russell E. Train, EPA Administrator:
"Making Regulation Work," National
Conference on Regulatory Reform,
Washington, D.C., May 26, 1976.
Remarks prepared for delivery at the
International Waste Equipment and
Technology Exposition, Chicago,
Illinois, June 2, 1976.
"Controlling the Risks That We
Create: The Need for Toxic Sub-
stances Control Legislation," Spring
Luncheon Drug, Chemical and Allied
Trades Association, New York, New
York, June 17, 1976.
John R. Quarles, Jr., EPA Deputy
Administrator:
"Beyond NEPA," Conference on the En-
vironmental Impact Statement Process
Under NEPA, Co-Sponsored by the Cen-
ter for Administrative Justice of the
American Bar Association and the En-
vironmental Law Institute, Washington,
D.C., June 4, 1976.
In the last issue of the "Cleaner
Times" we invited employees to sub-
mit their opinions regarding recent
changes in the format and content of
the newsletter. We are sorry to say
there was a very poor response to our
request. However, from the replies
received, we feel the "Cleaner
Times" is heading in the right
direction. Comments and suggestions
are always welcome, and so is news.
Don't be bashful. Let us hear from
you.
-------
The Path of Pollution
O3=Ozone
PREVAILING
WINDS
OZONE
FORMATION
BEGINS
POLLUTANTS
^. :;«=>•!",,
HIGH
\ OZONE
New York Cit
New York City's auto and industrial pollutants, transformed into ozone by the sun, have their
most serious effect in Connecticut and parts of Massachusetts 200 miles northeast of the city.
in violation of the national standard.
That is their citizens are breathing
oxidant at more than .08 parts per
million for at least an hour, more
than once a year. On midsummer days
when skies are sunny, temperatures
high and winds sluggish, urban people
may breathe oxidant concentrations
twice the national standard for eight
or more consecutive hours. If there
is wind, these pollutants can spread
more than fifty miles into rural areas
Hydrocarbon emissions from a Youngs-
town, Ohio plant may eventually add
to oxidant concentrations breathed
by a Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
farmer.
Quantitatively speaking, where do
emissions come from—these hydrocar-
bons that later become oxidants?
About half of our hydrocarbons come
from motor vehicles. A 1970 model
car produces ten times as much hydro-
carbon as a 1975 model. By 1985,
when almost all of the high polluting
clunkers are at rest in junkyards, we
will have reduced the national hydro-
carbon output from automobiles to
about one-third of its 1970 level. So
that part of the solution is moving
along.
Meanwhile, new factories are
cranking up their furnaces, paint
booths and degreasing lines. More
service stations are being built, more
oil wells drilled, and refineries
expanded. Dry cleaners are continu-
ing their open-vat processing, and
you keep repainting the backyard
fence. Half of the hydrocarbons
that later result in the formation of
photochemical oxidants originally
come from these stationary (non-
vehicular) sources. Mother nature
compounds the problem, or, rather,
we compound the problem of naturally
produced oxidants. Anywhere there
is plant growth, rotting forest
humus and other natural organic pro-
cesses going on, there is a produc-
tion of natural hydrocarbons.
Scientists estimate that natural
sources can contribute as much as .04
parts per million to the oxidant
concentration. That is half the
national standard coming from natural
sources alone, which explains why it
does not take much additional pol-
lution from the city to start the
farmer coughing.
But work by scientists at the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency in-
dicates, that even though it may not
be possible to reduce oxidant levels
to the national standard in all
places in the near future, the risk
of adverse health effects can be
substantially reduced just through
relatively small reductions in present
oxidant levels. This is particularly
true for those places where oxidant
levels above about .20 ppm are ex-
perienced.
For example, using the best and
latest available data, EPA statisti-
cians have computed the effects of
oxidant exposure as it relates to six
symptoms—aggravation of heart and
lung disease, aggravation of asthma,
chest discomfort, eye discomfort,
cough and headache. From this work
EPA estimates that when the second
highest hourly oxidant concentration
is reduced from .30 ppm to .15 ppm,
there is a 902 reduction in the
health effects indicated by the six
named symptoms. There is reason to
believe other adverse health effects
would similarly be reduced. So,
even though the national standard
might seem unattainable in the near
future, many cities with severe
oxidant problems can receive sub-
stantial health effects gains through
small improvements in peak oxidant
levels.
Fortunately, there is proven
technology available to greatly re-
duce oxidant levels. Much of this
technology can be used without
seriously disrupting normal life
styles. Also new and improved
technology is being developed, and
there is promise that this techno-
logy can be consistent with the
nation's economic and energy needs.
However, if we want to receive
these health benefits, we are going
to have to accept some changes. A
closed system dry cleaning plant may
charge you an extra nickel for
cleaning your winter coat. When your
service stations install completely
closed pumping and storage systems
your gasoline costs may rise slightly
(less than a penny per gallon). How-
ever, some optimistic industry
watchers say that when gasoline pro-
ducers convert to non-vented storage
and handling systems, they may save
enough fuel to offset the cost of the
new equipment. In addition, the
nation would realize an energy savings
of millions of barrels of fuel now lost
annually to evaporation at dozens of
points between the oil well and your
gas tank.
Everytime an auto manufacturer
paints a fender, it releases hydrocar-
bons in the air, just as you do when
you paint the backyard fence. For the
(Continued on page 8)
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ALASKA 49
It was hot and cold, rainy and
dry, sunny and cloudy, but most of
all, big and mosquitoey. That is how
John Robson and his three children
found Alaska during their July vaca-
tion. Robson, a community planner
in SASD, returned to EPA August 2
after keeping an age-old promise to
visit his brother, who lives in Fair-
banks.
Much of the time was spent
traveling. He and his children
drove to Buffalo where they left the
car with his sister. Then they flew
to Seattle, took the Alaska State
Ferry up the Inside Passage to
Skagway, and rode the narrow-gauge
White Pass and Yukon Railroad to
Whitehorse, VT. There they were met
by his brother who had a camper. The
five proceeded up to Dawson City, west
to Tetlin Junction, and north to
Fairbanks. Side trips from Fairbanks
were made by commercial airlines, a
bush plane, and an old, borrowed
Chrysler. The return trip was by air
to Buffalo, and car to Chapel Hill.
The narrow gauge railroad trip was
a highlight. After three nights and
two days of rain on the ferry trip,
the four climbed out of the gloom and
into a sunny, warm Yukon. They
forwent their seats in order to stand
outside for better views of the
spectacular scenery and, of course,
to experience the clackety-clack that
once was the so-very-familiar sound
of trips by rail. The railroad served
lunch by Lake Bennett—the headwaters
of the Yukon River—which must rank
as one of the most beautiful lakes
in the world.
The side trip to the North Slope
was somewhat uncomfortable, but very
rewarding. The four flew to Barrow,
with backpacks, explored every corner
of that small Eskimo community, slept
on the shore of the Arctic Ocean, and
then flew to Prudhoe Bay to see the
ARCO and BP oil field development.
The discomfort came several ways.
First, it was cold. North Carolina
sleeping bags are not made for sleep-
ing on the beach of a breezy Arctic
Ocean, which at that time was still
frozen. Second, there was no escape
from eternal sunlight. This can be
more destabilizing than jet lag.
Third, the oil workers in Prudhoe--
who had never seen children on the
North Slope—gave the four so much
food that they were not ready to eat
again for a day.
Other side trips included a three-
day backpacking trip on Pinnell Mt.
just south of the Arctic Circle, a
three-day camping trip at Mt. McKin-
ley, a one-day canoe trip along 20
miles of the Chena River, and a visit
to Alakaket, an Indian village above
the Arctic Circle, by bush plane.
They will never forget the mosqui-
toes --mosquito netting is a must in
many places—and the experience of
hiking through tundra, which must be
one of the most difficult mediums for
hiking.
TRIANGLE AREA RECYCLING
INFORMATION FROM THE
SIERRA CLUB NEWSLETTER
Chapel Hill
Aluminum--Bins at Glen Lennox and
Elliot Road Fire Stations and behind
Municipal Building (Cadette Troup 59).
Pick-ups at University Mall every
other Wed., 2-3:30 p.m.; next date
Nov. 12 (Reynolds Aluminum).
Glass—Clear and green, Plant Road
Glass Depot (Boy Scout Troup 39).
Newspaper—Collection dumpsters at
Plant Road Glass Depot, Elliot Road
and Glen Lennox Fire Stations, Wilson
library, Carrboro Town Hall (Town).
Plastic—Gallon milk and juice jugs
with caps, Plant Road (Ecos).
Durham
Aluminum—Pick-ups at Northgate every
other Tues., noon-1:30; next date
Nov. 11 (Reynolds Aluminum).
Glass—Clear and green, no metal
rings, Northgate, second Sat. of each
month, 10:00-noon.
Paper—Newspaper bought by Paper
Stock Dealers, 410 Clay St., Mon.-
Fri., 8-12, 1-5, 604 per 100 Ib.
Newspapers, magazines, cardboard ac-
cepted by Reclamation Systems, Hoover
Rd., weekdays 8-8, Sat. 8-12; pay-
ment for loads over 400 Ib.
NEW PUBLICATIONS
The following is a list of new
publications which are available from
the Public Affairs Office, C-235
(MD-31):
Farmers-Know Your Responsibilities
Under the Federal Pesticide Law
Save Energy, Air, Money - Carpool
It To Work
Air Pollution is Hazardous to Your
Health
Clean Air - The Breath of Life
Radioactive Wastes
EPA - Emission Investigations Report
Charlie Was Just a Chipmunk
Health Effects of Air Pollutants
A Drop to Drink (Revised)
Noise Control Programs of the
Federal Government
The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide,
and Rodenticide Act (as amended
11/28/75)
Aluminum—154 per Ib. for cans and
104 per Ib. for scrap at Reynolds
Recycling Plant, 908 Downtown Blvd.,
Tues.-Sat., 8:30-5:00.
Glass—Clear and green, next col-
lection at Jaycee Park on last Sat.
in Feb., 9:00-1:00.
Paper—25 bins for newspapers and
magazines throughout Raleigh; call
Raleigh Rescue Mission for nearest
location or deliver to the Mission at
211 S. Person St., Mon.-Sat., 6 a.m.
to 10 p.m.
For more information call the
agencies sponsoring the recycling.
Q «c stiiif
PERSONNEL CORNER
The following awards were
approved during July 1976:
QUALITY SALARY INCREASES:
Audrie K. McCauley - HERL
Nadine W. Vogel - HERL
CONTINUED SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE
AWARD:
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CONFERENCES
International Conference on Photo-
chemical Oxldant Pollution and Its
Control, Raleigh, N.C. , September
12-17. Contact: Dr. A. P. Altshuller,
Director, ESRL, U.S. EPA.
TRAINING COURSES
The following courses have been
scheduled to be conducted locally:
National Conference on Energy and
the Environment, Cincinnati, Ohio,
October 5-7. Contact: Air Pollution
Control Association, 4400 Fifth
Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
15213.
m»» « « » « 8 m » tit »»»««« jJUMML'JUUL'
Les Assises Internationales de
1 'Environnement, with session on
industrial pollution, urban environ-
ment and health and environment,
Paris, France, December 6-10. Con-
tact: Les Assises Internationales
de 1 ' Environnement, 40 rue du Col i see,
75008 Paris, France.
1977 Environmental Technology
Meeting and Equipment Exposition,
Marriott Hotel, Los Angeles,
California, April 23-27, 1977. Dead-
line for submission of abstracts is
September 15, 1976. Contact:
S. Baber, IES Technical Program Chair-
man -AM '77, Boeing Aerospace Co.,
P. 0. Box 3999, MS-86-09, Seattle,
Washington 98124.
September
Factor Evaluation System of
Classification
September 21-23, 1976 $100.00
Contract Project Officers Course
September 28-30, 1976
No tuition
n 11 jii JMMML' JUUUUUUUUAJ _« _« ' JUULV**.
October
Listening and Memory Development
October 21-22, 1976 $100.00
llimillllli ttttiitt a o iio»oo o o
November
Personnel Management for Super-
visors
November 16-18, 1976 $125.00
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
The following IERL/RTP employees
are scheduled to attend conferences
and give presentations:
J. Abbott, Chief, Particulate
Technology Branch, D. Drehmel ,
Research Chemical Engineer, and R.
Statnick, Chemist, 82nd National
Meeting, AIChE, Atlantic City, N.J.,
August 29-September 1 .
December
Accelerated Reading
December 6-10, 1976
$150.00
A symposium on "Methods and
Standards for Environmental Measure-
ment," will be held September 20-24,
in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Discus-
sion will center on the need for
improved measurement methods and
standards for measuring air and
water pollution. Contact: R. B.
Johnson, Materials Building, Rm.
B-348, National Bureau of Standards,
Washington, D.C. 20234.
Optional Form 170 is due at least
30 days prior to the starting date
of each course.
This list represents only those
courses that have been confirmed.
Other courses will be added to the
list as soon as they are confirmed.
Hydrocarbons. ..cont'd from page 6
auto makers, the answer may be a
dry-flake type of paint that is
applied to the fender then melted as
it passes through an oven. For you
and the fence, the answer will lik'ly
be a water based paint which contains
fewer hydrocarbons.
Yes, you too can help. That extra
trip you make to the grocery store
adds a small amount of hydrocarbons
to the atmosphere. Your car, when
properly tuned, produces far less
hydrocarbons than when untuned. Car-
B. Harris, Sanitary Engineer,
ASME Textile Engineering Con-
ference, Charlotte, N.C., September 14,
and Engineering Foundation Conference
on Emission Sampling for Source
Evaluation, Houston Woods, Ohio,
September 15.
ji o o « a o mmmoooooimili «JUUL.UUUI
J. Kilgroe, Mechanical Engineer,
4th National Conference on Energy
and the Environment, Cincinnati,
Ohio, October 5-7.
U. Kuykendal, Mechanical Engineer,
and R. Statnick, Chemist, ASME
Committee Meeting, Cincinnati, Ohio,
October 7.
^0 0 0 0 0 0 P 0 0 0 « 9 OJ Qj » 0^ 0 0 » « B ttttS
J. Williams, Chemical Engineer,
150th Meeting, Electrochemical
Society, Inc., Las Vegas, Nevada,
October 18-22.
R. Stern, Chief, Process
Technology Branch, 69th Annual Meet-
ing, AIChE, Chicago, Illinois,
November 28-December 2.
R. Hall, Research Mechanical
Engineer, 1976 ASME Winter Annual
Meeting, New York, N.Y.,
December 5-9.
pools can greatly reduce hydrocarbon
emissions while cutting down on
traffic problems. When practicable,
water based paints should be used, and
open burning of trash should be avoided.
Equally important, your local and
state governments need your support
for programs such as annual inspec-
tion and maintenance of autos to en-
sure that hydrocarbon reductions are
being achieved. Collectively, you,
industry and government at all levels
can provide clean air for your com-
munity.
Scholarships. . .cont'd from page 1
at NCSU, Raleigh, N.C., where she is
majoring in psychology. Wanda's
sister, Susan, had received two scholar-
ship awards from EPA.
The EPA Scholarship Fund, which
was established five years ago, comes
primarily from honoraria and fees of-
fered to Agency officials for
speeches and published magazine
articles.
Scholarship applicants must be
children of career employees having
at least three years of service, and
must be full-time students at an ac-
credited college or junior college.
Children of deceased or disabled
employees are also eligible. Selec-
tion is based both on need and
academic performance.
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