EPA
Vol. 1
     March 1978
                      No. 1
Jhe first of several  changes  in the  Management
Information and  Data Systems Division is  the way
Mr. Willis Greenstreet describes the "New Look" of
EPA Data Talk (formerly  EPA Systems News).  The
reorientation of the format is only  the cosmetics
of the "New Look";  more important is the formali-
zation of its purpose. EPA Data Talk will be pub-
lished monthly  by the National Computer  Center,
Research  Triangle  Park, North  Carolina, for the
purpose of  providing a report  on the  automatic
data processing activities of the  Environmental
Protection Agency and  other personnel involved in
the protection of the environment.

Information  provided is intended to be news arti-
cles of  general interest in specific  areas  of
automatic data processing  in EPA.  It is not in-
tended to report detailed technical information.
Highly technical articles and information, such as
"people  to contact"  by  subject area,  which you
have been used to in the  past, will be  periodi-
cally published as a  supplement to EPA Data Talk.
Views  expressed by authors  will not necessarily
reflect EPA policy.

Jhe  following  people  have  agreed  to  serve as
"Coordinating  Editors" for the subject  areas in-
dicated:
    Subject Area

 Director's Corner
 Lead Article
 Management Information
  Data Systems Division
 Washington Computer Center
 National Computer Center
 Minicomputers
 Training
 Telecommunications
 Regional Offices
Coordinating Editor

Willis Greenstreet
Rotated Among Editors

Ken Byram
Ken Byram
Sam Brown
Ed Nime
Maureen Johnson
Fred Kastner
Ted Standish
 Jhe above  contributors may author articles them-
 selves or request  other personnel to  write them.
 All areas  may not be reported on this month since
 this is reorientation time, but,  hopefully, all
                                (Cont. Pg. 2)
THE
NEW
LOOK
                     by  Sam Brown
                     DIRECTOR
                     NATIONAL COMPUTER CENTER

-------
  DIRECTOR'S
        CORNER
                          Wills Grecnstrm
I hope that the  title of this column is
not a  Freudian slip,  but it  does seem
familiar.  I think that the revamping of
the  format of  this  newsletter  is the
first of  many changes in MIDSD.  I have
said  that my  job is  to manage  change
and, as  you can  easily  tell, it  is a
difficult task.

I have selected Sam Brown to be the Pro-
ject Manager  for the A-109  procurement
for the 1980's data  center and he is in
the process  of organizing  and  finding
out what he has  to do.   I will leave it
to him to  describe how he plans to han-
dle his dual role and  everyone's inter-
est in this extremely important activity.
Among the many attributes that Sam Brown
brings to this  job is one which was al-
most overwhelming in my judgment.  What-
ever he buys, he has to make work.

AS many  of you  know, I have  sponsored
two seminars for managers without an ADP
background on Data  Base Management Sys-
tems in recent  months.   These  seminars
were an  attempt to  place DBMS in  per-
spective and give the managers some idea
of how  to ask the  right  questions.  I
was pleased with the level of attendees,
the number who took  time to attend, and
the reception the seminars received.  We
had a heavily technical course in Decem-
ber  in which  many of you  were offered
spaces  and, from all  reports, this was
an  excellent  course.    Unfortunately,
some of  the slots were not utilized.  I
strongly  encourage  everyone  in EPA to
prepare themselves to participate in de-
sign,  programming,   and  operation  of
DBMS.  I hasten  to add  that DBMS  will
not totally replace conventional methods
of access,  but it will  be used more as
we become  better  able to  manage  this
technology.
I  have  transferred  the  ADP  training
function  to NCC under  the direction  of
Sam Brown.  Vic Cohen is in  the process
of  being  reassigned  at this time  and
will  relocate  in early  summer.  I be-
lieve that the consolidation of the tal-
ents and interests will be beneficial  to
you and the rest of the user community.
THE NEW LOOK  (Cont.  fm Pg.  1)

Coordinating  Editors  will   have   their
articles  submitted  in a  timely manner
beginning with  the April  issue.   Arti-
cles in  other  categories   will be con-
sidered for  publication.  Contributions
and inquiries should be addressed to:

       Editor, EPA Data Talk
       National Computer Center
       Research Triangle Park
       North Carolina 27711

Jhe publication  staff at NCC has devel-
oped the  publishing policy.  The policy
specifies that the publication staff re-
serves the  right to  edit  articles for
readability or  to fit  available layout
space.  Authors  are  requested to  mini-
mize use of acronyms and concentrate on
preparing  articles  for a  general  audi-
ence,  not "ADP  Techs". No permission
will be necessary to  reproduce the con-
tents except  copyright photos and  mate-
rials  so indicated.    Information   pre-
sented should be as current  as possible.

We in the  ADP Community have reason to
be proud of  the important  part  we have
played  in assuring that the nation ob-
tains and maintains a compatible balance
between human activities and the ability
of natural  systems to support  and nur-
ture  life.  These  efforts   need to  be
published  via EPA Data Talk.  As impor-
tant as  our role has been   in the  past,
it will be  even more  important in the
future.  A  series  of events over the
past  couple of years,  initiated by new
legislation, is revising the EPA process
to the point where "health  effects" will
play an  even more critical   part of the
overall effort.

Jhe  FY1979  budget assures  that the EPA
mission  will  emphasize   heavily   the
health effects area.   This mandatory im-
pact  of health  effects on  the  overall

-------
EPA process will  place a heavy empha-
sis on the  expertise and capabilities
of  the  ADP community.  There  is  no
doubt that we can meet this challenge,
but the results that go into it should
be  publicized.  Your  contribution to
the appropriate Coordinating Editor is
appreciated.     The  NCC  publication
staff  will  dedicate  itself  to  the
accurate,  objective, and  timely pub-
lication of the "New Look" of EPA Data
Talk.
      IMPROVEMENTS FORESEEN

        IN NATIONAL NETWORK

             F. Kastner
        Computer Specialist

Jhe  National  Network is  a series of
communications lines over which compu-
ter-related  data  is  exchanged.   The
data  exchanges take place between EPA
user sites and  central site computers
located at  the National Computer  Cen-
ter (NCC)  in Research  Triangle  Park
and  the  Washington  Computer  Center
(WCC) in Washington, D.C.

Over  the  past  several  months,   in-
creased  emphasis has  been  placed on
improving  overall  network  stability
and  reliability.  The  telecommunica-
tions segment  of the COMNET  contract
received a  very low grade  during the
last  contract  monitoring  period re-
flecting  the instability and  general
user  dissatisfaction  with  accessing
WCC and NCC.  As a  result of this low
grade,  and  as a result  of increased
pressure  from  the  users and  MIDSD,
COMNET is  taking steps  to remedy the
situation.    Recent  meetings  between
COMNET  and AT&T have  identified  sev-
eral actions to be taken as follows:

  • Some chronic circuit problems
    have been resolved.

  • Wideband (High-volume) circuits
    connecting WCC to NCC and Denver
    to NCC should be operational
    during February 1978 and provide
    improved data transmission
    reliability.
  •  To improve hardware reliability,
     COMNET has negotiated a mainte-
     nance contract with the multi-
     plexer supplier  (TIMEPLEX).
     Motivation for the new mainte-
     nance contract is improved
     response  to requests for re-
     pair service and for supply of
     backup components until repair
     is effected.

  •  Trouble reports received from
     remote sites, such as Grosse
     lie, Michigan, Florida, and
     Boston, have initiated action
     to reconfigure network data
     transmission paths for more
     direct routing and efficient
     problem diagnosis.

COMNET is continuing to test software to
allow  Univac 1004  remote equipment and
other NTR  emulator  equipment to access
the  NCC over  the National Network.

COMNET continues to  strive  for  excel-
lence in development of the very complex
National  Network.   Improvements   have
been in  evidence and efforts to provide
EPA  users with  the support they deserve
will  continue.  The EPA  Data Talk will
attempt to keep you informed on develop-
ments of this vital resource.
     PRODUCTION  CONTROL SERVICES

        NOW  AVAILABLE AT NCC
              E. Watson
        Computer Specialist

Jhe NCC  Mission Contractor  is happy to
announce that a Production Control func-
tion has been established within the NCC
User  Services Support  Department.  The
role of the  Production Control function
is to  submit, monitor,  and ensure suc-
cessful  completion  of  computer  runs.
These  computer runs  are those required
by a  user on a  periodic, timely  basis
such as  data  base  updates  or reports
which are required as a result of a data
base update.

Jhe  Production  Control  function  will
process  requests for  service that  are
required on  a fixed schedule, e.g., the

-------
third  working Wednesday of every month,
the last  day of every  month, or  every
other Friday.  Recurring tasks that can-
not be scheduled on  fixed days or dates
are acceptable,  however, the timeliness
of the output cannot be guaranteed.

V/hether or not a job  stands alone or is
one of a series of runs within a system,
it will be well-documented with step-by-
step procedures  at the time  the run is
assumed  by the Production Control func-
tion.

Presently,  there are  three  activities
conducted by  Production  Control:   the
monthly  update of the Personal Property
System,  updating and report  generation
for the Gas Cylinder System, and Region-
al Office assistance.

Production  Control services are offered
to free the user from the aggravation of
job  monitoring  and  run  resubmission.
Production   Control   will  maintain   a
stable  staff of knowledgeable employees
who  will  provide  timely,  expeditious
processing  services.  We  believe   that
the Production  Control  staff operating
under  established  standards  and   pro-
cedures  will  provide  a  highly  cost-
effective service.  Anyone interested in
further  information on  these   services
should contact Ernie  Watson of   EPA/NCC
(919-541-2143/FTS 629-2143) or Jim Smith
of   SDC ISI  (919-541-3619/FTS 629-3619).
  AGENCY ADP TRAINING MOVES TO RTF

           Maureen Johnson
         Computer  Specialist

Administration    of   the  EPA   National
Training Program  has  been transferred to
Research  Triangle Park. The objective
of  this  newly constituted program  will
be  to  identify  agency-wide  ADP training
requirements and   provide for excellence
in   instruction and   course  content.  In
addition  to administering  a continuing
program  of  currently available courses,
new courses will be   developed with the
objective of individual career develop-
ment .
Qelores Moorman  and John Hart of CCSD/-
Cincinnati met  with Gene Lowrimore, Vic
Cohen, and Maureen Johnson of NCC/RTP in
early  February to  identify  courses to
be developed and presented during FY1978
and FY1979.  The course  selections were
consistent   with  recommendations  con-
tained  in the "Coordinated ADP Training
Plan"  completed by  HUMRRO in September
1976.

During the  remainder of  FY1978, course
offerings will  include an  introduction
to ADP  Concepts, Project Management and
an Executive Management Seminar.   Course
location  sites will include the western
and mid-western  areas.  Specific course
descriptions  and registration  informa-
tion  will be forthcoming,  so watch for
details in the EPA Data Talk.
       NEW MINICOMPUTER SYSTEMS
    SOFTWARE PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED

         Ed Nime, Director
Computer Services & Systems Division

TWO PDP11/70 systems software projects -
an Automatic  Telecommunications Proces-
sing System and a Generalized Tape Util-
ity - were  implemented  recently.   The
design  of the  projects involved  input
from  all five EPA  PDP11/70 sites.  The
software  was developed and is currently
being tested  at Cincinnati.   Installa-
tion  at other  sites is  scheduled  for
March 1978.

The Automatic Telecommunications Proces-
sing System was designed to:

  • Relieve PDP11/70 operators from
    as much RJE-related work as
    possible.

  • Maximize telecommunications
    throughput, minimize costs, and
    maximize reliability.

  • Provide automatic dial-out and
    answer.

  • Provide automatic PDP11 to PDP11
    communications.

-------
  • Provide automatic PDF 11  to Univac
    1110 communication via the NTR
    emulator developed for EPA.

  • Provide automatic PDP11  to Data
    General Nova Laboratory  mini-
    computer communications.

  • Perform accounting and provide
    daily user job status access.

  • Provide optional concurrent
    manual operation of all  emu-
    lators by the operator.

Accounting  and  job  status access  in-
cludes date/time files sent  and received
by  each emulator,  blocks   sent and re-
ceived for each file, error  count during
transmission/reception of each file, and
host  job   name/number   and  job  card
accounting information.

All of the  program objectives have been
achieved with the  exception of PDP11 to
PDP11  communications, which is awaiting
a module from DEC; NTR - Univac communi-
cations, which is awaiting a patched NTR
availability on NCC; and DG  Nova  Commu-
nications,  which is awaiting local com-
pletion of Nova code.
Jhe General Tape Utility,  which has been
titled  OBI for  On-Line  Block I/O, was
originally  designed to allow tapes pro-
duced on IBM 370's to be read on PDP11/-
70's and vice versa.  A number of  other
services have been added during develop-
ment.   The utility  will  read  or write
IBM  standard-label  or  no-label  tapes
containing fixed length records, blocked
or unblocked.  It  also provides  a tape
map  facility  for which  the user  only
needs  to supply  the  correct  density.
The  tape map  furnishes  information on
block  size  and block  count  for  each
file, as well as hexadecimal dump of the
first three blocks.  From this, the user
can supply  information  needed to  copy
files  from the tape.  Print, translate,
and dump capabilities are  available as a
part of the  copy  option.  The  utility
may be run online or in batch.

A test version of OBI was  distributed to
three  EPA sites  in October  1977.  The
full  version is  nearing  completion of
the test  phase and will  be distributed
as soon as documentation is completed.

A significant  objective of  the  Air and
Waste Management  Office is  the  monitor-
ing  and  control  of  stationary air  emis-
sions, particularly industrial  plants.

-------
         HIGHLIGHTS FROM WCC

               Ken Byram
      Technical Operations Branch

      publishes  its   own   newsletter,
SIGNON,  which is  mailed to  all regis-
tered  users of  the WCC.  This  monthly
column is an attempt to highlight activ-
ities at WCC  which might be of interest
to the wider ADP community.

  V A security audit,  conducted by Com-
puter Resource Control  includes  a risk
analysis  of  vulnerabilities  to  EPA's
considerable investment in data and data
processing  equipment.  A  draft  report
was  delivered  to EPA on February 3 and
is undergoing EPA and COMNET review.

  V Progress  on meeting  objectives set
by  the  Performance  Evaluation  (Award
Fee)  Board has improved. Machine stabil-
ity,   highlighted  by  the  board,  went
over  95  percent  for the  first entire
month  of  January.   Telecommunications
network  reliability seems  more attain-
able based on a central AT&T contact for
telephone line problems.

  V User  support  training  visits  are
scheduled  for regions/labs  in March or
April.  The format for the sessions will
be selected by local ADP contacts.

  V Documentation  libraries  are  being
established  in major  labs and regions.
The intent is to  maintain central sites
where IBM and WCC documentation  will be
kept up-to-date.

  \/WCC User's Guides  were  distributed
to  registered users on February 1.

  V Input  ability to  twin systems  for
Change  Control and  Problem  Resolution
was  released to  the user  community in
The February issue of SIGNON.  Both sys-
tems  provide tracking,  work estimates,
and originator  reporting as problems or
enhancements are suggested.
         Systems  Review  Council met in
February to review COMNET1s schedule for
implementing  changes  to the  Operating
System, the remote job entry system, and
the low  speed interface  languages (OS,
HASP, and ALPHA).
                                                   RATE CHANGES ANNOUNCED
                                                        AT NCC AND WCC

                                                            Ken  Byram
                                             /\  rate  increase  for  ADP   users   at  the
                                             National  Computer  Center  and   the Wash-
                                             ington  Computer  Center   has   been   an-
                                             nounced  by Willis Greenstreet,  Director
                                             of  the  Management  Information and Data
                                             Systems   Division.  The rate   change  re-
                                             flects a 12 percent increase  (from $160/
                                             SRU to  $180/SRU)  for users   of  the  NCC
                                             and a 23 percent increase for those of
                                             the WCC.
                                             In his  announcement  of  the  increase,  Mr.
                                             Greenstreet   stated  that  there  are  cur-
                                             rently  sufficient  funds available  to  pay
                                             the expenses  for both centers.   However,
                                             a study of current expenses and  utiliza-
                                             tion of  computer  facilities  have  re-
                                             sulted  in an overall   cost increase at
                                             both sites.
                                             Expenses   of  operating   the  centers  con-
                                             sist  of  reimbursements  to the   WCC  con-
                                             tractor,   COMNET,  for  equipment rental,
                                             personnel,  etc.,   and reimbursements  to
                                             the NCC contractors, SDC ISI and Univac,
                                             for technical personnel  and  equipment.
                                             Jhe  ADP fund is   established  by a zero-
                                             based budgeting exercise   and  the compo-
                                             nents which make  up   the  total come from
                                             the  user's  decision  packages.    After
                                             total  costs are   determined,   each user
                                             receives a suballowance in proportion to
                                             their packages.   To  charge  against that
                                             suballowance, WCC and  NCC have  deter-
                                             mined  and  published a  "billing  algo-
                                             rithm" or rate structure, which assigns
                                             a cost to each unit   of use.   At the end
                                             of the year, total costs  are apportioned
                                             among the various users.
                                             /\n accurate  determination of unit costs
                                             is extremely  difficult.   For that  rea-
                                             son,   cost  distribution   determinations
                                             are made periodically and rates  are set
                                             based upon current  utilization figures.
                                             The most  recent   study has  resulted in
                                             the present rate  increases.

-------
At NCC, the only charge the data  center
made was  for processing  resources, the
cost  of a system's  resource  unit.  At
the WCC, however, the  center has stabi-
lized  and experience has  been acquired
in determining utilization and expenses.
While  charges for  some units  will de-
cline, others  will increase proportion-
ally.  More details are contained in the
WCC Newsletter SIGNON.

All  funding is  for a one-year  period.
Estimates of charges for the first quar-
ter will be refined and adjusted to ade-
quately cover  the full year's expenses.
Fourth quarter charges will be available
on or about July 15.


          THIRD ORD WORKSHOP

         SCHEDULED  FOR MARCH

               John Hart
      Acting ORD ADP Coordinator

Jhe Office of  Research and  Development
has  announced the  3rd ORD ADP Workshop
to be held on  May 10, 11, and 12 at the
Environmental  Research   Laboratory  in
Athens, Georgia.

Jhe  workshop is  aimed at the technical
and   scientific  ADP   user   community
throughout EPA.  It is a forum  for pre-
senting  formal papers  on current  pro-
jects  related to  ADP or  projects  for
future implementation.

Additional   details  and   registration
forms can be  obtained by contacting Ron
Cullember  (FTS 426-2317).   Written re-
quests should be addressed to:

   U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
   Office of Research and Development
   Ron Cullember, OFAS (RD-674)
   401 M Street, S.W.
   Washington, DC 20460
 REGIONAL ADP BRANCH CHIEFS MEETING

              Ted Standish
      Region III ADP Branch  Chief

A recent  meeting  of EPA  Regional  ADP
Branch Chiefs revealed  several concerns
common to all regions.  One  item of con-
cern was  the number of Headquarter re-
quests for  computer, system feasibility
studies.  Advanced knowledge of require-
ments  for  regional   participation  in
studies  and the  need for  coverage  of
proposed or revised  systems in existing
zero-based  budgeting  is  of  paramount
concern.  The regions have divided them-
selves into three groups as follows:

   Regions  I, II, IX, and X
            III, IV, and V
            VI, VII, and VIII

At least one Region from each group will
take the  lead to  respond to  study re-
quests with the others in the group par-
ticipating as required.

In  preparation  for the  procurement of
DP  services  during  the  1981 to  1990
period,  MIDSD  is developing  standards
for Regions to use  in documenting their
systems.  Region III has been designated
as a focal  point to report  on regional
attitudes related to  the feasibility of
data standardization between systems.
Joel Brandon  has left as  the ADP Chief
of Region V to undertake a position with
the Computer Sciences  Corporation.  The
position is currently being filled. Dave
White, ADP Chief  of Region VI, moved to
the  Surveillance and  Analysis Division
and  Jim Sims  from the  Naval Air  Test
Center,  Patuxent  River, Md.,  has been
selected as  his  replacement  beginning
March 1, 1978.
 EPA Data Talk is published monthly by
 the National Computer Center, Manage-
 ment  Information  and  Data  Systems
 Division  for EPA personnel  and con-
 tractors  interested  in general  ADP
 topics.

 Comments  and suggestions  are solic-
 ited and should be addressed to:

    Editor, EPA Data Talk
    National Computer Center
    Research Triangle Park
    North Carolina 27711

 To ensure  that our distribution list
 is  up-to-date,  please  indicate any
 required changes on the mailing label
 attached to this issue and mail it to
 the above address.

-------
         The  National Computer Center  is  located within the facilities  of the
         Environmental Research Center, Research Triangle Park, North  Carolina.
        UNITED STATES
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

National Computer Center

 Research Triangle Park

   North Carolina 27711

      OFFICIAL BUSINESS
 PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE, $3OO
  AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
POSTAGE AND FEES PAID

 U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL
 PROTECTION AGENCY

     EPA-33S

-------