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Vol. 6, No. 5
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
May 1977
  EMSL  On  The  Front  Line:

        The  Catalyst  Study

   Five  years ago most of us had never  heard of the
catalytic converter.  Now it's a household word.
   Catalytic converter:  it reduces emissions of car-
bon  monoxide and hydrocarbons—cutting  down on pollu-
tion from our automobile.
   But shortly after  adoption of the converter, con-
cern was expressed about sulfuric acid  emissions from
catalyst equipped cars.  Even though the catalyst re-
duced some harmful emissions, questions arose about
the  public health impact of HpSO, emissions.
   That's when the Environmental Monitoring and Sup-
port Laboratory (EMSL) began one of the most exten-
sive field studies ever undertaken—the monitoring of
auto emissions on the Los Angeles freeway.
   Charles E. Rodes has been the project officer on
this 21/2 year study and EMSL recently arranged a
two-day  symposium where scientists from all over the
country  came to discuss the results.
   Most  importantly,  data from the Los  Angeles Cata-
lyst Study (LACS) indicate that sulfate contributions
from freeway traffic  are substantially  less than orig-
inally expected and do not appear to present a problem
at this  time.  Other  results from the LACS study indi-
cate that emissions of carbon monoxide, lead, and par-
ticulates have decreased along the freeway by approx-
imately  25 percent from 1975 to 1976.  Background
levels of these pollutants have remained essentially
constant, although the study has shown  a significant
decrease in background levels of sulfates in the L.A.
area.
   The resulting decrease of CO and particulates are
attributed to the catalyst, while the use of unleaded
gasoline has caused the reduction in ambient lead.
(continued on page 2)
                           The  SASS  Train
                           By Bill  Kuykendal/Dorothy Rose
                            Jim McLean  and Wayne Fowler

                  The SASS Train—does that  conjure up visions  of Xmas
               and a model train  running around  the tree in between the
               presents?  Well, EPA's new SASS Train isn't a toy.  It's
               a primary component in EPA's  environmental assessment
               program.
                  In the next  several years,  a number of promising new
               energy conversion  techniques  will be developed and
               demonstrated.   Many of these  techniques will make use of
               our abundant fossil fuel resources and hold great prom-
               ise toward alleviating the nation's reliance on  foreign
               sources of energy.  These same energy conversion tech-
               niques, by virtue  of the fact they are new, pose an un-
               known potential  environmental  impact.  Faced with the
               task of determining the extent of this environmental
               impact, the Industrial Environmental Research Laboratory
               (IERL) currently has underway a number of environmental
               assessment programs whose goals are to characterize the
               total emissions from specific processes.
                  Because conventional sampling  and analytical  methods
               were not suited for the comprehensive requirements of
               (continued on page 2)

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(SASS TRAIN (continued from page 1)
environmental  assessment studies,  lERL's Process
Measurements Branch has developed  a  new approach.
   The SASS Train  has  the  primary  function of sampling
stacks which are the major source  of air emissions in
most processes.  Since the idea  behind the SASS Train
is to detect all emissions,  the  system was designed to
separate  the sample into three basic fractions:  par-
ticulates, organic vapors,  and inorganic vapors.
   The SASS Train  extracts a sample  using a conventional
sampling  probe heated  to 200°C to  prevent condensation.
The  particulate fraction of the  sample is removed by
three cyclones and a  filter.  This approach gives four
particulate size fractions which is  useful information in
evaluating particulate collection  device efficiencies.
These four size fractions  are selected in order to sepa-
rate the  particulate  into  respirable and nonrespirable
size fractions which  is also useful  information from a
health effects standpoint.
   After  removing  the  particulate, the filtered sample
is cooled to 20°C  and  passes through an organic sorbent
trap.  This sorbent material  has a very high affinity
for  organic vapors and effectively removes them from the
gas  stream for later  analysis.   The  final element in the
SASS Train is  a series of  four  impingers placed in an ice
bath.  These impingers remove acid gases, vapor phase
metals such as mercury, and water  vapor.
   A key  element in the success  of the SASS Train lies
in the large volume of samples  processed through the
train.  Since  30 cubic meters of sample are drawn through
the  system, it is  possible to detect very low concentra-
tions of  any of the components  of  interest.  Analysis is
performed on each  of  the  three  fractions of the sample
using techniques  including spark source mass spectrom-
etry, gas chromotography,  low resolution mass spectrom-
etry, atomic absorption, microscopy, and bioassay.
   This approach  is expected to  yield  the most  compre-
hensive data  to date  to  characterize the total  emissions
from stationary sources.
   The SASS Train  is  commercially  available from
Aerotherm Division of Acurex Corporation and  is built to
lERL's specifications. High collection efficiencies for
particulate,  organic, and  inorganic  components  have  been
demonstrated  which makes this a very valuable tool  in
 implementing  a phased environmental  assessment  program.

Thank you Leona Colglazier for  the following suggestion:
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

   Vandy Duffield,  HERL,  spoke to  a  9th  grade  social
studies class at Githens  Jr.  High  School  May 10, on
EPA/RTP.

   Robert KcCrillis, a mechanical  engineer in  the
Metallurgical Processes Branch, IERL/RTP, presented  an
overview of EPA's program for research and development
of technology for controlling air  and water pollution
from the iron and steel industry at  the  American Soci-
ety of Mechanical Engineers Fifth  National Air Pollu-
tion Control Symposium held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
May 11-12.

   Dr. Tom Wagner,  HERL,  will give a general overview
of EPA in North Carolina  to the Chapel  Hill Kiwanis
Club on May 31.

   On October  17, Dennis Drehmel and James Abbott, IERL,
will attend an ECE  Fine Particle Symposium in Austria.
They are co-authors of papers on Joint US/USSR tests of
a hot-side  ESP at Duke Power Company's Allen  Plant and
Joint US/USSR  tests of a venturi scrubber at  the Nikopol
ferroalloy  plant.
'Tis a Hard Day's Night
Someone  has figured out that we move in our sleep on
an  average of once every 15 minutes. A person weighinq
100 pounds, changing position 4 times an hour, would
move 400 pounds an hour. If he spends 8 hours in bed,
he  will  move 3200 pounds every night.
                        X - RATED
          Giving Blood is for the mature only.
     17 and up admitted without parental permission.
             Call Public Affairs, ext.  2952.
EMSL ON THE	 (continued from page 1)
By contrast, the background contribution of oxides of
nitrogen increased 50 percent, from 38 to 56 micro-
grams per cubic meter, in the same time period.  How-
ever, the catalyst was not designed to control  for
NO  emissions.
   Charles said that Southern California was chosen
for the study site because of the heavy traffic vol-
ume; total sulfur emissions from non-automotive
sources are relatively low compared to the rest of
the nation; and California's stricter standards for
automotive emissions have resulted in a larger per-
centage of catalyst equipped cars on the highway.
   Dr. Thomas Mauser, Acting Director, EMSL, said,
"This study has provided the only EPA active inform-
ation base specifically designed to monitor the impact
of catalyst-equipped cars.  The range of measurements
coupled with the extensive quality assurance programs
during the sampling and analysis processes will also
assist EPA in examining a variety of equally important
issues such as oxidant control strategy and establish-
ment of a lead standard."

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Operation Records
Disposition
             Storage and Retrieval System
   Are you  being inundated with  mounds of nemos,
letters,  and  reports that are literally pushing you  out
of your office?  Don't grieve—store and retrieve!
   Are you  aware that EPA has a  comprehensive storage
and retrieval  program administered by Stacy Blackman,
GSD/OA?
   In a very  simple manner you can make a cleansweep in
your office.   David Westmoreland has boxes in the ware-
house.  All you need is a standard supply requisition.
C. J, Snyder  keeps a list of numbers for the boxes.
Once you  have the boxes and a number, fill out a re-
quest for moving services and forward to John Bayer  for
box pickup.
   In a large room in the Beaunit R & D Annex, lined
with row upon row of shelves, your box of records will
find a home in its proper numerical sequence.
   Under the  Freedom of Information Act, this room must
be kept locked at all times.   There is only one key
available which is kept by Stacy.  Once your materials
are stored  and you then find it  necessary to retrieve
a report, Stacy is only a phone  call away.
 North  Carolina  Legislation:
                                              m
Bottle  Bill                 ^     /KV
Update
   The Bottle  Bill  (H B #697, a bill  to  reduce litter
and solid waste  attributable to beverage containers at
the source)  was  introduced April  1st  by  Rep. Charles
Webb and sent  to the House Committee  on  Water and Air
Resources.
   As we go  to press, we find the bill has been killed.
   Each year in  North Carolina, over  75  million beer
and soft drink containers are littered on roadsides,
beaches, parks,  shopping areas, and private property.
Laid end-to-end  they would stretch from  the Atlantic
coast to the Tennessee border and back again five
times.
   These containers and their related materials com-
prise 20-60% of  total litter depending on how it is
counted.  Cans account for 77% of the container portion,
throwaway bottles 19%, and refillables only 4%.
   In a recent speech EPA Administrator  Costle said,
"EPA is concerned with the conservation of resources
essential  to our well-being.  Resources on which we
depend, such as  essential minerals and metals and
energy from  fossil fuels, are ultimately non-renewable,
yet we consume—and throw away--these materials as
though they  were unlimited.   In our hearts, we know
that our "throw  away" habit is not sustainable."
   For a status  report on bills in the North Carolina
Legislature, call Raleigh, 733-7779, and ask for
legislative  information.

SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE
   The Shuttle Bus Service has been in existence for
approximately  nine months and has been well received.
As many as 50  people have used the bus in one day.
Lewis Quinn, the driver, maintains a  tight schedule and
gets people  where they want to go, when  they want to
get there.   More people are encouraged to take
advantage of this excellent service.
      C.J.  Snyder  (left) and Naomi  Teasley (right)
                                                          The CLEANER TIMES is published monthly by Public Affairs,
                                                          Office of Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
                                                          Research Triangle Park, N. C. 27711
                                                          Liz Martin 	  Editor
                                                          Dorothy Rose 	 Assistant Editor
                                                          Elaine Hyman 	Reporter
                                                          Produced with the assistance of the Word Processing Center;
                                                          Graphics, Composition, Printing Sections, and Forms and Publica-
                                                          tions Center, GSD.

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Personnel    Corner
   Every employee should be  sure that benefits under
retirement, Federal  Employee's Group-Life Insurance,
and leave laws will  be paid  in accordance with his
wishes.  From time to time,  there may be changes in
employee's family status—marriage, death, births--
which might affect his or her preference as to who
should receive these benefits following his death.
If he has not already designated a beneficiary, the
following order of precedence will apply for the pay-
ment of lump-sum retirement  benefits, group-life insur-
ance, unused annual  leave, and unpaid salary:
     1 .   To your spouse;
     2.   If there is none,  then to your child or
          children in equal  shares, with the share
          of any deceased child distributed among
          the descendants of that child;
     3.   If none of these,  then to your parents in
          equal shares, or the entire amount to the
          surviving  parent;
     4.   If none'of these,  then to the executor or
          administrator of your estate;
     5.   If none of these,  then to the other next
          of kin entitled under the laws of the State
          in which you lived.
   It is not necessary to designate a beneficiary
unless you wish payment to be made in a way other than
the order of precedence shown above.  Make a review of
                                           f
your situation now.   If you  want to make any changes in
designation of beneficiaries, contact the Processing
and Records Office,  Personnel Management Division,
extension 1321.

Person-to-Person
   The Sound of Carolina Chapter of Sweet Adelines,
Inc., Gary, North Carolina,  won the small chorus award
and its director won the chorus director award.  Com-
petition was held in Charlotte, April 15-16.  There
were 21 choruses competing.  Velma Gray, CMD/OA, sings
lead in the chorus.   Anyone  Interested in singing with
these gals can visit the Sound of Carolina Chapter on
Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m., at the First United Methodist
Church in Cary.  It's a lot  of fun and you can meet and
sing with a group of tenors, leads, baritones, and
basses in region 14 which encompasses North Carolina,
South Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee and D.C.
Open House for prospective new members is being held
at the church May 24.  So come on out and be heard!
              Brain  Teaser
            By Frank Clay (Roving Reporter)

   The last "Brain Teaser" in the Cleaner Times  had a
typographical  error in  it which made the puzzle  impos-
sible to solve.   The last line of that puzzle  referred
to Ms. Othamar having received a French oven as  a
birthday present when it  should have been Mr.  Othamar
who received the French oven as a birthday present.
(I'm a victim of Womens'  Lib.)  At any rate, here  is
a nearly identical puzzle.
   Ms. Smith,  Ms.  Yancey, Ms. Baker, Ms. Idol, and
Ms. Lancer all went shopping at Macey's.  They bought
a copy of Snoopy and the  Red Baron,  a pair of  shoes,
Oriental cookware, a riding crop, and a pair of  water
skis.  Each lady bought only one item and went directly
to the floor that sold  the item that she bought.   Every-
one got on the elevator at the first floor except
Ms. Lancer.  A lady who was returning to get the car
keys that she had left  in the bathroom on the  third
floor also got on the elevator as well as an attractive
young woman with long beautiful hair.  The only  married
lady in the group bought  a riding crop on the  fourth
floor while the lady who  bought the Oriental cookware
got off the elevator with the lady who left her  car
keys in the bathroom.   Ms. Idol got off the elevator
with the attractive young woman with long beautiful
hair, while Ms.  Smith was the last person to leave the
elevator.  If books are sold on the first floor; shoes
are not sold on the fifth floor, and Mister Yancy
received the water skis as a birthday present, what did
each of these women buy?
   To find the answer,  simply list the names of  the
women in a column in the  order given in the problem.
Then list the items purchased in a columr beginning with
the last item first.  The item each lady bought  will
appear to the right of  the lady's name.
   Dana Lloyd, OA/CMD, and her husband, Ronnie, are the
 proud parents of a little girl, Melissa Lee, born
 April 14, weighing 9 Ibs.  13 ozs.
Speakers  Bureau Kit
   The Public Affairs  Staff has prepared a  Speakers
Kit to assist EPA  employees who go out on speaking
assignments.   The  Kit  contains a general speech about
EPA nation-wide and  North Carolina 1n particular; a
list of quotations and suggested openings;  a  film bro-
chure and addendum;  a  "Request for Speaker" card and
brochure describing  Speakers Bureau; an evaluation
form; a bibliography;  and samples of selected handouts.
   The Kit, designed as an aid to anyone making a pre-
sentation, is available to all EPA employees.  Just
drop a line to the Public Affairs office, MD-31 , or
call ext. 2951.
   Dr. Norbert Jaworski, IERL/RTP, was the  first
speaker to use the kit and he said it was a big help.
He said the students at N. C. State University were
interested in the  various publications; however, he
thought they were  more Interested 1n careers  at EPA.

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State-of-the-Art
   John Silvasi of Control Programs Development  Divi-
sion, OAQPS, has recently been elected secretary of  the
Durham-based North Carolina Lyric Opera,  Inc.  (NCLO).
He and his wife, Kathy, have been actively associated
with the NCLO since its creation over a year ago.  They
have served as advisors, photographers, writers, pub-
licity assistants, and warm bodies.
   John became interested in NCLO through his  former
violin instructor, Jerrold Posner, who is the  general
manager and a co-founder of NCLO.  Jerry's wife,
Katherine, is artistic director of the NCLO and  a  for-
mer national winner of the Metropolitan Opera  auditions,
perhaps the highest award that can be bestowed on  an
aspiring singer in the United States.
   Opera is perhaps the most expensive and comprehensive
of the performing arts.  It combines drama, music
singing, and even dancing in some cases,  along with  the
visual arts such as in costumes and sets, and poetry.
Will the fledgling opera company survive?  So far, the
company has had very limited resources to pursue oper-
atic ventures, but NCLO is banking on the Increasing
popularity of opera.  To quote from one of NCLO's  pro-
posals:
   "Opera is catching on in America.  There are  now
   some 1400 locations in the United States where  opera
   is given regularly.  There are college and university
   productions, community and professional productions.
   Thousands of people, including an increasing  number
   of young people, are fast becoming enthusiastic
   opera-goers...In an era when people want a sense  of
   personal contact with the performing artist,  it is
   not surprising that opera has become increasingly
   popular."
   Last May, the NCLO staged its first production,
Puccini's "Sister Angelica," an opera about a nun  who
has had an illegitimate child prior to entering  the
convent.  John recalled that the performances were very
moving.  "My wife, who was taking photographs during
the rehearsal, cried at the end of the rehearsal and at
the end of each of the two performances," he reports.
   Between 500 and 600 persons attended the two  perform-
ances.  The local newspapers gave very favorable re-
views and hailed the arrival of the new opera company.
   Although the NCLO has not yet undertaken a second
production, a proposal for a mamnouth project is cur-
rently under consideration for funding—the establish-
ment of an annual summer festival of opera by 1978.
The festival would combine performances of several
operas accompanied by orchestra with an apprentice-
artist program.  The program would afford young  artists
an opportunity to study and perform in a  highly  pro-
fessional environment with performers and stage  direc-
tors from leading opera houses throughout the United
States.   The festival would employ the members of the
North Carolina Symphony who are otherwise unemployed
during the summer months.
   The proposal  has received enthusiastic endorsements
from Governor Hunt; Sara Hodgkins, Secretary for Cul-
tural Resources; John Gosling, Artistic Director and
Conductor of the North Carolina Symphony and others.
   NCLO has received a small grant from the North
Carolina Arts Council to help defray costs while it
seeks funding for the proposal.
   John Silvasi  and his wife have drafted portions of
the proposal for the festival, which would have a first-
year budget of $500,000.  "I have found that my writing
experience in EPA has been of tremendous help in draft-
ing material for the NCLO," John said.  John's main
responsibilities at EPA include drafting of regulations
and guidelines concerning the state implementation plans
required under the Clean Air Act.  John has been with
EPA since 1971,  having spent his first year with EPA's
regional office  in Philadelphia before relocating to
North Carolina.
Merit Promotion Announcements

   In order to provide  up-to-date information about
Merit Promotion Announcements, a special telephone
number has been set aside where employees can call for
information about the announcements that are open.
   This service has been  publicized by articles in the
Cleaner Times, news releases  to the local newspapers,
publicized by an announcement EPA-Nationwide, and posted
on bulletin boards.  Despite  these efforts, we are in-
formed that not everyone  is aware of the service.  The
number to call for information is extension 1339.  The
FTS number is 629-1339.
   Although the service is intended to be supplementary
to official bulletin board postings, it has complete
and current listings.  It's an easy way to be aware of
promotional opportunities.
 THE FOLLOWING AWARDS WERE APPROVED DURING APRIL 1977:
    QUALITY SALARY INCREASES:
    William W. Rice - IERL
    D. Bruce Henschel - IERL
    Leslie E. Sparks - IERL
    CONTINUED SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE:
    Priscilla Smith - OAQPS/OAWM
    Lillian A. Flanagan - HERL
    Sara 0. Pierce - IERL

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 PROFII
Conferences
                                            Linda
                                         Chaput
                          The old adage "You can't  tell
                       a book by its cover" is  cer-
                       tainly true about Linda  Chaput.
                       Outwardly she is a very  quiet,
 reserved person but can become very intense when she
 thinks  injustices are being performed.   She will put
 as much effort into a program for Girl  Scouts as
 writing a detailed technical  report for her supervisor.
   Linda graduated from the University  of Florida with
 a B.S. in business education.   Her  first job was a
 library technician at NIEHS.   From  there she transferred
 to EPA as secretary to the  Director, Office of Manpower
 Development, then became an education specialist in the
 Air Pollution Training Institute  and presently is an
 environmental protection specialist  in  the  Standards
 Development Branch (SDB), ESED/OAQPS.
   Recently, Linda had an article published  in the
 Journal of the Air Pollution  Control Association on
 "Federal Standards of Performance for New Stationary
 Sources of Air Pollution:   A  Summary of Regulations."
 In SDB, she is currently working  on a very  interesting
 project concerning asbestos insulation  and  fireproofing
which was used widely in the  past on ceilings in schools
 and other buildings.   There is  a  problem now as a result
of deterioration  of the sprayed-on material.  Asbestos
 fibers, which are carcinogenic, are released into the
air in buildings, creating  a  potential  health hazard.
 SDB is investigating  the problem  and possible solutions.
   Linda resides  in Chapel  Hill with her husband and
 two daughters, and is expecting another child sometime
 in October.   She  is a member  of the Air Pollution Con-
trol Association  and  the OAQPS/Federal  Women's Program
Task Force.   She  was  an alternate member of  the FWP
Advisory Committee.   She has  held the offices of Vice-
President,  Program Chairman,  Legislative Chairman, and
Representative to "North Carolinians United for ERA" in
the Tar Heel Chapter  of Federally Employed Women.  In
her spare time, Linda enjoys  reading, crocheting, and
 knitting.   She also serves  on  the Troop Committee of her
daughter's  girl scout troop.
   Linda is  a very positive person and  in her own quiet
way, she gets her point across and accomplishes her
objectives.
   The National Conference and Exhibition on  Technology
for Energy Conservation will  be held June 8-10,  at  the
Sheraton Park Hotel, Washington, D.  C.   Papers will  be
presented from people and organizations  who have had
successes In conserving energy and can  show significant
energy...and dollar savings.   Reliable  estimates indi-
cate that the country's energy needs could be reduced
by 20 to 40% In residences and by at least 1/3 in in-
dustry.  The presentations show how...NOW!  Not  in  1985
or 1990 but 1977.  The Federal agencies  will  present
their programs in energy conservation.   They  will dis-
cuss the internal measures as well  as the millions  of
dollars in contracts and grants to develop and demon-
strate techniques and systems to reduce  energy consump-
tion.  Attendees will include local, state and Federal
officials, manufacturers, architects, builders and
retrofitting companies.  For  further information, con-
tact the Public Affairs office, extension 2951.
                   JUUUUUUUULJJUUUL
   An Urbanization and Pollution Seminar will be held
May 29-31, at St. Jovite, Quebec,  Canada,  sponsored  by
the Quebec Section of the Air Pollution  Control  Associ-
ation.   Contact:   Mr. Michael  Farvacque,  Canada  Ciment
Lafarge, 606 Cathcart Street,  Montreal,  Quebec,  H3B  1K9,
Canada.
                   IJLSLJLIJULSJLJJUULS.
   The Manpower Technical Information Branch, OAQPS, is
sponsoring two Fabric Filter  Workshops,  June  14-15  in
Atlanta and June 28-29 in Philadelphia.   For  further
information, contact the Registrar,  Air  Pollution
Training Institute, MD-20, Research  Triangle  Park,
North Carolina 27711.
                   JUJUUUUUUULJJUUJl
   EPA is seeking papers on the status,  uses, problems,
and needed improvements relating to  emission  factors
and emission inventories for  presentation  at  an  Emission
Inventory/Factor Workshop in  Raleigh, North Carolina,
September 13-15.   Topics to be discussed include emis-
sion inventory procedures; emission  factor development
methodologies and applications;  emission sources  and
factors; temporal and spatial  relationships required
for oxidant-related inventories and  analyses  or  assess-
ments related to the role of  emission inventory  activi-
ties in meeting ambient air quality  standards for oxi-
dants.   Those wishing to prepare a paper should  submit
an abstract by June 1 to Emission  Inventory/Factor
Workshop, Air Pollution Training Institute, MD-20,
Research Triangle Park, North  Carolina 27711.  Authors
will be notified by June 15 of acceptance.
(Continued on page  7)

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                                                  ,€P
COUGH, COUGH:  Federal Employees for Nonsmokers Rights
are planning a class action lawsuit to force Uncle Sam
to ban smoking in public areas of government buildings
and enforce it where already banned.  This article
appeared recently in Mike Causey's column in the
Washington Post.
   Since the matter of smoking or not smoking in various
areas is such a controversial one, the editors of the
"Cleaner Times" decided to query some of our EPA employ-
ees.  Seventy-five names were picked at random from the
EPA telephone directory.  We received 35 replies to the
following questions:
   a. As a nonsmoker, how do you feel about people
smoking in your presence?
   b. As a smoker, how do you feel about being restrict-
ed from smoking in certain areas, such as planes, ele-
vators, cafeterias, etc.?
   Here are some answers we received which we thought
might interest our readers:
   1. "I am against smoking.  I consider it a filthy
habit that other people should not have to put up with
that do not smoke.  Breathing someone else's smoke to
me is just as bad as smoking myself." anonymous
   2. "As a former smoker, I respect the rights of
others to smoke if they so desire.  However, I think
smokers should first ask if the smoke would bother those
present before lighting up.  I do not feel smoking
should be allowed in certain areas such as planes,
hospitals, elevators, and cafeterias." Naomi Teasley, OA
   3. "It is common knowledge that nonsmokers very often
smoke when in the immediate vicinity of those who are
smoking.  It is my opinion that, as a matter of cour-
tesy, the nonsmoker should be given the option on the
health of his/her lungs, and when asked  'Do you mind
if I smoke?1 should reply,  'Do you mind if I don't?1
After all, the air belongs to everyone, and it hasn't
been proven that clean air is bad for the respiratory
system, or that cigarette smoke is good."
   Barbara Quesnell, ESRL
    4.  "As  a  smoker,  I can  understand  restricting  smoking
 in  certain  areas.   What disturbs  me is  the  attitude  cer-
 tain people  take  in  asking  (telling) you  not  to  smoke.
 If  I'm around  this  type of person and  not in  a  restrict-
 ed  area,  I will  light up just  to  Irritate the  individ-
 ual."  Marian Watson,  ESRL
   5. "I do not consider smoking  obscene and do  not ob-
ject to anyone smoking in any  place  that does  not have
a fire or an explosive danger.   If in  fact  smoking is a
distinct danger to the health  and well  being of  the
smoker  and the nonsmoker, why doesn't the  government
ban the sale of tobacco as it  has DDT,  Pot, etc.  Over-
regulation is the first step to slavery!"
   Frank Wilinski, HERL
   6. "Smokers, while smoking, should  be  required to
run, under their own power, at a speed sufficient that
they meet the emission standards for automobiles."
   Henry Fisher, HERL
   7. "I respect anyone's right to suicide, I  just wish
they didn't have to take me along for  the ride."
   John Bachman, OAQPS
   8. "I smoke cheap (stinky)  cigars and/or a  pipe
twice a day at work and never at home.   Does  this make
me a smoker?  Assuming so, I think smoking  should be
banned from areas with high population densities and
poor-to-normal ventilation rates.  This generally  in-
cludes conference rooms, elevators,  auditoriums, and
the  like.  Cafeterias are often not in this category,
but  inhaling smoke, particularly cigar smoke,  while
eating is unpleasant; smoking in cafeterias should
therefore be restricted or segregated."
   Tom McCurdy, OAQPS
   9. "In restricted places, such as elevators;  small,
crowded, or poorly ventilated  public rooms, I  believe
it is fair to prohibit smoking.   In  larger  areas, par-
ticularly areas which people occupy  for extended periods
of time, I believe it is fair  to reserve  special areas
where smoking is prohibited for use  by anyone  who wants
to use the special areas (this is,  by  the way, a fairly
common practice).  I do not believe  it is  fair (or wise)
to attempt to prohibit 'smokers'  from  smoking  without
strong rationale.  Most 'smokers' suffer discomfort if
prohibited from smoking.  Some (many?) nonsmokers suffer
discomfort if exposed to smoke.   In  deciding which areas
to classify as 'no smoking,1 we must balance  the rights
(and degree of discomfort) of both groups." anonymous
The  overall score was:
   For                  Against         Neutral
     3                     18              14
CONFERENCES (cont'd from page  6)
   The  23rd  I.E.E.E.  Pulp and Paper Industry Technical
 Conference will  be  held June  14-17, at the Hyatt Regency
 Hotel  in  San  Francisco, California.
   The  University of Michigan, Col'lege of Engineering,
Ann Arbor, will be holding two summer conferences:
"Physiological Systems for Engineers," July 11-15, and
"Human  Factors Engineering," August 1-12.

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Centrex  is  Coming

   By now all of you may have heard about our  new elec-
tronic, computerized telephone system soon to  be in-
stalled for all EPA and other government employees in
the Research Triangle Park.
   On June 9, EPA will convert from its present tele-
phone system to centrex service.  The familiar clicks
of telephone switching equipment routing calls to their
destinations will be a thing of the past.
   With the flick of one switch from General Telephone
Company's Parkwood offices,  we will have the quietest,
fastest and most error-free  mode of telephone  communi-
cation available in the world today.
   Called a #2 EAX (Electronic Automatic Exchange), the
$2 million switch is the first of its kind in  the world
installed to provide centrex service.
   Currently, businesses wanting direct call service
without going through their  switchboard need switching
equipment located on their premises.  The #2 EAX will
eliminate that need by providing centralized electronic
switching equipment which can be used by several cus-
tomers within General Telephone's Parkwood central of-
fice.
   The major advantage of this new phone system to EPA
employees is that calls will come directly to  an indi-
vidual's extension from outside sources.  So watch it—
your voice will be showing!  And, even more important,
what you say and how you say it will reflect on the
entire Agency and All employees.  Other features of the
system include:  three way calling, outward dialing,
and individual station billing.  In order to acquaint
users with the new system, a series of courses have
been arranged at each major  installation.
   Most changes in service,  which previously required
substantial  rewiring and adding of equipment,  can be
made by reprogramming the master control computer of
the 82 EAX.  This might sound like something from the
space age,  but this system can incorporate services like
centralized dictation, automatic answering and record-
ing, computer input, paging  and public address—in as
little time as it takes to reprogram.

Consumer Protection "Hot Line" 800-638-2666
   Worried  about tris* in your child's sleepwear?  Or
perhaps you're wondering about the safety of a particu-
lar toy or  bike or even your lawn mower.  The  Consumer
Product Safety Commission has a toll free line to answer
these and other questions—and they'll also take com-
plaints along with any accolades you care to give them.
*Tris is  used in clothing as a fire-retardant  and may
be cancer-causing.
   Approximately 10 days  prior to the conversion,
General  Services Division will issue a new telephone
directory containing new  extension numbers,  jt is
imperative that all employees notify the telephone
operators of any changes  in  location or telephone ex-
tension  in order for the  new telephone book  to be accu-
rate.
   It  is "out with the old and in with the new" and our
telephone operators are very happy.   Their present
facilities, which appear  to  be no larger than a walk-in
closet,  are being expanded and individual  consoles will
be utilized.
                  /
   Research Triangle Institute, the first to switch
over to  the new system on April 16,  indicated that the
change was made without a single hitch.
     U.S.  SAVINGS BONDS  are
    INDESTRUCTIBLE
   THIS BONDS MAT INK WORTHLESS.
   BUI IHEI RE US GOOD AS GOLD'
   THE TREASURY REPLACES IDEM FREE
   IF VODR SIVINCS BONDS HIVE BEEN
   LOSI. STOLEN 01 MUTILATED. SEE
   VOOR LOCIl BANK-OB WtllE 10
   0 S TREASURY DEPARTMENT
   BUREAU OF IHE PDBLIC DEBT
    536 S CLARK STREET
      CHICAGO IlllNOIS
         60605
    U.S. SAVINGS BONDS . . .
              NO SAFER  INVEST/HINT!

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