SEZ
Vol. 6. No. 7
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
July 1977
EPA's National
Computer Center
Sam Brown - Analyzing an equipment utilization report.
The National Computer Center (NCC) has undergone
a complete face lift within the last two years. Not only
have offices been remodeled and new equipment added,
but since January of this year a new director is at the
helm.
Samuel C. Brown, NCC's new director, has outlined
several objectives for the Center to pursue: (1)
Readiness -The only true measure of NCC's value to its
customers shall always be its ability to respond on
short notice to carry out its missions, whatever the
place, time, or circumstance; (2) Flexibility - Recent
events have clearly demonstrated the worth of a NCC
capable of responding to a wide spectrum of tasks
ranging from implementing a large, complex, planned
system optimization such as the aerometric data
bank to quick response requests such as the
processing required by an ad hoc congressional report;
(3) Computer Capability - The NCC computer system
must be able to accomplish real benefits for any
potential customer; (4) Balance - Without proper balance
in service types, NCC becomes relatively inefficient
and flexibility of action is reduced; and (5) Personnel
professionalism and stability.
(Continued on page 2)
Burchard Named
Senior Official
Dr. John Burchard
Dr. John K. Burchard was named Senior Research
and Development Official by Dr. Wilson K. Talley,
former Assistant Administrator for Research and
Development, EPA, Washington.
In making the appointment, Talley said Burchard's
extensive experience in planning and management along
with his strong technical and research background
make him exceptionally well qualified for the position of
Senior Official at EPA's largest research operation.
"Dr. Burchard's knowledge of energy technologies and
their application to industry are invaluable to EPA's
efforts as we face the tough but solvable problems in
the energy/environment area," continued Talley.
Dr. Burchard joined EPA in 1970. This Laboratory
has responsibility for development of control techno-
logies in areas of air, water, and solid waste for
industry.
Burchard received his B.S., M.S., and Ph. D. in
chemical engineering from Carnegie Institute of
Technology (now Carnegie-Mellon University) in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is a member of the
American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Sigma Xi,
and Tau Beta Pi, an honorary engineering Society.
Dr. Burchard lives with his wife and two sons in
Chapel Hill, North Carolina. His hobby? Tennis,
anyone?
-------
Vivian Jackson - Storing a tape in the Mag-tape
1ibrary.
COMPUTER CENTER (cont'd from page 1)
Customers have the right to expect the first four
objectives, but achievement depends on people.
Therefore, every man and woman must strive for pro-
fessionalism and take personal pride in their work.
NCC is in the process of expanding its mission not
only to provide the National Data Center Service with
information, which it has been doing for the past
several years, but also to include some other
significant national functions. NCC now has the
responsibility for managing and formulating EPA policy
and objectives for the National Telecommunication
Network and serves as the EPA technical focal point on
telecommunication matters. Fred Kastner and Toinmie
Rogers are the foremost EPA experts in this area.
NCC has recently initiated the development of a
large scale management information system for EPA in
the area of personnel management. This was assigned
to NCC because Don Worley is recognized as an expert
Mac Chaisson - Mounting a magnetic disc.
in the field of large-scale systems development and data
base systems technology.
Other systems being converted to NCC are the Per-
sonal Property System which will be operational by July
1 and the Contracts Information System which will follow
in FY-78. Mike Steinacher's branch leads this effort
with Joe Wilson and Ernie Watson having prime
responsibilities.
NCC is presently evaluating proposals for a facilities
management contract. Under this arrangement the
contractor would have total responsibility for the day-
to-day management and operation of the Center,
including providing professional analysis and
programming services, software optimization, user
consulting services, and remote site equipment
operation.
NCC is proud of having established a record of high
reliability and stability during the previous six months.
(Continued on page 5)
Charles Evans - Analyzing a central processor and 1/0
Channel.
Kathy Kruziak - Cleaning a magnetic tape.
-------
Person-to-Person
Raymond Graves, GSD, wishes to express his
appreciation to everyone in General Services along with
all OA and other EPA employees for their concern and
help to him and his family upon the recent death of his
father, Raymond Graves, Senior.
David Mobley, IERL/RTP, and his wife, Peggy, are
the proud parents of a little girl, Diane Christine, born
June 21. Diane weighed in at 7 Ibs. - 6 ozs.
Congratulations to Richard Linko, HERL/RTP, and
his lovely bride, Patricia Hickman, NIEHS. The couple
were married June 18 in the University Presbyterian
Church, Chapel Hill, N.C. , and honeymooned at Myrtle
Beach, S.C.
Bon Voyage.'
Robert Fankhauser, a meteorologist with the
Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory, will
retire the end of July after 37 years of Federal service.
The lab honored him at a picnic June 10. Robert and
his wife plan to travel to the west coast in their camper
to visit their daughter in Seattle and their son in San
Francisco. The couple plan to do some more traveling
and then return to North Carolina for at least four
more years until their youngest son graduates from
high school. Robert hopes to keep his hand in by
doing some consulting work.
Joseph Bufalini and his wife Marijon spend a lot of
time under the hood. Why so? It's only natural when
you collect and rebuild cars. The Bufalinis have eight
vehicles including: a 1947 MG TC; 1948 MG TC; 1951
MB-TD; 1954 MG-TF; 1967 MG-Magnette; 1958-MGA; 1963
Jaguar Mark II sedan; and a 1967 Mark II sedan, com-
pletely rebuilt. Joe said, "I sometimes feel over ex-
tended," but noted how gratifying it is to see the cars
come to life. But then, what's a hobby for?
IERL had the busiest booth at the recent APCA con-
vention in Toronto according to Bruce Harris, Environ-
mental Engineer in the Public Health Service. He and
Bill Kuykendal distributed more than 4,000 copies of
selected reports. The SASS Train (see the last
"Cleaner Times" for a description) was there for
inspection along with several other instruments which
included a droplet counting device for sizing and
counting the number of water droplets in stack
emissions and an automatic particulate sampler.
All CSD employees wish a speedy recovery to Sa'id
Salaam who recently underwent knee surgery.
Doug Richmond, Director, Contracts Management
Division, made a video tape up in Washington recently
about the contracting organization in general and RTP's
operation specifically. Using slides and graphs the
presentation was very much "to-the-point." It is one
in a series of programs about the contracting process,
and will be used in employee orientation and in EPA's
regional offices.
From MDAD comes news of George Manire. He was
in a serious car accident recently, but is recovering on
schedule. He recently went home from the hospital and
we wish him well during his convalescence.
Also from MDAD—after 34 years of government
service—Martha Abernathy has retired. In the next 1
1/2 years she and her husband will be planning and
building a home on the Tennessee River near Knoxville.
They plan to move there as soon as Mr. Abernathy
retires. We wish them much personal happiness and
many happy years.
CSD/HERL is losing the services of three employees
this month . Bill Isley has taken a resident position in
San Antonio, Texas. Tom Hinson and Jim Sanderford
are leaving to devote full time to 3rd year medical
school work at NCMH.
Dr. William P. Kirk, Chief, Developmental Biology
Branch, was installed as President of the North
Carolina Chapter of the Health Physics Society at its
annual meeting May 20-21 at EPA's Environmental
Research Center. Dr. Kirk is a Scientist Director,
U.S. Public Health Service, and has been assigned to
EPA since 1970.
A technical program dealing with the effects of non-
ionizing radiation was presented by scientists from
EPA, NIEHS, RTI, ERDA, FDA, Bureau of Radiological
Health and Duke University. Dr. Joe Elder, HERL,
coordinated the presentations .
Walter Barber, Director, OAQPS , announced the ap-
pointment of Betty Abramson, MDAD/OAQPS , as the
OAQPS Federal Women's Program (FWP) representative.
She will serve on the EPA-RTP FWP Advisory
Committee , along with representatives from ORD , OA ,
and Local 3347.
Betty has been an active participant in the Federal
Women's Program since its inception and has been
formally recognized in the past for her worthwhile
contributions to the Program. She is counting on the
continued support and cooperation of EPA personnel in
promoting the objectives of the FWP.
Martha Mueser, HERL/RTP, was married to Roy
Girolami July 2 in Raleigh . Roy is an engineer with the
N.C. Department of Transportation .
Nancy Wilson, HERL/RTP, and husband, Jim, are the
proud parents of a little girl, Leslie Keeler, born May
25. Leslie bowed in at 8 Ibs. 10 ozs.
Steve Scarabin, HERL/RTP, and wife Sandra have a
little daughter, Kendra Lyvette, born June 3, weighing
in at 7 Ibs. 13 ozs.
The staff of the Analytical Chemistry Branch,
HERL/RTP, entertained Dr. Robert Moseman with a
surprise stork shower July 8. The honoree opened
gifts for the baby-to-be and refreshments were served.
New OSHA Chief may be Activist
Dr. Eula Bingham
Look for a lot more action from the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration under its new
administrator, Dr. Eula Bingham.
She will continue to stress the prevention of
occupational disease, as did her predecessor, by step-
ping up the issuance of more health standards for
widely known carcinogens.
Dr. Bingham also wants OSHA to do a better job of
notifying the public of health dangers at the earliest
(Continued on page 5)
-------
PSP - What is It?
Have you heard about PSP' It's not a new dance
step or letters on a bumper sticker It's something
much more satisfying, more profitable, longer lasting
PSP stands for the Payroll Savings Plan Over nine
and one half million Americans have joined it for the
automatic purchase of U S Savings Bonds It's a
painless way to save. No sweat No fuss No forget-
ting Once you sign up, the money is never missed,
yet it grows every payday in the form of interest-
bearing bonds
Your payroll allotment isn't really a deduction It's
just a deferred payment that's always yours when you
need it—plus interest1
What do you do for ready cash when an emergency
strikes' Everybody needs a rainy day fund—and the
easiest way to build it is through the PSP
Pay yourself first This automatic plan makes sure
your future gets a share of your paycheck
The 1977 Federal Agencies Savings Bonds Program is
underway with Shirley Bowens, PMD/OA, as Campaign
Coordinator Canvassers have been designated in
every office, lab, and division and will be contacting
employees individually
INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE - ENROLL IN THE PSP
TODAY!
Personnel Corner
Did you know'
An employee is prohibited from any action that might
result in, or give the appearance of, using public
office for private gam, giving preferential treatment
to any person, or any action which will affect
adversely the confidence of the pubbc in the integ-
rity of the Government
Generally, an employee should not, in the course of
his employment, solicit or accept, directly or in-
directly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment,
loan, or any other things of monetary value
An employee should not engage in outside
employment or other outside activity not compatible
with the full and proper discharge of the duties and
responsibilities of his Government employment
When a program is based on law or Executive order,
every employee has a positive obligation to make it
function as efficiently and economically as possible
An employee shall not directly or indirectly use, or
allow the use of Government property of any kind
for other than officially approved activities An em-
ployee has a positive duty to protect and conserve
Government property including equipment, supplies,
and other property entrusted or issued to him.
An employee shall not participate, while on Govern-
ment owned or leased property or while on duty for
the Government, in any gambling, including the
operation of a gambling device, in conducting a
lottery or pool, in a game for money or property, or
in selling or purchasing a numbers slip or ticket
Welcome, New Employees
J. David Foster is an environmental engineer in the
Control Programs Development Division, OAQPS He
has completed his course work toward his doctorate at
the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. David
and his family reside in Trinity Park, Durham
Robert Weber began working in the Emission
Standards and Engineering Division, OAQPS, May
23rd. He is a chemical engineer and received his
degree from Lehigh University He is attending the
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, for a
graduate degree in Public Health Robert previously
worked in the Industrial Environmental Research
Laboratory under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act
He and his wife live in Chapel Hill
Atlee Jefcoat is not a newcomer to EPA, having
worked in the Industrial Environmental Research
Laboratory for two years under the Intergovernmental
Personnel Act while at Christian Brothers College,
Memphis, Tennessee He has accepted a permanent
position as chemical engineer in IERL Atlee and his
wife live in Durham
Kerri Brothers, a chemical engineer in the Emission
Standards and Engineering Division, OAQPS, has the
distinction of graduating with her mother from North
Carolina State University, Raleigh Both mother and
daughter graduated with high honors Kern's husband
is studying for a master's degree in chemical
engineering The couple live in Raleigh
David Mage - a recent transfer from EMSL/Las
Vegas,is a supervisory physical scientist in the Health
Effects Research Lab, He arrived at RTF April 10
Dave and his family live in Chapel Hill, N C
(Continued on page 7)
QUALITY SALARY INCREASES
EMSL
Bobby E Edmonds
Malcolm C Wilkins
Cynthia B Fox
ESRL
Susan W. Bass
Peter A Gabele
IERL
Robert V Hendriks
Raymond S Steiber
Robert C McCrilhs
James H Abbott
ESRL
Sara O
Sharpe
OA
Stacy D Blackman
Bertha R. Johnson
Fannie T Lee
OAQPS
Thomas R McCurdy
Patrice Mansfield
Gary H Wilder
Mary C Wilkins
CONTINUED SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE
Gloria L Rigsbee Marion B Watson
-------
Dynamometer Testing in ESRL
The mobile source test facility evaluates new
emission measurement methods for fuel studies, and
pollution control systems effects on automobiles and
truck tailpipe emissions, and for work on evaporative
emissions.
r
One engine dynamometer is used for testing the
regular gasoline engine for catalyst control while
another is used for testing hydrocarbons and particu-
lates emitted from heavy duty diesel engines.
Two chassis dynamometers are used for testing pas-
senger cars and light trucks weighing up to 10,000
pounds. These treadmill-like devices simulate the
roadway loading effects on a stationary automobile.
With this apparatus, it is possible to operate a car
over controlled driving cycles to derive a close approx-
imation of vehicular emission characteristics for city
street, urban expressway, or highway cruising models.
Such equipment is also useful for the measurement of
fuel consumption.
COMPUTER CENTER (cont'd from page 2)
In fact, during the last three months the mean time
between failure of the system has been significantly
above the industry average. A great deal of credit
must go to Don Fulford and Dave Fields for their
efforts in this area.
Sam Brown says, "With this stability record now
becoming a norm, my personal goal for the National
Computer Center is to add a new meaning to the name
of RTF. Most people when they hear the initials RTF
think of Research Triangle Park. NCC's goal will be to
make those initials stand for Reliable and Timely
Processing when people think about RTF in context
with NCC."
NEW OSHA (cont'd from page 3)
possible moment and continuing to communicate while
the agency moves through the often lengthy standards-
setting procedure.
The guidelines OSHA will issue at the onset of a
public health emergency will be unenforceable but
should help lower risks.
Another change Dr. Bingham says she wants to
make is the simplification of safety standards so they
can be readily understood by businessmen.
(Reprinted from Chemecology)
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 Publications Center. GSD
-------
Conferences
U.S. EPA, Technology Transfer and Region IV
present a design seminar for small wastewater treatment
systems at the Atlanta Hilton, Atlanta, Ga., July 27-
29. The conference is sponsored by EPA as part of the
Technology Transfer Program to disseminate the latest
information on the design of small wastewater treatment
systems. Participation is offered to consulting
engineers, municipal design engineers and federal and
state pollution control officials concerned with pollution
control and abatement.
Air Quality Meteorology and Atmospheric Ozone Con-
ference, August 1-6, Denver, Colorado. Contact:
Alvin L. Morris, Ambient Analysis, Inc., P. O. Box
4056, Boulder, Colorado 80306.
The First Mid-Atlantic Conference on Bio-Fluid
Mechanics will be held at Virginia Polytechnic Institute
and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, August 10-
12. A call for papers has been issued and abstracts
must be received no later than November 1. For more
information contact: Dr. Daniel J. Schneck, Dept. of
Engineering Science & Mechanics, VPI, 227 Norris Hall,
Blacksburg, Va. 24061.
Meteorology and Air Pollution Control Seminar,
August 22-25, Nashville, Tennessee. Contact: Prof.
W. Wesley Eckenfelder. Jr., P. O. Box 6222, Station
B, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235.
Stationary Source Combustion Seminar, August 29-
September 1, New Orleans, Louisiana, sponsored by
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Contact:
Betty Farley, Symposium Coordinator, Acurex Corp./
Aerotherm Division, 485 Clyde Avenue, Mt. View,
California 94042.
Environmental Aspects of Fuel Conversion
Technology Symposium, September 13-16, Hollywood,
Florida, sponsored by U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency. Contact: Franklin A. Ayer, Research
Triangle Institute, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle
Park, N.C. 27709.
Air Pollution Control Association, Southern Section
Annual Meeting, September 21-23, Jackson, Mississippi.
Contact: Jim Haynes, Tennessee Air Pollution Control
Division, 256 Capitol Hill Bldg., Nashville, Tennessee
37219.
A call for technical papers has been issued for the
1977 meeting of the East Central Section of the Air
Pollution Control Association (ECS-APCA). This is the
thirty-fourth annual meeting of private, industrial, and
governmental representatives concerned with air
pollution control. It will be held in Akron, Ohio, on
September 21 through 23, 1977.
Meeting coordinators are soliciting papers on air
pollution topics and state that preference will be given
to papers related to the theme "Energy and the
Environment." Persons interested in presenting a
paper should submit a 100-word abstract to Dr. Glenn
A. Atwood, Department of Chemical Engineering, The
University of Akron, 302 E. Buchtel Avenue, Akron,
Ohio 44325.
A National Conference on Chlorination: Environ-
mental Impact & Health Effects will be held October 31-
November 4 in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The conference
is sponsored by EPA, ERDA, and Oak Ridge National
Laboratory. Contact: R. L. Jolley, Oak Ridge
National Laboratory, P. O. Box X, Oak Ridge,
Tennessee 37830.
International Environment Improvement Conference,
November 1-3, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.
Contact: David H. Paterson, Technical Section,
Canadian Pulp and Paper Association, 2300 Sun Life
Bldg., Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3B 2X9.
Sensing of Environmental PoEutants Conference will
be held in New Orleans, Louisiana, November 6-11.
Contact: Dr. V. E. Derr, Program Chairman, 4th Joint
Conference on Sensing of Environmental Pollutants,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, ERL-
WPL, R45.3, Boulder, Colorado 80302.
Annual Purdue Air Quality Conference and
Exhibition is being held November 15-16 in Indianapolis,
Indiana. Contact: Robert Jacko, Rm. 220, Civil
Engineering Bldg. , Purdue University, West Lafayette,
Indiana 47907.
ORWOW-IW PROCESS MEASUH
lERL's Process Measurements Branch displayed newly
developed hardware and distributed reports dealing
with environmental measurements to attendees at the
recent Air Pollution Control Association meeting
held in Toronto, Canada.(See Perscn-to-Person, pg-3;
Speaking Engagements
Bill Hamilton, Chief, Economic Analysis Branch,
OAQPS, was in Sophia, Bulgaria, June 22-July 2. He
participated in the Inter-Regional Course on Environ-
mental Pollution Control and gave two lectures during
the course, one on Economic Aspects of Pollution and
its Control and the other on Control Technology for Air
Pollution. The course was sponsored by the World
Health Organization.
Dr. E2ra Berman, HERL/RTP, presented a paper on
"Observations on Mouse Fetuses Exposed to 2.45 GHZ
Microwave Radiation," July 6, at the annual meeting of
the Health Physics Society in Atlanta, Georgia.
Fred Porter, ESED/OAQPS, spoke to approximately
100 members of the Durham Kiwanis Club at a luncheon
meeting in Durham, July 14. He gave a general over-
view of EPA in North Carolina and discussed the effects
of environmental pollution on our daily lives.
J. F. Thompson, HERL/RTP, attended a Pesticide
Residue Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, July
11-13, and gave a presentation entitled "Analytical
Quality Control--What, Why, Who, When."
(Continued on page 7)
-------
Leg Power Versus
Gasoline Power!
John Summerhays
We, as Americans, waste an estimated 30% of the
energy consumed in this country. We can help
eliminate this waste of our precious resources, save
money, and contribute to a better life now and for the
future by wise use of our energy fuels.
We all know that automobiles are the major con-
sumers of gasoline. With this thought in mind we
turned our efforts towards finding out if people were
using other means of transportation to come to work
and we found quite a few were riding bicycles.
John Summerhays, MDAD/OAQPS, has ridden a
bicycle for over 20 years. In fact, he has traveled
more miles on a bike than in a car. He has commuted to
EPA by bike for the past three years and before that to
school. Some of his reasons: pro-bike, exercise,
aesthetics, freedom from parking hassles, and
economics (the average 24% of people's budgets spent
on transportation for him runs about 0.5%). Some
other reasons are anti-car relating to the fact that cars
are the major source of a variety of air pollutants,
noise levels, and they consume valuable land space.
Don Lokey, SASD/OAQPS, has been riding his
bicycle to work through summer sun and winter chill
since he started with SASD two years ago. He first
developed the habit of bike riding while a student at
Auburn University, where parking spaces were hard to
get. He selected his residence in Durham so that he
could continue commuting by bike. Some of his reasons
for bicycling to work are: physical exercise, economic
incentive, and conservation of energy, but an added
bonus derived from biking is the sheer enjoyment of
being able to hear birds singing in the morning,
smelling flowers in bloom, and exchanging smiles with
folks along the way. Such perception of the
surroundings is not possible while driving a car. Don
says, "Since life is so short, it seems a shame to
routinely pass by opportunities to partake of nature's
bountiful sensory stimulations."
John Davis, ESED/OAQPS, has been asked, "Why do
you ride a bike to work?" His initial response is to fire
back with, "Why aren't you riding a bike to work?" To
his way of thinking it's the only choice of transporta-
tion for those who wish to practice what we preach at
EPA—a clean environment. John says, "I ride a
bicycle because it's fun and economical. Bikes don't
require gasoline, oil, tune-ups, insurance, and all the
other necessities that cars require. Also, there's no
problem finding parking spaces and traffic jams are
easily by-passed when you're on two wheels. And, for
people worried about extra pounds, it's a great form of
exercise. There's the additional satisfaction of
knowing you are not contributing to air, water, or
noise pollution. So come on the rest of you! Get out
of your cars and onto your bikes. Your environment,
body, and wallet will appreciate it."
David Mascone, ESED/OAQPS, began riding a bike
when he was in college. He travels 12 miles round-trip
to work by bike every day. David says, "I ride a bike
to keep me in shape, save money and energy, reduce
pollution, and because I really enjoy bicycling. I even
rode this past winter when the temperature got down to
10° F."
Jeff Shumaker, ESED/OAQPS, also rides a bike to
work. He travels about three miles each way daily and
finds it most enjoyable.
We salute all of our energy conservationists and
hope more people will take to biking.
WELCOME (cont'd from page 4)
John O'Neill - transferred from NIEHS a month ago.
He is a research physiologist in the Health Effects
Research Lab. John and his family live in Raleigh,
North Carolina.
SPEAKINfi (cont'd from page 6)
H. L. Crist, HERL/RTP, attended the same
conference on pesticide residues. His presentation was
entitled "Micro Derivatization of Polychlorinated
Biphenyls in Biological Tissue."
The Industrial Environmental Research Laboratory
will hold a Flue Gas Desulfurization Symposium (FGD)
in Hollywood, Florida, November 7-11. Michael Maxwell
will chair the meeting and Julian Jones will be co-
chairman. Robert Borgwardt will give results of IERL-
RTP FGD pilot tests. Wade Ponder will discuss the
Wellman-Lord/Allied Chemical FGD demonstration plant.
Richard Stern will talk about regenerable FGD
processes.
James Kilgroe, IERL/RTP, will be general chairman
of the Coal Cleaning Symposium in Hollywood, Florida,
May 14-17, 1978.
-------
White Water Rafting
The Chattooga, the roaring, boulder-strewn,
tumultuous, killer river used for filming the movie
Deliverance, was tamed last month by a group of daring
adventurers from SASD Fortunately, there were no
casualties Everyone made it to the end, though
several of the more daring did end up for a tune in the
churning rapids
The group, consisting of Neil Efird, Bill Hamilton,
Dick Jenkins, Bob Kellam, Ken Lloyd, Tom McCurdy,
John O'Connor, Skip Schippers, and former SASD'er
Mike Berry, was somewhat apprehensive as to what to
expect from the much ballyhooed river The wild and
scenic river forms the northern part of the South
Carolina-Georgia line, and is touted to have "the best
white-water in the Southeast " Since the filming of
Deliverance, the river has become the mecca of both
experienced and novice canoeists, kayakers, and
rafters in search of an exhilarating and challenging
experience However, several foolhardy people have
perished in the river's more difficult and perilous
rapids, creating a dangerous aura to the river
Being basically sound minded individuals, the SASD
crew chose to be on the safe side The trip was
organized through a professional rafting company which
provided experienced guides and four-person rafts,
which tend to be safer modes of travel With the
guides explaining the correct manner to run each series
of rapids, the rafters were able to approach each
challenge confidently and sometimes successfully
The trip covered the adjoining portions of sections
III and IV of the river, with the latter being the most
treacherous stretch of river which is only for the most
expert or foolhardy river riders Numerous swift
rapids with names like Screaming Left Turn, Jumble,
and Sock 'Em Dog, often one on top of the other,
challenged the rafters and provided an exciting trip
The highlight of section III was Bull Sluice, com-
posed of two successive-five-foot drops ending in a
whirlpool of white foam These rapids were the scene
of tragedy in Deliverance where the canoes capsized,
the wooden canoe was smashed, and one of the
canoeists was killed after being thrown into
Decapitation Rock Though many of the rafters ended
up sprawled in the middle of the raft looking at the
scenery above after the first drop, each raft made it
through the rapids without incident
The trip culminated at Woodall Shoals, one of the
river's most dangerous spots These rapids are char-
acterized by a deep hole at the bottom of a ledge which
creates a hydraulic that has snatched people and boats
back into it, holding them for up to two hours
After portaging around the ledge, the rafts put in
again just below the hydraulic, but close enough to
make taking off interesting Only one group had an
anxious moment as one member was tossed overboard
when the raft started out With the current tugging at
his feet, the fallen rafter moved faster than anyone
thought possible as he swiftly jumped back into the
raft The raft triumphantly shot the rapids without
any further pitfalls
All in all, everyone thoroughly enjoyed the trip In
fact, the group feels so confident now that they are
ready to go back and take the entire stretch of section
IV After just one trip they are all confirmed river
rats
It's Your
Ballgame
Summer means baseball and the RTFEA Softball
league is in full swing According to Ken Lloyd,
SASD, and League chairman, this is the largest number
of teams to compete in the three years that he's been
playing in the league
It's mid-season and as we go to press the
Meteorology Laboratory's team, DEW POINTS captained
by Jack Shreffler, is undefeated Tied with a one
game loss apiece are NCC and TONY'S TAVERN (NCHS)
headed by Steve Knudsen, George Scruggs, and Jim
Sullivan Battling for last place are the OA TURKEYS
with Theresa Butts catcher and captain, and ARMY
RESEARCH led by Phil Parrish
Other teams are BIOHAZARDS (EBL), Blair
Rehnberg, ISI, another computer center team headed
by Jim Johnson, BELLO'S BOMBERS(ESED), Jim
Eddinger, SWEATHOGS (Northrop), Joe Clay; MEAN
MACHINE (MADA/SASD), George Schewe, and NIEHS,
Ralph Hester
The teams are hitting home runs and chasing down
fly balls every evening at Lowes Grove
The final tournament begins mid-August and cheer-
leaders and rooters are always welcome.
------- |