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Vol. 6. No. 6
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
June 1977
          WATER PRESERVATION STUDY  UNDERWAY
  This article is  intended primarily for those who
habitually drink water.
  We know that every automobile that rolls off the
assembly line, every cotton field that is sprayed,
every yard of finished fabric, adds to our water
pollution problem.
  "We have been abusing our water as if there were
no tomorrow.  Now,  suddenly it is tomorrow.  And the
clean-up task is ours—yours and mine."
  These words were spoken by Dr. Steven Reznek, EPA's
Deputy Director of  Energy, Minerals & Industry, in recog-
nition of a two year joint project between the textile
industry and  EPA--a project designed to test six advanced
treatment technologies which may be used to meet 1983
water quality standards.
  Our own Industrial Environmental Research Labora-
tory is responsible for the project with Max Samfield,
Chemical Engineer,  as project officer.


textiles and  E~"


Partnefig  fort
                                     ^ mn
                 In the small North Carolina town of Cramerton in
              late May, EPA and the American Textile Manufacturers
              Institute (ATMI) unveiled one of two specially designed
              mobile test vans which will be operating up and down the
              east coast—from Maine to Georgia—for the next 24 months.
                 Twenty-four textile plants have been selected for
              this test program.  At each location, the van will hook
              up to the plant's waste-water system where the six dif-
              ferent technologies and various combinations will be
              tested on seven major categories of textile operations.
                 The experimental vans are crammed with sophisticated
              equipment for removing pollutants such as:
                  *oxygen depleters--compounds that use up dis-
                  solved oxygen in a stream and threaten fish
                  and other forms of life;
                  *suspended  solids--such as  fibers and chemical
                  sludge, which will eventually fill up a stream
                  bed;
                  *chromium,  sulfides,  and phenols—which are
                  harmful to  living things and which may also
              (Continued on page 2)
  Dr. Steven Reznek, Office of Energy, Minerals, and
  Industry, speaking at field day, "Partners for
  Cleaner Water."
                Dr. Max Samfield, Dale Denny, and "Chick"  Craig,
                Industrial Environmental  Research Laboratory,
                touring the mobile test van.

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 Steigerwald Honored  by APCA
       Bern
       Steigerwald
   Bern Steigerwald, OAQPS, has recently  received  na-
tional recognition by being selected as the Air  Pol-
lution Control Association's 1977 recipient of the
Richard Beatty Mellon Award.  The award was made in
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at a luncheon on Tuesday,
June 21.
   This award is presented to a person whose  contri-
butions of a civic nature have aided substantially in
the abatement of air pollution.  Eligibility  for the
award requires the sincere and constant effort of  an
individual over a period of time to develop or in-
crease interest in, or acceptance of, the cause  of
air pollution control for the betterment  of man's  en-
vironment.
   Bern received the award in recognition of  his out-
standing leadership and achievements in initiating
and directing the EPA program for the development  and
approval of State Implementation Plans and the tech-
nical guidance for continuous revisions to these
plans in the Nation's efforts to achieve  the  National
Ambient Air Quality Standards.  This program  is  an
outstanding example of noteworthy progress through
Federal-State cooperation and establishes a signifi-
cant precedent and positive example for future Fed-
eral-State programs in environmental protection.
   Congratulations Bern!
 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 Publiations Center, GSD.
WATER  PRESERVATION...(cont'd  from page 1)
   combine with chlorine in downstream water
   treatment plants to produce compounds harm-
   ful to human life;
   *colors--which may not be  harmful to wildlife,
   but can spoil the esthetic value of a stream;
   *toxic materials—as yet not identified.
   As Reznek stated, "The challenge facing us is to
develop affordable, pollution-control systems, and the
broad-scale testing getting underway will provide us
much needed scientific and technological information.
This project is an important  part of the regulatory
process—a process of working together to develop the
most complete and accurate data as well as making the
regulatory process as open and accountable as possible."
   Guests at the opening ceremony were welcomed by
Wallace A. Storey, chairman of ATMI's Environmental
Preservation Committee.  He described the project as
"an outstanding and unusual example of industry-government
cooperation in developing reasonable and effective govern-
ment regulations."
   Hand-in-hand with the technology testing is an
equally important effort--a comprehensive analysis of
the costs of these processes  to the textile industry.  Al-
though EPA is primarily concerned with environmental
effects, economic costs must  also be taken into account
as national standards and effluent limitations are set.
   This project is the first  joint effort by EPA and
industry which combines the technical and economic
studies in a single program.
   Samfield explains that it  will be 1980 before all
of the data from the vans has been collected and
analyzed, but "we are getting the real facts about
our environmental problems and meeting these problems
head on."

Practice Safety
   The Annual  report of Occupational  Illness, Injuries,
and Accidents  was recently submitted to Headquarters
for consolidation and final  submission to the Depart-
ment of Labor.
   EPA personnel, Research Triangle Park, N.C.  suffered
a total of fifteen (15) recordable injuries during
calendar year 1976.  These injuries accounted for
sixty one (61)  lost work days.
   Injuries were reported within the organizational
elements as follows:
   (1) Office of Research and Development           8
   (2) Office of Administration                     5
   (3) Office of Air Quality  Planning & Standards   2
       Total                                       15

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Brain Teaser
by  Frank Clay
   Five men were passengers  on  an  airplane.  They were
Steve Austin, Oscar Goldman, Oscar's  boss,  the Secre-
tary, a catholic priest,  and a  hippie.
   Suddenly the cockpit door burst open,  the pilot
appeared and said, "I have some good  news and some bad
news.  First the bad news.  We  have some  parachutes on
board, but we only have five."   The pilot then said,
"I'm the pilot of this airplane.   I deserve to live,"
and he grabbed a parachute and  jumped from  the plane.
Next, Steve Austin got up and said, "The  government
spent six million dollars on me,  I've got to live," so
he grabbed a parachute and jumped  out.  Then Oscar
Goldman stood up and said, "I'm head  of the OSI, I de-
serve to live," and he grabbed  a  parachute  and jumped
out.  The Secretary then stood  up  and said, "I'm Oscar
Goldman's boss and the smartest man in the  world, I
deserve to live," so he grabbed a  parachute and jumped
out.
   Only two people remained  on  the plane, the catholic
priest and the hippie.  The  priest turned to the hippie
and said, "Well son, I'm close  to  God and I'm not
afraid to die, you take the  parachute."   The hippie re-
plied "That's all  right father.iwe don't have a problem,
The smartest man in the world just jumped out of this
airplane	"
   What did the hippie say?   To find  out, use the in-
formation below.
1.   The reply is made up of six  words.   The second word
     is "MY"; the fourth word is  "for"; and the fifth
     word is "a".   The first, third,  and  sixth words
     have 5, 8, & 9 letters  respectively.
2.   The three unknown words are composed of the fol-
     lowing letters:   AAAA  CC  EGHIKK  NNPP  R  SS  T
     VV
3.   If the letters  in the three words are  numbered con-
     secutively from left to right, the following let-
     ter groups are  identical:   (1  &  20)  (2 & 10)
     (4 & 7)   (6 & 13)   (3 & 11)   (11   & 15)  (15 & 7)
     (9 & 14)   and (12 &  18)
4.   The following letters are  vowels: 1,3,8,11,15,17,
     20,22.
5.   Letter groups symmetrically equidistant from the
     end of the alphabet  are (3 &  16)  (5  &  21)  (6 & 9)
     (9 & 13)  (13  &  14)  (10  & 19)  (19  & 2)
6.   If the second half of the  alphabet is  written im-
     mediately under the  first  half,  the  following let-
     ter groups would appear (over/under)  each other
     (19 & 1)  (8 & 4)  (12 &  14).
                          John DeFord
                  Edward Rhodes announced  the appointment of John Deford
                  as Director of Administration  effective May 29.
                  Does Air  Pollution Make You  Fighting Mad?

                     Does polluted air cause you to dislike your fellow
                  human  beings and to become more aggressive?  A Uni-
                  versity of Dayton psychology professor has been con-
                  ducting research on the question and will soon publish
                  his  findings in a "Psychology Today" magazine article
                  entitled "Air Pollution Is No Choke."
                     James Rotton, Ph.D., states that his research was
                  spurred by childhood memories of his neighbors in an
                  Indiana steel town.  "When neighbors tired of cursing
                  the  air, they would curse each other."  In his re-
                  search, he subjected students to one component of air
                  pollution—bad odor—and discovered that, in general,
                  their  dislike of other people and their surroundings
                  increased as the odor level increased.
                     From his  findings, Rotton presents an interesting
                  hypothesis.  Previous studies in Los Angeles have
                  shown  that traffic accidents are more frequent when
                  the  air pollution levels are high.   The traditional
                  explanation  for this phenomenon is  that air pollution
                  impairs mental efficiency.   However, Rotton  points
                  out  that the pollutant associated with traffic acci-
                  dents  is oxidant (smog), which is a physical  irritant,
                  and  not carbon monoxide, which is damaging to the ner-
                  vous system.  Rotton adds,  "We suspect that traffic
                  accidents are caused not so much by impaired mental ef-
                  ficiency as by irritability."
                    Rotton is continuing his research into the social
                  and  psychological effects of air pollution.   He and
                  his  students currently are  studying whether there is
                  any  correlation between high air pollution levels and
                  crimes such as assault, murder, and rape.

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That Time  Again
   "Graduation"  1977
   EPA employees were among 900 candidates  for gradua-
tion from North Carolina Central  University recently.
Commencement speaker Howard Lee,  Secretary, Department
of Natural and Economic Resources,  told  them he is
optimistic about times changing and improving for the
south.  "Our time has come," he exclaimed,  while a
capacity crowd looked on during the outdoor ceremony.
   "Both black and white southerners are potentially
such wonderful people," he continued,  "with deep
power to feel and to express their  feelings."
   Secretary Lee summed up his thoughts  to  the gradu-
ates by quoting John Lewis, Executive  Director, Voter
Education Project, Atlanta, Georgia.  "Of course,
I'm optimistic.  In this effort you have to be or you
become immobilized.  I think it goes in  cycles.
We're not where I thought
we'd be by now, but there
has been some change. I
think that's the way life
is."  He further quoted,
"You struggle and you
overcome, and then you go
on to the next obstacle,
always working toward an
ideal.  Eventually, some-
thing has to give."
   In closing, Secretary
Lee emphasized the im-
portance of sacrifice and
hard work.  "Nothing is
accomplished without a
struggle—be prepared
THE PROCESSIONAL.   Candidates file in for NCCU's
commencement address	
for failures,  but  in each failure and defeat is-
victory," he proclaimed.
   "Whatever you choose to be, be the best you can
and don't stop until you reach your goal," he added.
   Following Secretary Lee's speech, the candidates
filed across the stage and received their degrees  from
Chancellor Albert  N. Whiting.  EPA employees who worked
part time while earning a Bachelor of Arts are: Johnsie
M. Webster, graduating Cum Laude; Theresa Whitfield;
Donald J. Howard;  Francis Williams; and Karen Hamlet.
Employees who received a Bachelor of Science Degree
are: Deborah J. Mangum; Keith Haywood; Karl a Lynn
Ballard; Denise Conwell and Eldner Arrington, both
graduating Cum Laude; Marilyn Sharon Lee; and
Burnette L. Moore.  In earlier commencement exer-
                           cises held at the Univer-
                           sity of North Carolina at
                           Chapel Hill, Cathy Parker
                           received a Bachelor of
                           Arts Degree and decided to
                           "tie the knot" shortly
                           afterwards. Sources say
                           Cathy is currently honey-
                           mooning!
                             Congratulations to all
                           of our graduates. If by
                           chance we omitted anyone's
                           name, we ..still wish to ex-
                           tend our sincere congratu-
                           lations and encourage  you
                           to be "optimistic" about
                           the future.
   	delivered by Howard Lee,  Secretary,  Department
   of Natural and Economic Resources....
                            ....and then it was over, or is  it.   The Class of
                            '77 rejoices—but this is just the  beginning.

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Who's  Up Front?
   Our "Up Front" secretaries this month are Donna Wicker,
HERL, and Barbara Ennis, OAQPS.
             Donna
             Wicker
   Donna Wicker is a Durham native.  She graduated
from Durham High School and immediately after gradua-
tion came to work for EPA's predecessor organization
which later became EPA.  Presently she is secretary to
Orin W. Stopinski, Director, Criteria and Special  Stu-
dies Office.  Donna is an avid bowler and also likes
working in her yard.  She and her husband enjoy parti-
cipating in antique car activities.  Last year they
built a 1930 A-Model and attended car shows in North
Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.  This year they are
showing a 1929 Ford Roadster.  Donna and her husband
have a little girl, Jennifer, six years old.
   Orin Stopinski says, "There are times when I look
at Donna's in-basket and mentally bet she can't pos-
sibly complete all she has to do.  In the six and a
half years we have worked in the same office, I've
lost virtually all of those mental bets.  Not only does
she turn out a huge volume of work, she has a talent
for making each staff member or visitor feel that their
question or need will be met with a minimum of delay.
And she sees that it is done!
   "The office consists of personnel with widely dif-
ferent backgrounds who must work together.  At times
there are tremendous pressures on the entire office.
During such periods Donna's personality seems to help
more than anything.  She always has a knack of saying
the right thing at the right time, but especially when
it is most needed.
   "Donna is far more than a secretary.  She sees that
meetings are attended, reports forwarded, and corres-
pondence answered.  But more than that, Donna senses
when things may be a bit awry and drops a hint (sometimes
gentle, sometimes not so gentle) of what should be done
                                                         5
to  keep things on an even keel.   In addition  to  knowing
where to direct inquiries within the office,  Donna
knows the resources of all HERL.   The entire  office
professional staff can be gone and Donna  can  refer vir-
tually any question to the right person.  Her abilities,
attitude and personality give me that comfortable
feeling that as long as she is there,  both the usual
and the unusual will be done."
                                                                        Barbara
                                                                        Ennis
   Barbara Ennis,  who's  secretary to Dick Rhoads, CPDD
Director, says she can't remember when she didn't have
aspirations of being  a  secretary.  She graduated from
Southern High School  in  Durham where she earned a Busi-
ness diploma, was  a member  of the National Honor Soci-
ety, and the recipient  of the Wachovia Business Award.
She received her diploma on a Friday and started work
for EPA's predecessor organization on a Monday in June
1968 as a Unit secretary.   She became Division secre-
tary in 1972.  It's been the one and only job she's
ever held and she  starts her tenth year of government
service this month.  Barbara was born in Louisiana--
she's an "Army brat"--and lived  in many interesting
places, including  Japan, as a youngster.  She considers
herself a Tarheel, however, since she's lived in North
Carolina since 1960 and has put  down roots here.  She
has a young son, Kristopher Ashley, who will be two
years old in July.  She likes to sew when time permits,
but, "That's pretty seldom  when  you have a two-year
old," she says.  She  also enjoys cooking, particularly
trying out new recipes.   She's a novice gardener and
looks forward to the  day when she has more space for
raising flowers and vegetables.
   Dick Rhoads had this to  say about Barbara. .  "She is
one of the most important members of this division. In
her charming and efficient  way,  she ensures  that our
internal operations run smoothly.
   "I never have to worry that critical deadlines may
(Continued on page 7)

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Person-To-Person

ESED/OAQPS  welcomes four new employees:  Robert Weber,
Carol  Specht,  Kerri Brothers, and Hike Davenport.

 Karen Easter,  ESED/OAQPS, was married to Stephen
 Cline Harris,  June 4,  in Silver Spring, Md.
 Congratulations Karen  and Steve!

 William Johnson, ESED/OAQPS,  is  vacationing  in  Europe.
 He will visit nine countries,  and we  hope  he will
 share his experiences  with  us  when  he returns.

Neil  R.  Swanson,  Environmental Scientist, ESED/OAQPS,
nas  transferred to EPA's regional office in Philadel-
phia.   Good luck,  Neil!

The  following  employees in  the Clinical Studies Divi-
sion/HERL,  received service awards:   Dr. Mirdza Peter-
son,  Walter Crider, Sa'id Salaam, Joe Peoples, Art
Strong,  and Sam Bryan.

Tne  Clinical Studies Division welcomes Chiquetta
Shackleford, Norman Anderson, Michael  McMillan from
the  University of  North Carolina and Richard Calvert
from DUKC University.  A warm welcome  is extended to
Carole Alberts,  the new division secretary.

Ur.  BrocK Ketcham, CSD/HERL, attended  the wedding of
former EPA  employees,  Edward Postlewait and Betsy
Davis  in Onio.

Dr.  Edward  D.  Haak, Jr., Chief, Physiology Branch,
CSU/HERL, attended the 2nd National  Conference on the
 Interagency Energy/Environment R&D Program, June 6-7.

Raymond  E.  Mobley  resigned from EPA  June 10.   He had
oeen  employed  by  the Government for  over 9-1/2 years.
He was an engineering  tecnmcian for the Emission
Measurement Branch at  tne IRL building.  Raymond will
be working  with his father in Cincinnati in his rock
snop.

Roy  Neulicht,  Emission Measurement Brancn/OAQPS, was
married  to  Ann  Salvin, a student at  UNC, May 22.  The
couple will  reside in Durham.

Miriam Ash,  EBD/HERL,  and Tom Jones  of St.  Andrews
College  were married May 21  at Raven Rock State Park,
Lillington,  N.C.   The couple are honeymooning in the
Virgin Islands.

Dr.  Dan  Canill and John Laskey, EBD/HERL,  are re-
viewing  P.L. 480 projects at the Silesian  Medical
School in Zabrze, Poland.

Katie  M. Jones, EMSL, and her husband, Shelton,  are the
proud  parents of a little girl, Alyssa Kay, born May 9,
weighing 8  IDS. 1-1/2 ozs.

Mike Osborne's wife presented him with a baby girl,
Allison Michelle, February 3, weighing 7 Ibs. 9-1/2  ozs.
Mike is with EMSL.

EMSL's Robert Denny became the  father  of a  little girl,
Erin Kendra, May 15,  weighing 7 Ibs. 13 ozs.

   Cathy and Bill  (William W.)  Rice  of Chapel Hill be-
came first-time parents on June  9 when their  new son,
Daniel Brendon, gulped  his first  breath  of  fresh air  at
Durham County General Hospital.   Bill  is Chief of IERL/
RTF's Planning, Management,  and Administration Staff.
Baby Daniel, tipping  the scales  at 6 Ib  10  oz, and
mother Cathy are doing  nicely,  father  Bill  is recuper-
ating slowly.
    Au Revoir to Robert Statmck and Mark Stutsman.
 Robert has transferred from  IERL/RTP  to the Office of
 Energy, Minerals and  Industry  in Headquarters, effective
 June 6.  Mark has left IERL/RTP to work in IERL Cincin-
 nati .
 Conferences
    The  Cooling  Tower  Institute  is holding a summer
 worKShop  June 27-28 at  the Hyatt Hotel in San Fran-
 cisco,  California.  You do not  have to be a member
 of CTI  to participate.

    The  University of  Michigan  is offering an intensive
 snort course "Pnysiological  Systems for Engineers"
 July 11-la.   Contact:  Engineering Summer Conferences,
 Chrysler  Center,  North  Campus,  Ann Arbor, Michigan.

    Stationary Source  Combustion Seminar, New Orleans,
 La.,  sponsored  by U.S.  EPA.  Contact:   Betty Farley,
 Symposium Coordinator, Acurex Corp., Aerotherm Div.,
 485 Clyde Ave., Mt. View, Calif.  94042  8/29-9/1

    National  Conference  on Chlorination:  Environ-
 mental  Impact and Health Effects, Gatlinburg, Tenn.,
 sponsored by U.S. EPA,  Energy Research & Development
 Administration  8  Oak  Ridge National Laboratory.  Con-
 tact:   R.L.  Jolley, Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
 P.O.  Box  X,  Oak Ridge,  Tenn.  37830  10/31-11/4


    Sensing of Environmental Pollutants Conference,
 New Orleans, La.  Contact:  Dr. V.E. Derr,  Program
 Chairman,  4th Joint Conference on Sensing  of Environ-
 mental  Pollutants, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
 Admin., ERL-WPL,  R45.3, Boulder, Colo.  80302  11/6-11

    Annual  Purdue Air Quality Conference-Exhibition,
 Indianapolis, Ind.  Contact:   Robert Jacko,  Rm.  220,
 Civil Engineering Bldg., Purdue Univ., West  Lafayette,
 Ind. 47907   11/15-16
Speaking  Engagements
Tom Curran, MDAD, OAQPS, presented a paper entitled,
"Quality Control for Hourly Air Pollution Data,"  at
the American Society for Duality Control  conference
in Philadelphia, May 16-18, 1977.   Bill  Hunt was  the
session moderator for the Industrial Air/Water Pollu-
tion session at the same conference.

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

Bob Bauman, OAQPS, talked about Energy-The Total  Pro-
gram, to over 50 members of the Durham Sertoma Club,
June 7.

Neil Frank, MDAD/OAQPS, presented  a paper entitled,
"Population Exposure: An Indicator of Air Quality
Improvement," and Bill Hunt, MDAD/OAQPS,  presented
a paper entitled, "The Shewhart Control  Chart Test-
A Recommended Procedure for Screening 24-Hour Air
Pollution Measurements" at the APCA Conference,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, June 20-24.

Wade Ponder and Richard Stern, IERL/RTP,  will  attend
the Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) symposium,  Novem-
ber 7-11. Hollywood, Florida.  Wade will  discuss  the
WeiIman-Lord/Allied chemical FGD demonstration plant
and Dick will talk about regenerable FGD processes.

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Target -  Upward Mobility

   At EPA, RTP, the color Is Green and Green means  go—
if you're interested in applying for a position under
the upward mobility program.  The distinct colored
paper is used to make this position easily identifi-
able when posted on bulletin boards.
   The agencywide upward mobility program at EPA is
beginning its second year.  Based on a training agree-
ment with the Civil Service Commission and with strong
support" from top level management, the program provides
developmental work assignments and formal training  de-
signed to provide increased opportunities for non-pro-
fessional employees to move into professional, admin-
istrative, and technical positions with more career
growth potential.
   Trainees are selected under the Merit Promotion
Plan from among applicants currently in positions at
grades GS-2 or above, or wage grade equivalents who
are serving under a career or career-conditional ap-
pointment and who have been employees of the agency
for at least one year.
   Applicants are rated by a three to five member
panel comprised of a  staff member from the appropriate
equal employment opportunity office, a staff member
from the operating personnel office, and one to three
persons from the program area where the target position
has been established.  The  rating procedures follow a
job element approach.  It  includes the use of the EPA
Performance Appraisal  and  is designed to assure that
undue weight is not given  to college degrees or ex-
perience  factors.  The panel rates  the candidates as
"qualified" or  "highly qualified" within each grade
level or wage grade equivalent.   Final selections are
made by operating officials who often interview a mini-
Him  or Her?
   The following entry concerning avoidance of single
gender language appeared in the September 24, 1976
issue of the Federal Register:
   "The Office of the Federal Women's Program of the
Civil Service Commission recommends the avoidance of
single gender language.  To comply with this recommen-
dation, Chapter I of Title 5 of the Code of Federal
Regulations is amended by changing the masculine pro-
nouns he, his, or him to her or his, he or she, or him
or her."
   The Public Affairs Office has copies of the McGraw
Hill Guidelines for avoiding stereotypes.  Call ext.
2951 or drop a note to us at MD-31 if you'd like a copy.
mum of  three candidates if three are available.
   A formal  training plan  is developed as a guide to
trainee progression through the bridge/trainee posi-
tions.   Each plan  is based on the requirements for
successful  performance  in  the target position and is
geared to the individual development needs of the
trainee.  The plan, implemented no later than one
month after reassignment to the trainee position, in-
cludes formal  training, on-the-job training, and
counseling as needed.
   Trainees are eligible for promotion after satis-
factory completion of  training when  the target job is
at the next higher level.  For trainees who already
possess some of the qualifying skills or knowledge,
the period of training  may be a minimum of six months.
Otherwise, a minimum of twelve months of training is
required to achieve eligibility  for  promotion.  Pro-
motions are made upon  the  recommendation of the work
supervisor based upon  satisfactory performance of the
elements of the target position.
   Supervisors assess  trainee progress quarterly and
make an overall summary evaluation of each trainee
upon completion of the program.   Trainees evaluate
work progress and training received  quarterly.  A
review  panel makes recommendations for improvements
based on supervisory  evaluations, trainee reports,
and pertinent training records.
   At the present time, four upward  mobility  positions
have been identified.   They are:   Contract Spec-
ialist, GS-5, in the  Office of  Administration; and
three positions for Environmental Protection  Assis-
tant, GS-4, in the Office of Air Quality  Planning
and Standards.  Depending upon  ceiling considerations,
additional  positions  may be announced  at  a  later date.
    At a dinner meeting of the Triangle Cities Toast-
 mistress Club June 9, three EPA employees were elected
 officers for the coming year:  Betty Abramson, MDAD/
 OAQPS, President; Sharon Long, EMSL/RTP, Secretary,
 and Joan Reece, HERL/RTP, First Vice-President.
UP  FRONT	(cont'd from page 5)
be  forgotten, that meetings may conflict,  that  corres-
pondence may be of unacceptable quality,  or that  im-
portant items may be ignored when I am away from  the
office.  Barbara manages these activities, and  she
knows what  is important and what is unimportant.  She
helps ensure that the division managers and senior
staff can devote most of their attention to the impor-
tant issues, and that the ever-present minutiae do  not
inordinately consume our time.  When crises develop,
and deadlines are fast approaching, she is always
available to assist, and always seems to find some
way to get  the job done.  We are indeed fortunate to
have her outstanding skills, knowledge, and dedication.
 In  addition, her pleasing personality makes the office
just a little more pleasant when things get rough,  and
 that is a trait which all of us appreciate."

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"Communicating" -  The Regional Services Staff
                    By Elaine My man

   EPA has a network of troubleshooters.  Their primary
job—keeping those lines of communication open.  Called
"Regional Liaison Officers," the staff has twelve mem-
bers at four strategic locations.  And one of  them is
here at RTP.
   At RTP, we have Gordon Ortman and Rudy Boksleitner,
aided by Bonnie Kirtz, secretary.  They provide direct
and continuous assistance to Regions I, III and IV.
   The Regional Services Staff is a part of the Office
of Research and Development (ORD) and is administra-
tively within the Office of Monitoring and Technical
Support.  However, the staff deals with all components
of ORD.
   The Regional Services Staff provides intercommuni-
cation and assistance on all matters of mutual  interest
or concern to the Agency's regional  offices and ORD.
This includes assisting the regions in expressing their
needs for research, technical support, and otherwise
tapping the expertise and other unique abilities in
ORD.
   The regional liaison officers  keep the regional
offices informed on items of known interest.
   For instance, the Atlanta  Georgia Airport has been
expanding for some time.   As a result of the expansion,
especially additions to runways,  the small community of
Mountain View was environmentally impacted. The people
of this community complained of odor problems;  children
complained of hearing  problems; and  vibrations  caused
destruction to homes.   Weary, Region IV called  on
Regional Services to obtain cooperation of ORD  personnel
to try to solve the problem.  EPA investigated  the com-
plaints and found many valid.

Donor  News
  Working together—we did it!  We reached our  blood
program goal  of 400 pints for the 1976-77 year.   Whew!
We met our goal during the last month of the blood con-
tract period which was much, much too close for comfort.
Congratulations are still  in order because we did make
it.
     Once again, the new contract is being signed pledg-
ing 400 precious pints of blood.
     Together,  let's work towards having an especially
successful  year.  With the cooperation exhibited in the
past, this  year should be even better.
     We are always looking for new donors and extend a
word of encouragement to those who have been a  little
lax.   Remember,  we need you.
   As a result of many hours of communicating and
bringing  the proper parties together, the Atlanta Air-
port Authority is now trying to buy the property from
the people of Mountain View and making an effort to
help them relocate.
   The staff assists ORD programs by securing informa-
tion and  data from regional offices and by arranging
for regional cooperation in ORD research projects,
especially those requiring assistance with state and
local governments.
   Each regional liaison officer focuses on one or two
regional  offices in order to be familiar with the struc-
ture and  functional relationships and to understand the
problems  and requirements as they relate to ORD.  How-
ever, assistance is provided to any region on request.
   The staff's director, Michael Mastracci, a staff
assistant, and secretary are at Waterside Mall in
Washington.  Two Regional Liaison Officers and a secre-
tary are  at each of the field locations which includes
Cincinnati, Las Vegas, as well  as RTP.   The field
staffs are so located in order to be close to the
Regional  Offices they service.
   Their  interest is not why or what happened to cause
the possible gap in communication, but simply to KEEP
THOSE CHANNELS OPEN—regardless!
   According to Gordon Ortman,  "We activate the system
by bringing parties together so they precipitate
action."
   It's a hard job, but one that is handled with
finesse and charm.   Gordon and  Rudy have lots of both.

New Publications
   The following publications are available from the
Public Affairs Office upon request.  Call  us at X2951
or drop us a note at MD-31.
Keep Poison Baits Out of Clnldrens1 Reach
Noise At Work
Noise Around Our Homes
Noise and Its Measurement
Noise and Recreational Vehicles
Noise on Wheels
Is your Drinking Water Safe?
Current Views on Solid Waste Management
Residential  Paper Recovery - A  Community Action
  Program
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