NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1975
VOL. ONE, NO. TEN
ENVIRONMENTAL TOWN MEETINGS LAUNCHED
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
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FME YEARS PROTECTNG
THE ENVIRONMENT!
Five years ago Federal forces combating pol-
lution were marshalled under the banner of the
Environmental Protection Agency.
The first real skirmish for the new Agency a
week after it was formed was the enforcement
action against three major cities, Atlanta,
Cleveland and Detroit, to force swifter action in
cutting their waste discharges into waterways.
This attack on water pollution was followed
by a wide-ranging variety of actions as the
Agency struggled to change the "dump-it-and-
forget-it" habits of the Nation.
These skirmishes involved every section of
the country. In some instances, EPA scored vic-
tories, but this crusade also suffered some tem-
porary setbacks.
Perhaps EPA's most important achievement
has been to help ignite and then keep afire pub-
lic interest and support.
With public backing, we can do what we
never could alone. Therefore, it has been heart-
ening to receive the testimonials of environmen-
tal leaders that appear in this issue of the
magazine.
The importance of the Agency's mission has
been recognized by the President in a letter to
Administrator Russell E. Train which can be
found on Page 2.
The magazine also carries a report on the
award of medals and other honors to some of the
Agency's outstanding employees whose excep-
tional efforts have contributed to EPA's prog-
ress.
The beginning of a series of Environmental
Town Meetings being sponsored by EPA is the
subject of another article.
A photo essay in this issue shows some of the
ingenious equipment used by the crack team at
the Office of Enforcement's Investigation Cen-
ter at Denver.
Also in the magazine is an account of the
Agency's efforts to make the motorcycle less
harmful to the environment. Another article
gives the views of some EPA employees who
are motorcycle riders.
Other articles in this issue report on: The be-
ginning of EPA's role in a world-wide exchange
of environmental data.
A campaign to save high-grade waste paper at
Headquarters as part of a Government-wide ef-
fort to recycle paper.
Opening of a refurbished and expanded Vis-
itor Center at Headquarters. The Center in-
cludes exhibits on the environment which, it is
anticipated, will be viewed by thousands of
school children and other visitors during the
Bicentennial Year, n
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L-rs Library
'4>
fl UNITED STATES
\$ff2 ENVIRONMENTAL
**f+ PROTECTION
AGENCY
Russell E. Train
Administrator
Patricia L. Cahn
Director of Public Affairs
Charles D. Pierce
Editor
Staff:
Van Trumbull
Ruth Hussey
COVER: Woodcut of a colonial
town crier by Michael
David Brown.
PHOTO CREDITS
INSIDE FRONT COVER
Anne Labastille*
PAGE 7 Frank Corrado
PAGES 9, 16.20.21,22.26.27 and
BACK PAGE Ernest Bucci
PAGE 10 Kawasaki
PAGE 1 1 Motorcycle Industry Council
PAGE 12 Hurley-Davidson
Cycle Guide
PAGE 13 Don Moran
PAGES 14.15. 16
James Pickerell
* DOCUMER1CA Photo
The EPA Journal is published monthly,
with combined issues for July-August
and November-December, for employ-
ees of the U.S. Environmental Protec-
tion Agency. It does not alter or super-
sede regulations, operating procedures
or manual instructions. Contributions
and inquiries should be addressed to the
Editor,' (A - 107) Room 301, West
Tower, Waterside Mall, 401 M St.,
S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460. No
permission necessary to reproduce con-
tents except copyrighted photos and
other materials.
CONTENTS
PRESIDENT SALUTES EPA PAGE 2
The dedicated efforts of EPA employees have contributed to
substantial progress in environmental cleanup. President
Ford says.
ADMINISTRATOR'S MESSAGE PAGE 3
The decision to create EPA was one of the major forward
steps in meeting the environmental challenge.
AS OTHERS SEE US PAGE 4
Letters from William D. Ruckelshaus, Ruth C. Clusen,
Bernard F. Hillenbrand. Thomas L. Kimball, Russell W.
Peterson, Elvis J. Stahr, John Gunther and Laurance S.
Rockefeller.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOWN MEETINGS PAGE 7
HONOR AWARDS PAGE 8
Four EPA officials receive Gold Medal for Exceptional
Service. Eight others awarded Silver Medal.
TAMING THE MOTORCYCLE PAGE 10
CRUISING TO WORK PAGE 13
NEW VISITOR CENTER OPENED PAGE 14
PHOTO ESSAY— INVESTIGATION CENTER
AT DENVER PAGE 17
EPA JOINS EARTHWATCH PAGE 26
USE IT AGAIN, SAM BACK PAGE
DEPARTMENTS
PEOPLE PAGE 20
AROUND THE NATION PAGE 23
INQUIRY PAGE 28
NEWS BRIEFS PAGE 29
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Till-; win I I. noi si-;
U \SKINt,ION
October 17, 1975
Dear Russ:
I warmly congratulate you and all those associated with
the Environmental Protection Agency on its fifth anni-
versary of important public service.
At the beginning of this decade, Americans made the
achievement of a cleaner and healthier environment a
matter of foremost national priority. The formation of
the Agency was a major step forward in ensuring the
fulfillment of this goal. We have made steady and sub-
stantial progress in this half-decade due in large part
to the dedicated efforts of the Agency's employees and
the cooperation of our states and local communities.
Looking ahead to the future and to the fresh challenges
posed by our increasingly urban and industrial society,
I am confident that EPA will further enhance its reputa-
tion and expand its constructive influence on our national
life. The land, water, air and biological wealth of the
United States belong to all of us. They need to be pro-
tected for the benefit of every American, both now and in
the future. Each gene ration has stewardship of the en-
vironment for a brief time. And each generation has the
sacred obligation to pass it on undamaged to the next.
This is the mandate of the Environmental Protection
Agency. I know that it will continue to carry it forward
with sensitivity and faithful devotion to the public trust.
Sincerely,
The Honorable Russell E.
Administrator
Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, D. C. 20460
PAGE 2
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IK ^B
,m
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20460
To: My fellow employees
OFFICE OF THE
ADMINISTRATOR
I am extremely proud of what EPA has accomplished — of what all of you have
accomplished — in the five years since our Agency was founded.
The decision to create EPA — with responsibility for protecting the environment as
a single, interrelated system — was one of the major forward steps in our Nation's
response to the environmental challenge.
Bui an agency is made up of people, and its effectiveness depends on the talent,
dedication, and courage of its employees. Many of you were working for environ-
mental benefit before EPA was organised and chose to transfer to the new Agency
when it was established. Many others were attracted by the challenge of protecting
the environment and the opportunity to participate in an effort of historical signifi-
cance. As a result of our performance we have become a team without equal (in my
judgment) in the Federal establishment.
One result is that EPA has firmly established itself. Our legislative mandates have
been broadened and strengthened. Administration and managemenl of our Agency
has improved. Our scientific and analytic capacity is broadly respected. And our
relationships with State and local governments, with industry, and with the public-
have expanded and improved.
Even more importantly, we have made great progress in the implementa-
tion of our programs. Evidence of improvement in environmental quality is already
apparent, and future years will bring further advances as the result of actions which
EPA has taken over these five years.
As an outgrowth ot our efforts as well as many others, environmental protection
has become part ot the fabric of our society. All levels of government now have
environmental programs. Industry now considers environmental safeguards a
necessary part of doing business. Environmental education is taught in our schools.
and environmental law and environmental engineering are growing specialties. The
environmental movement has become institutionali/ed, an integral and important
part of the way we think and the way we live.
EPA has had its difficulties and, no doubt, will continue to have difficulties in the
future; no vital organization is without them. But given the strength we have dem-
onstrated in the past I have no doubt that we will continue to persevere in the
future.
Congratulations on a job well done,
Russell E. Train
PAGE 3
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AS OTHERS SEE US
Leaders in the Nation's environ-
mental movement have com-
mended EPA for its accom-
plishments in the past five years and
urged the Agency to continue its pursuit
of environmental quality.
Among those who took time to send a
letter to Administrator Train on the oc-
casion of EPA's fifth anniversary were:
William D. Ruckelshaus, EPA's first
Administrator; Ruth C. Clusen, presi-
dent of the League of Women Voters of
the United States; John J. Gunther,
executive director of the United States
Conference of Mayors; Bernard F. Hill-
enbrand, executive director of the Na-
tional Association of Counties; Thomas
L. Kimball, executive vice president of
the National Wildlife Federation; Rus-
sell W. Peterson, chairman of the
Council on Environmental Quality;
Laurance S. Rockefeller, former chair-
man of the Citi/ens' Advisory Commit-
tee on Environmental Quality; and Elvis
J. Stahr, president of the National Au-
dubnn Society. Their comments follow:
William D. Ruckelshaus
. . . My congratulations to you and to
EPA upon the passing of the Agency's
fifth anniversary. As I reflect on those
initial days at EPA it sometimes seems
like five decades instead of five years
when it all began. In retrospect we
started with high hopes and great ex-
citement and some naivete, but in the
annals of Federal agencies I think few
will be able to point to the accomplish-
ment of so much in such a short time.
As the first Chairman of the Council
on Environmental Quality you were cer-
tainly there at the beginning and know
first-hand what has been done since
Earth Day of 1970. We have seen the
passage of massive changes in federal
laws involving air pollution, water pol-
lution, solid waste, pesticides and
noise. These Federal changes have been
accompanied by similar shifts in the
state and local laws and regulations.
Most important, the American people
have awakened to the threats to their
environment. Much of the stewardship
of turning the rhetoric and legislation
into the reality of environmental clean-
up has fallen to EPA. I believe this task
has been performed by the thousands of
EPA employees at a level of dedication
and competence unmatched in the fed-
eral government.
The Agency can take great pride in
what it has accomplished and all its em-
ployees can truly say to generations yet
to come "We have done our best to
make your world better than ours."
When you think about it, not many can
say the same.
My congratulations to you, Russ, for
your able leadership of EPA and to all
the employees of the Agency who con-
tinue to labor for the betterment of man-
kind.
Ruth C. Clusen . . . Con-
gratulations and best wishes to the
United States Environmental Protection
Agency on this its fifth anniversary.
The struggle to maintain and improve
national and global environmental qual-
ity has intensified so greatly during this
period that I can hardly believe it was
only five years ago that the League of
Women Voters of the United States was
working for creation of a single agency
to set environmental standards and en-
force control of pollution of air, water,
and land.
We in the League are well aware of
how enormous a task EPA was assigned
in 1970. We have watched EPA grapple
valiantly with complex and ambitious
laws written to accomplish great
changes in relatively few years. Limits
on budget and staff, constraint on
spending authorized allocations, and the
huge problems of the period—inflation,
recession, unemployment, and the op-
erations-of OPEC—have added to
EPA's difficulties in implementing the
legislation intended to check deteriora-
tion of life-support systems.
Nothing has been easy for EPA, we
know. We understand that the steps be-
tween legislation and implementation
are many, that the diversity of our coun-
try and the diversity of responsibilities
between levels of government compli-
cate the process. And so, while some
may think that EPA should have done
the miraculous, we appreciate what
EPA has accomplished during its first
five years and look forward to escalat-
ing results over the long term.
1 wish to make special mention of my
pleasure in the openness of EPA to citi-
zens and the cooperative attitude of
EPA personnel toward the public. I
think, of course, that this is as it should
be, for it is the citizenry whom EPA
serves and-—as recent public opinion
polls show—the people who are the
staunch supporters of EPA's goals.
PAGE 4
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With EPA continuing its support of pub-
lic participation, we believe the Agency
will help the nation through many more
years of innovative, courageous, re-
sponsible work for clean water, clean
air. and improved management of solid
waste.
Bernard F. Hillenbrand
. . . On the occasion of the fifth an-
niversary of the EPA, it seems appro-
priate to reflect upon the progress we
have made in the environmental area
since the agency has come into being. In
the present economic-energy crisis, we
have become so embroiled in the prob-
lems of implementing the laws that we
have lost sight of the gains that we have
made and will make in collectively
achieving the environmental goals of
the country.
Through our efforts in working with
county governments we have together
created an awareness across the land of
the important value of maintaining a
clean and healthy environment. It is
also fitting on this occasion to commend
the growing openness of you and your
Agency to the concerns and recommen-
dations of county officials. This open-
ness has most certainly contributed to a
closer relationship between your
Agency and those local officials most
intimately involved with carrying out
the mandate of environment laws.
We are hopeful that the past five years
will serve as a useful basis for our con-
tinued cooperation and progress in the
area of environment. On behalf of the
officers and memberships of the National
Association of Counties, we wish you
continued progress. (
™ Thomas L. Kimball . . .
Perhaps more than anything else, we
have been impressed by how awesome
EPA's responsibilities are. not only in
terms of their innovation and com-
prehensiveness, but also in terms of the
comparatively limited staff, resources,
and time which it has to do the job. And
certainly, these responsibilities are
made no easier by the opposition of
selected groups against strong pollution
controls. Last April, the Federation
named Administrator Train "Conser-
vationist of the Year" for his "deter-
mined effort to protect the nation's en-
vironment in the face of strong opposi-
tion." That determination is one which
we believe many of EPA's staff demon-
strate and is one which is absolutely es-
sential to the effective implementation
of the nation's environmental laws.
Unlike many federal agencies. EPA's
constituency is not easily defined. It
does not serve any single segment of
society, though environmentalists may
believe they are EPA's natural con-
stituency and regulated industries and
governments may believe EPA should
listen only to them on what is feasible
pollution control. But when we get right
down to it, it is the general public which
EPA is accountable to. for they suffer
from pollution and benefit from its
cleanup.
Because of this, public participation in
EPA's decision-making process is abso-
lutely crucial. We often have ap-
preciated the cooperation and opportun-
ity given us by EPA to make our views
known.
In particular, we commend EPA's de-
cision last spring to encourage in-
terested groups to become involved in
the development of regulations and
guidelines before they are proposed or
finalized. The encouragement of exten-
sive public participation may not pro-
vide for the speediest development of
regulations, but it certainly guarantees
the most effective and broadly sup-
ported regulations when they are finally
issued.
During this past year, we have
applauded a number of actions by EPA.
In pesticides control, the banning of at-
drin, dieldrin. chlordane. and hep-
tachlor demonstrate EPA's cautious but
persistent determination to take actions
against pesticides which so seriously
threaten our health and environment.
We believe that the vocal support EPA
has given to the concept of waste reduc-
tion is important to the evolution of
nationwide acceptance of this crucial
new philosophy of resource use and pol-
lution control. But far more significant.
in our judgment, is the practical im-
plementation of this philosophy in
EPA's decision to hold the city of
Philadelphia to the 1981 deadline of
phasing out ocean dumping of sewage
sludge.
Of course, the Federation has often
criticized EPA's handling of its respon-
sibilities and pursued our criticisms ac-
tively. We have been impressed by the
constructive dialogue which such criti-
cism can open between environmental
groups and EPA and intend to pursue it
in the future.
PACE
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Russell W. F'eterson . . .
There is a tendency upon reaching a
birthday or anniversary—depending on
the number involved—to look to the fu-
ture or recall the past. As the Environ-
mental Protection Agency celebrates its
fifth birthday this year, those of us in-
terested in protecting the nation's envi-
ronment should do both.
It has only been a few short years since
environmental concern first gripped the
public's attention. As government
began to respond to the demand for ac-
tion, it found that its institutional base
for meeting environmental problems
was badly fragmented, at its best, and,
at its worst, nonexistent. Thus, the first
need was to create an effective organi-
zational framework for both policy mak-
ing and administration and to provide
the basic statutory authorities for stand-
ards and regulations. EPA has made re-
markable progress on both of these
fronts since its creation at the beginning
of the decade and, thus, starts its sixth
year with a record in which all of its
personnel can take pride.
As I look to the future, I believe that
the single most important challenge be-
fore EPA is to keep the public confi-
dence. Recent opinion polls indicate
that despite our current economic dif-
ficulties, the public believes it is impor-
tant to pay for, rather than postpone, the
costs involved in cleaning up the envi-
ronment. While this continued support
is encouraging, we cannot afford to
relax and take it for granted. We must
be ever alert for better and more effi-
cient ways to achieve the environmental
goals mandated by Congress.
The members and staff of the Council
on Environmental Quality wish EPA
well and pledge our continued support
in our nation's effort to safeguard our
environment and to pass it on in a
healthier state to future generations.
John J. Gunther . . . Cer-
tainly the Environmental Protection
Agency has more than begun its work as
it approaches its fifth anniversary. In
many ways it is unfortunate that our
country did not set up an EPA fifty
years ago. Certainly our task today
would be quite different if we had
thought about the environment during
the years of rapid growth and expansion
in our nation.
But. we are fortunate to have EPA to-
day. I think as we look to the future we
must find ways of spreading the costs of
reclaiming a liveable environment that
will promote sound economic growth.
We look forward to working with EPA
over the next five years in securing a
better quality of life.
Elvis J. Stahr ... As you
know all too well, the National Audu-
bon Society has not hestitated to
criticize EPA whenever we've thought
EPA made a wrong decision or dragged
its feet. And we will continue to do so.
But we've not been forthcoming with
praise for EPA's many accom-
plishments in our nation's pursuit of en-
vironmental quality. Thus I want to use
the occasion of EPA's fifth anniversary
to say thanks from the National Audu-
bon Society to all the dedicated men and
women at EPA who have helped move
our nation toward environmental sanity.
So, with appreciation for EPA's con-
tributions to a cleaner, more healthful
environment. Happy Fifth Birthday!—
and very best wishes from our one-third
of a million members who strive outside
of government for the same better world
for which you strive within.
Laurance S. Rockefeller
... On the fifth anniversary of the En-
vironmental Protection Agency, I join
Americans throughout our land in
thanking you and the whole organiza-
tion for the dedicated efforts that have
improved the quality of our lives. I can
think of few comparable examples of so
much being done by so few in such a
.short time.
From its beginning, EPA has been one
of the Federal Government's most
dynamic agencies. Charged with the
tremendous task of cleaning up
America, it started fast. As I recall, a
series of water pollution enforcement
actions were issued within three weeks
after its establishment on December 2,
1970. In the following few months, it
made major moves to implement the
Clean Air Act and to cancel the registra-
tions of DDT and other hazardous pes-
ticides. This pace, initiated under the
able leadership of the first Adminis-
trator. Bill Ruckelshaus, has been main-
tained and enhanced since you took over
in 1973.
I know that the job has not been easy
lor any of you. and progress toward
your goals has often been frustratingly
slow. But, importantly, progress hax
been made on all fronts. As a result, we
can enter our Nation's third century
with pride in a much cleaner America
than we had five years ago. For this we
can and do thank you and all of the other
devoted citizens in the Environmental
Protection Agency.
I'ACIH
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EPffiONMEBTAi
TOM
MEETINGS
Deputy Administrator John R. Quarles Jr. addresses press conference held before
Environmental Town Meeting in Minneapolis.
EPA has launched a series of "En-
vironmental Town Meetings" to stimu-
late a dialogue with citizens around the
country.
In announcing the meetings. Adminis-
trator Russell E. Train said, "Sound
public policy and the wise administra-
tion of that policy depend on the support
and involvement of an informed public.
"We are setting up this series of meet-
ings as an invitation to citizens to make
their comments heard and have their
questions answered."
The first meeting was opened by Mr.
Train in Cleveland. Ohio, on Oct. 20.
Two other meetings—in Charleston.
S.C.. Oct. 23, and Minneapolis, Minn.,
Oct. 30—were presided over by Deputy
Administrator John R. Quarles Jr.
A total of 30 meetings is planned and
the next two have been tentatively
scheduled for December in Houston,
Tex., and Oklahoma City, Okla.
The meetings are open to all citi/ens
who wish to attend as well to repre-
sentatives from environmental and con-
servation organizations, civic associa-
tions, organized labor, business and
commercial concerns, the news media,
and representatives of State and local
governments.
Each meeting opens with a short pres-
entation by either the Administrator or
the Deputy Administrator. The major
part of each session consists of a hear-
ing by a panel of EPA, State and local
officials of views by citizen repre-
sentatives.
Participants may offer their advice or
ask questions about the environment in
general and about EPA programs. Pres-
entations are limited to five minutes.
EPA is recording these meetings, and
summary reports based on these re-
cordings are mailed later to all partici-
pants and the local news media. These
reports will also be sent to each area's
Congressmen, elected and appointed
government leaders, and to key com-
munity leaders.
After the meetings EPA is contacting
individuals or groups who brought up
problems which could not be fully re-
solved at the meetings.
The post-meeting activity wpill range
from telephone or letter responses to
sending EPA's technical and program
people for consultation. Individuals or
group leaders will also be encouraged to
come to the EPA headquarters in
Washington or to EPA Regional Offices
for a discussion of their problems or is-
sues with EPA personnel. Q
PAGE 7
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HONOR
Gold Medal Winners
r
Herbert Barrack
Director, Management Division
Region II, New York
"For outstanding
accomplishment and leadership
... in Region II."
Donald W. Hendricks
Director
Office of Radiation Programs
I.as Vegas Facility
I.as Vegas, Nev.
". . .outstanding performance as
an administrator, . . . scientist,
and . . . leader of scientists. . .'
Robert A. Simmons
Chief, Noise Program
Region VIII, Denver
"For . . . coauthorship and
development of a Community
Noise Ordinance Workbook. .
Henry F. Washington
Chief
Printing Management &
Distribution
Office of Administration,
Washington
"For . . . developing a national
printing program responsive to
the needs of the . . . Agency's
technical and informational
missions. . ."
Twenty-two individuals and five groups comprising 51
persons were honored at EPA's fifth annual Awards Day
in Washington. The ceremony was held on Dec. 2. the
fifth anniversary of" the Agency's founding.
Gold Medals for Exceptional Service, EPA'.s highest
award, went to four individuals, whose photos and cita-
tions are listed elsewhere on this page, and to one group:
the Freedom of Information Act Implementation Group at
headquarters, consisting of Stephen E. Martin. Edward
Gray, Wayne C. Savage, and Pamela P. Stirling.
Silver Medals for Superior Service were presented to
eight individuals (see photos) and to tour groups totalling
47 persons:
Two scientists from the Environmental Research Lab-
oratory at Athens, Ga., Dr. Arthur W. Garrison and Dr.
John M. McGuire, for "exceptional achievements" in
identifying organic water pollutants.
The Criteria and Standards Development Branch. Office
of Water Supply. Washington, for developing and pub-
lishing primary drinking water regulations under a tight
statutory deadline: Dr. Ervin Bellack, Lois H. Canada,
Dr. Charles W. Hendricks, Dr. Edgar A. Jeffrey, and Dr.
Benjamin H. Pringle (retired).
The Construction Grants Task Forces, 32 persons from
various headquarters offices and all ten Regions who
served on a grants review group, a study team, and a spe-
cial task force to improve the management of the grants
program. They include George Alapas, Paul M. Baltay,
Todd Cayer, Richard Coddington, Michael B. Cook,
Peter L. Cook, Clarence Cuyler, Richard W. Deringer.
Gary Dietrich, Donald P. Dubois. Roy Ellerman, Gail
Ettinger, Fred Grant, Alexander Greene, Harold Hop-
kins. Harvev Hormberg, James R. Janis, Kenneth L.
I'Adi; 8
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Silver Medal Winners
Douglas I). Campt
Assistant Director
for Registration
Office of Pesticide Programs,
Washington
". . .leadership in developing
... a new organizational
structure. . ."
Allen Cywin
Director
Kffluent Guidelines Division
Office of Water Planning
& Standards. Washington
"For . . .the successful
promulgation of ... guidelines
(contributing to) the Nation's
commitment to clean water. . ."
Dr. Bernard Dudenbostel
Chemist
Surveillance & Analysis Division
Region II. Edison. N.J.
". . .leadership and . . .
competence in developing an
analytical capability in Region
II. . ."
Don R. Goodwin
Director
Emission Standards &
Engineering Division
Office of Air Quality Planning
& Standards. Durham, N.C.
". . .superior leadership ... in
development of standards of
performance for new stationary
sources and . . . emission
standards for hazardous
pollutants."
Dolores Gregory
Director
Visitors & Information
Exchange Division
Office of International
Activities, Washington
". . .leadership and
organizational ability (in
implementing) an international
. . . information exchange
system. . ."
Paul G. keough
Public Information Officer
Region I, Boston
". . .initiative and
resourcefulness in ... a wide
variety of public information
programs. . ."
Leonard A. Miller
Director, Enforcement Division
Region X, Seattle
". . .significant achievements
in. . . the management of
enforcement programs. . .in
Region X."
Laurence ,1. O'Neill
Public Information Officer
News Services Division
Office of Public Affairs,
Washington
". . .extraordinary
accomplishment in securing news
media understanding and
support for EPA's decisions
regarding pesticides. . ."
Johnson, Ancil Jones, C. Frank Lane, David Luoma,
Paul A. Martin, James Meek, Robert E. Mittendorf.
James R. Murphy, Stuart Peterson, Truman Price,
Michael Quigtey, Larry G. Reed, Ronald Ritter. Ralph
Sullivan, and Royat C. Thayer.
The Personnel Office of Las Vegas, Nev., for its work
in serving "a large number of geographically diverse or-
ganizations." The group includes Maxine I. Barner, Pat-
ricia S. Johnston, Gregory L. Kellogg, Bobby L. Miller,
Alta J. Ostrode, Nancy I. Porter, Arthur Sundoval Jr..
and Floyd E. Winsett.
Three Public Health Service officers assigned to EPA
received the PHS Meritorious Service Medal: Charles W.
Fort Jr.. Health Service Officer, Monitoring Operations
Division, Environmental Monitoring and Support Lab-
oratory, Las Vegas: Paul B. Smith, Radiation Repre-
sentative, Region VIII, Denver; and Charles V. Wright,
Deputy Regional Administrator, Region VII, Kansas
City.
Charles
For! Jr.
Paul B.
Smith
Charles V.
Wright
Youth Achievement Awards for em-
ployees under 3] years old who have
made exceptional contributions wen! to
Ronald D. Gherardi, Chief. Financial
Management Branch. Region II, New
York: Marlys L. Johnson, Personnel
Management Specialist, Region X,
Seattle; Cynthia C. Kelly, Environmen-
tal Liaison Specialist, Office of Toxic
Substances; Linda L. Mclntyre, Pro-
gram Analyst. Office of Pesticide Pro-
grams; Joseph J. Merenda Jr., Assistant
to the Deputy Assistant Administrator,
Office of Mobile Source Pollution Con-
trol; Robert E. Randol, Operations Re-
search Analyst. Office of Solid Waste
Management Programs; and Susan C.
Watkins, Environmental Protection
Specialist, Office of Federal Ac-
tivities, n
PAGE 9
-------
FAMING
i - =
RCYCLI:
The increasingly popular motorcycle is
a machine which periodically stirs
clouds of controversy.
To some the motorcycle is a symbol of
freedom—the modern-day bronco thai
can carry its riders with the speed of the
wind and help them forget the frustra-
tions and irritations of life.
To others this machine is a dangerous,
noisy, air-polluting menace.
While EPA has no authority to control
many motorcycle problems, it is de-
veloping programs to try to curb air and
noise pollution from these machines.
Roger Strclow. Assistant Adminis-
trator for Air and Waste Management,
observes that "as Americans make
greater use of motorcycles for basic
transportation needs and for recreation,
we feel the motorcycle should do its (ait-
share to curtail both air and noise pollu-
tion.
"1 believe that motorcycle noise and
emissions can be controlled without
hurting performance or significantly
raising costs. In fact, our proposed
emission controls will help to cut ex-
penses by improving fuel economy."
A review of some of the actions the
Ageney is taking to help tame the
motorcycle follows:
Air pollution
Pollution controls for motorcycles
have been proposed by EPA for the first
time.
They require manufacturers to cut
emissions in 197H to about two-thirds of
current levels. In 14X0 models emis-
sions will be further reduced, possibly
to levels equivalent to those in effect tor
automobiles al that time.
Improvements in engine design, car-
buret ion, and cooling should be suffi-
cient to meet the new emission stand-
ards, according to F.ric (). Stork. Dep-
ui\ Assistant Administrator for Mobile
Source Air Pollution Control. No need is
expected for catalytic converters.
The standards would apply to all cy-
PAGE 10
cles licensed for use on public high-
ways, or about 70 percent of the roughly
one million new models sold in the
United States each year. The remaining
30 percent are off-road vehicles whose
emissions EPA cannot control under the
Clean Air Act.
The average motorcycle emits more
pollution than the average new car, said
Mr. Stork. Motorcycle engines are gen-
erally much smaller than automobile
engines and so use less fuel per mile
traveled. But they burn more fuel than
autos per unit of work performed
(pounds of weight moved a given dis-
tance). "Much of the fuel that does not
produce useful work," said Mr. Stork,
"ends up as exhaust pollutants,"
mainly unburned hydrocarbons and car-
bon monoxide.
Nearly five million motorcycles were
registered for road use at the end of
1974, according to the Department of
Transportation. Mead Miller of the
Motorcycle Industry Council in
Washington estimated that the present
"population" of registered cycles is 5.3
million, with about double that number
of total users, drivers and riders.
The proposed standards for 1978 mod-
els would limit hydrocarbon emissions
on a sliding scale according to engine
size, from 5 grams per kilometer (H
grams per mile) for the smallest engines
to 14 grams per kilometer (2.1 grams per
mile) for the largest. Carbon monoxide
emissions would be limited to 17 grams
per kilometer (28 grams per mile) and
nitrogen oxides to 1.2 grams per
kilometer (2 grams per mile) regardless
of engine si/.e.
The standards were published in the
Federal Register Oct. 22, and will not
be formally adopted until after a 90-day
period for public comments, followed
by review and possible amendment.
Agency studies of air pollution sources
in smog-prone areas that have large
motorcycle "populations" (e.g., most
of California, Salt Lake City,
Phoenix-Tucson, and Denver) found
th;>t motorcycles contributed signifi-
cantly to air pollution, said Mr. Stork.
To avoid the need to restrict cycle oper-
ation during high-pollution episodes,
EPA chose to set emission limits on all
new vehicles produced. The manufac-
turers, in general, agreed to this course
and indicated that emission reductions
were feasible. Four Japanese and one
American firm account for about 95
percent of the new motorcycles sold in
this country.
Three principal means of reducing
motorcycle pollutants, Mr. Stork said,
include:
-------
• Reducing the fuel short-circuiting
that occurs in two-cycle engines. A
fresh charge of fuel and air enters the
cylinder while the cylinder exhaust port
is still open, and as much as 35 percent
of the fuel escapes directly to the air.
• Improving the carburetion systems
of four-stroke engines, most of which
now do not burn the fuel sufficiently;
and
• Designing and adjusting both two-
and four-stroke engines to use leaner
mixtures of fuel and air. The richer mix-
tures now used for greater power also
help cool the engine. Better cooling sys-
tems would have to be devised.
The technology is now available to
achieve the proposed 1978 standards,
and some models may already conform
to them, said Mr. Stork. Some may re-
quire extensive design changes. The
technology for achieving the tentatively
proposed 1980 standards is less certain,
he said.
The added cost, estimated at $25 to
$35 per cycle, would be offset by im-
proved fuel economy.
EPA would enforce the standards by
testing and approving preproduction
models in advance, as the Agency now
does for new automobiles and light
trucks, n
Despite their problems and safety
hazards approximately one million new
motorcycles are sold in this country
each year.
What is the appeal of this machine?
Robert M. Pirsig, author of the recent
best-selling and widely praised book,
"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle
Maintenance," gives one man's ans-
wer:
'"You see things vacationing on a
motorcycle in a way that is completely
different from any other. In a car you're
always in a compartment, and because
you're used to it you don't realize that
through that car window everything you
see is just more TV. You're a passive
observer and it is all moving by you bor-
ingly in a frame. On a cycle the frame is
gone. You're completely in contact with
it all. You're in the scene, not just
watching it any more and the sense of
presence is overwhelming."
Noise
Intensive work is under way on EPA
regulations to control noisy motorcycles
under the Noise Control Act of 1972.
These rules will cover both registered
cycles that can be driven on public roads
and off-road trail bikes, according to
Henry E. Thomas. Director of the
Standards and Regulations Division.
Office of Noise Control Programs.
EPA has received thousands of com-
plaints from the public about noisy
motorcycles, more than for any other
type of noisy machines or vehicles, said
Mr. Thomas.
Last May an EPA report to Congress
formally identified motorcycles as a
major source of environmental noise.
Under the Noise Control Act. the
Agency is required to propose regula-
tions not later than 18 months utter the
report (Dec. 28. 1976) and to adopt reg-
ulations by six months later (May 28.
1977).
In its preliminary work on the regula-
tions Mr. Thomas' division is making
use of data on the motorcycle industry
structure, technology, and marketing
obtained by the Office of Mobile Source
Air Pollution Control, headed by Eric
O. Stork. The division is also working
closely with the Mobile Source En-
forcement Division, headed by Dr.
Norman D. Shutler.
Albert Ross of the Noise Control Of-
fice and James Kerr of the Enforcement
Division recently spent two weeks in
Japan conferring with engineers and de-
signers of Japan's motorcycle makers,
whose products dominate the United
States market.
The regulations will set noise stand-
ards for new motorcycles and require
testing and approval of new models be-
fore they can legally be sold.
Environmental damage to land sur-
faces, vegetation, and wildlife habitats
Continued on pa^e 12
PAGE 11
-------
RJIEI.
POLLUTION
by motorcycle users—principally driv-
ers of trail bikes and other off-road, un-
registered types—is also of great con-
cern to EPA, but the Agency has no
legal power yet to curb such abuses,
Mr. Thomas said.
The National Park Service, the Forest
Service, and the Bureau of Land Man-
agement have taken action in particular
cases to ban or limit the use of off-road
vehicles in areas under their jurisdic-
tion, n
Gas Mileage
Motorcyclists who now can travel up
to 90 miles on a gallon of gas would get
a fuel economy bonus of about 1 5 per-
cent under EPA's proposed emission
controls for motorcycles.
This side benefit was outlined in a
draft environmental impact statement
made public when emission controls
were proposed Oct. 22. Two-stroke
machines would average 20 percent
more miles per gallon and four-stroke
machines 10 percent because of leaner
mixtures of fuel and air, better mixing,
and reduction of unburned fuel losses
from two-stroke machines.
"Maximum energy impact is projected
to occur at the end of 1979 when ap-
proximately 1.5 million motorcycles
meeting these standards will be in use,"
the statement said. "Assuming a base
fuel consumption of .02 gallons per
mile (50 miles per gallon) and a usage
rate of 3,000 miles per year in the early
years of ownership, a maximum fuel
savings of 32,000 gallons per day is es-
timated. This is approximately .01 per-
cent of the present U.S. fuel consump-
tion for motor vehicles."
Motorcycle gas mileage calculated
from EPA emission test data ranges
from 40 to 90 miles per gallon for four-
stroke engines and 35 to 80 miles per
gallon for two-stroke engines, depend-
ing upon their size.
The statement foresaw no "massive
shift" to motorcycles as basic transpor-
tation for most people, despite their fuel
economy. The motorcycle's disadvan-
tages were listed as: "exposure to cli-
mate, limited carrying capacities, risk
of operation (fatality rate almost four
times that for auto riders), and the coor-
dination required" to drive a motorcy-
cle, a
PAGE 12
-------
CRUISING
RK
An estimated 25 persons commute
from their homes to EPA Headquarters
by motorcycle, generally because they
say it's the easiest, cheapest and most
exciting way to get to work. Practically
all EPA's Regional Offices also have
employees who ride motorcycles.
J. Roger Morris. Chief, Technical
Staff, Mobile Source Air Pollution
Control, Headquarters, explains that he
uses a motorcycle because "it is easy to
park and easy to maneuver in traffic,
and cheap to operate. It's also fun.
"Commuting by motorcycle is
something of an adventure instead of a
drag." He conceded that motorcycles
do have some disadvantages such as
"they are lousy for carrying grocery
bags with bottles and while they're good
for getting through traffic you can only
carry one passenger."
Mr. Morris said that he is a little
embarrassed because the motorcycle he
now owns is "a gross polluter—both for
Duns Ruopp Finlay, who commutes to
work by motorcycle, arrives at EPA head-
quarters. Her passenger is Sigmund Ustas-
zewski of the Health and Ecological Effects
Division of the Office of Research and De-
velopment.
air and noise. It's kind of embarrassing.
I'm planning to get a new one."
Jorene Fajerson. secretary, Air and
Hazardous Materials Division, Region
VI, Dallas, said that she finds "riding a
motorcycle is an exciting and fantastic
experience. Instead of having a lot of
metal around you, you are out in the
open and free.
"1 ride back and forth to work
regularly and find it much cheaper and
more convenient than riding a bus or
using a car.
"My only accident occurred on the
way back from California. We'd been
on the road for 32 hours without sleep
so I finally fell asleep and went off the
road—fortunately onto a soft shoulder.
But 1 returned to work with 14 stitches
on my chin and two black eyes."
Ms. Fajerson said that her son who is
four years old. "loves riding behind
me. He is already asking for his own
motorcycle."
George D. Kittredge, Senior Technical
Advisor, Mobile Source Air Pollution
Control, Headquarters, estimates that
he can save as much as "an hour a day
commuting by motorcycle instead of the
bus" from his home in Vienna, Va.
"Although I'm 53 years old. I enjoy
riding a motorcycle. I've ridden a
motorcycle all my life, off and on. I
used to ride one as a youngster and then
my own sons helped to rcintcrest me in
motorcycling."
Mr. Kittredge emphasi/.ed, however,
that he is keenly aware of the need for
being safety conscious while on a
motorcycle. "I am very cautious," he
said, "because sometimes car drivers
just don't see motorcycles."
Doris Ruopp Finlay, Environmental
Protection Specialist, Office of Toxic
Substances, Headquarters, believes the
"biggest thing about motorcycling is
that it makes you feel like a free
spirit—you feel everything around
you—something that doesn't happen
when you're cooped up in a car. When
you get on a hike, you feel you can
forget the rest of the world and are free
to so." n
I'ACIH M
-------
New Visitor Center Opened
Photo murals of EPA research highlight Gallery 2 reception area.
Visitors to EPA's Headquarters in
Washington now can see how
autos are tested for exhaust
emissions, hear a lively recorded mini-
debate on nuclear power plants, and
take part in sound-and-light shows deal-
ing with pesticides, noise, radiation,
solid waste disposal, and air and water
pollution.
All this takes place in a new wing of
the Agency's Visitor Center which was
reopened in October. The Center oc-
cupies most of the ground floor of the
West Tower of EPA's headquarters
complex at Fourth and M Streets, in
southwest Washington.
The Center constitutes an environmen-
tal museum, an EPA contribution to
Washington's educational and historical
attractions for visitors during the Na-
tion's bicentennial. At an informal
opening ceremony Oct. 17, Deputy
Administrator John R. Quarles Jr. said
the Center's exhibits "depict the status
of the environment of our country as we
end our second hundred years . . . and
show what we may expect as we enter
our third century."
The permanent exhibits in the new
wing complete a three-part plan.
In the north wing of the West Tower is
Gallery 1 which shows that although
environmental deterioration is a global
problem, affecting the life cycle of
man, it can be corrected. This gallery
was finished in the spring of 1974.
Three aquariums in the center hall
show the plant and animal life found in
salt, brackish and fresh water.
In the south wing is Gallery 2, the new
exhibit devoted to the technology of
pollution control. It also contains a
small auditorium-theater for lectures
and film showings, and individual
copies of EPA publications, posters,
and other educational materials are
available for visitors to take home.
Some of the exhibits in Gallery 2 were
s, moving-word signs, and I V-tube display illustrate EPA's standard-setting and enforcement
PAGE 14
-------
899
fi Harbors Act
•
^^HvQ&HUtUh*
-------
Si j it
i
Full-scale mockup shows liow ;iulos are tested tor pollulanl emissions
Decision-making exhibit puts visitor at
center ol a multi-media discussion of
elicit and the environment.
The Visitor Center is designed not
only to create a sensitivity to environ-
mental problems, but also to promote an
understanding of the role that EPA,
local governments, industries, and the
public can play in solving the problems,
according to Joseph B. Handy, manager
of the Center,
Last year when the Center was only
half complete, visitors averaged more
than 500 a month, said Mr. Handy. The
number is expected to increase now that
Gallery 2 and the aquariums are in-
stalled.
The Center staff includes Will Dix and
Dolores Edmonds. They arrange for
tours by schools and other groups and
for special lectures and film showings in
the auditorium.
The Center was designed by Barry
Howard Associates, Scarsdale, N.Y.
Gallery 1 was built by Lester As-
sociates, Thornwood, N.Y.. and Gal-
lery 2 by G.R.S. & W., Inc..
Pittsburgh, Pa. Many EPA program of-
ficials helped in the exhibit design and
the writing of the multi-media scripts.
Lighting for the center is generally
provided by cathode tubes or fluores-
cent lights which use less electricity
than conventional lighting.
A panel of photographs of Gallery 1
was recently chosen by the Federal De-
sign Center Council for an exhibition at
the Department of Labor building in
Washington. The EPA Visitor Center
panel was selected from nearly 1,000
entries for this exhibition which will
later tour various cities in this country
and overseas.
Lightbox photos ot aquatic pollution research are displayed in the aquarium area.
Pesticide exhibit includes affected plants in terrariums.
PAGE 16
-------
INVESTIGATION CENTER AT DENVER
Located at the Federal Center in
Denver is EPA's National En-
forcement Investigations Cen-
ter. Here technology reminis-
cent of that in some of the
James Bond movies is used to
deal swiftly with emergency and
special pollution problems. The
center, which is directed by
Thomas P. Gallagher, has sent
teams to all parts of the country
to help with pollution crises.
Personnel at the center include
specialists who are knowledge-
able in a wide variety of indus-
trial processes. The following
photographs show some of the
devices used by the center's
teams to help crack pollution
cases.
This is a metal "shocker" boat (left)
operated by Bruce Binkley. Standing in
the bow with the fish net is John Hale,
This craft is used to stun a number of
fish so they can be speedily collected
for examination to find the cause of
pollution. The electrical discharge
comes from the large generator carried
in the boat and is passed through the
metal rod extending from the boat into
the water. Mr. Hale is standing on a
rubber pad to protect himself from
shock( below).
These motor boats are part of a small
fleet of water craft maintained at the
Denver center. These boats are often
on the road being hauled to a lake or
river for a fresh investigation.
PAGE 17
-------
•••. -i..".
. . - ' - . ' \.v-
•c --. - . -'.;.»'•
- " >•• "i-«-~ ' ' ••-•»•- * -'
^ - -•?*•-•..:•.
' Jt -Jifc """ • "^
• •* , a'-'..--- '^"J • ' iC£* '" ' ' "-•-^.-- .
> ... - .. . - »... ; "** ?
' -v '."-.. - - \-: \ ^ -^-
*.._:.*•. . -. •o'-'-" -i . > . .
• . • .--•*-.-.-
« '- . • i. - V. . »»,V
* - A.."-.**.
Paul R. De Percin and George Stone
(wearing hard hat), set up equipment to
sample fumes in smokestack behind
them. The sensor will be raised to the
smokestack where it will monitor the
stack airflow.
PAGE 18
-------
These are two of the seven mobile lab- dispatched to the site of pollution dis-
oratories at the center which can be charges when necessary.
The mobile tower can be driven to a
suspected air pollution site and im-
mediately raised to help determine
wind dispersion characteristics, an im-
portant factor in air pollution cases.
In this photo, Henry Bell, an en-
tomologist at the center's pesticide sec-
tion, gathers air samples with special
equipment to check pesticide levels.
PAGE
-------
OPLEPEOPLEPEOF
JoanOdell, Associate General Counsel,
Office of General Counsel, has been
designated us the EPA Ombudsman to
receive and hear employee complaints
about alleged violations of personnel
laws, rules, and regulations that cannot
be resolved under existing procedures.
This appointment implements a recent
recommendation of the Civil Service
Commission that there be an official
within each agency to whom an employee
can provide the facts, without tear of re-
prisal and with the assurance that appro-
priate inquiry and action will follow.
In March 1973. Miss Odell became the
first woman Associate General Counsel
at EPA; previously she was the Regional
Counsel tor Region IV, as chief attorney
for the Agency in the eight-State South-
east Region. She has litigation experi-
ence as a public lawyer over a 15-year
period and has practiced in all l-'loridu
trial and appellate Courts and before the
U.S. Supreme Court.
An honor graduate of the University of
Miami, Miss Odell finished sixth in her
class at the University of Miami Law
School in I95S, with a Juris Doctor de-
gree. She lives in Washington, D.C. with
her two adopted daughters.
Sheldon Meyers, Director of the Office
of Federal Activities since early 1972, is
the new Deputy Administrator for Solid
Waste Management Programs. He suc-
ceeds Arscn J. Darnay, who recently left
the Agencv for private industry. In an-
nouncing the appointment. Assistant Ad-
ministrator Roger Strelow said:
"It is a credit to EPA's career service that
we had the opportunity to select a person of
Shelly's proven abilities. He brings to this
critical job the demonstrated management
and leadership, as well as solid technical
experience, that will be essential to the con-
tinued success and strengthening of the
solid waste program."
Before joining EPA, Mr. Meyers served
as Director of the Division of Control Sys-
tems in the National Air Pollution Control
Administration in Durham, N.C. Earlier he
was with the Atomic Energy Commission
for II years, stationed both in Indiana
and New York. He spent the year 1964 as a
Princeton Fellow in Public Affairs. From
1952 to 1958, Mr. Meyers held engineering
posts in private industry.
Mr. Meyers received a BME in marine
engineering from the State University of
New York in 1952. an MSE in mechanical
engineering in 1955 from the University of
Michigan, and an MBA in management
and finance from New York University in
1967.
He is married and the father of five chil-
dren.
Lillian .Johnson of the regional office in
New York received a special achievement
award for saving the government over
$44.000 in running a legal notice place-
ment program. The award includes a per-
sonal tetter of commendation from the
President and a check for $1.095, the
largest cash award ever presented in Re-
gion II.
Ms. Johnson has been in government
service for 15 years and a member of the
Public Affairs staff of the New York Re-
gional Office for the past four years. As
part of her job. she is responsible for
coordinating the placement of thousands
of legal public notices for the EPA water
permit program in regional newspapers.
By combining the notices and thus shor-
tening the space required for publication.
she has saved $44,200 so far in newspa-
per billing to the government.
Presentation of the award was made on
September 17 by EPA Deputy Regional
Administrator Eric B. Outwater who
said, "What would have normally been a
routine task of helping place these public
notices, was. in Ms. Johnson's hands, an
opportunity to display some inventive-
ness and initiative. .
PAGE 20
-------
Dr. George Rice of Region VIII may
hold the long distance commuting record
for all EPA employees. A chemist, who
serves as a Physical Scientist in the Sur-
veillance and Analysis Division, Dr. Rice
centers his professional life in the Denver
office hut on week-ends operates a cattle
ranch near Callao. Utah—some 480 miles
away. He makes the round trip flying his
own Cessna 1 80.
He gra/es his cattle on Bureau of Land
Management range, and when home on
the ranch. Rice usually can he found hal-
ing hay. rounding up stray cattle, repair-
ing machinery, or acting as midwife
to a birthing cow. In Denver he is on
alert lor reports ol hazardous material
spills throughout the region.
When he joined EPA m 1972. Dr. Rice
planned to establish permanent domicile
in Colorado. But along came a cutback in
beef prices, a general recession that
caught him in transition from rural to
urban life, and so months of commuting
back and forth from Utah have added up
to vears.
G. Thomas Friedkin has been named
the new Director of the Budget Opera-
tions Division in the Office of Planning
and Management. He succeeds Matthew
C. Pil/ys. who has been promoted to As-
sociate Deputy Assistant Administrator
for Resources Management.
Before assuming his new post, Mr.
Friedkin was in charge of the budget
function for the Office of Human De-
velopment programs in HEW. Prior to
that assignment, he headed the Program
Analysis and Budget Division in the Of-
fice of Economic Opportunity.
A graduate of the University of Michi-
gan, Mr. Friedkin also has bachelor's and
master's degrees from the Princeton
Theological Seminurv.
Don Bliss has been appointed Director of
Public Affairs for Region X, Seattle, and
will assume his duties there about the end
of the year.
Mr. Bliss had been Director of Public Af-
fairs in Region II, New York, since May
1974. He had previously served for three
years in a number of positions in the Agen-
cy's national public affairs office in
Washington.
Before joining the Federal service in 1970
he had been for 15 years an urban affairs
writer and copy editor with The Courier-
Journal and Louisville Times Co. in Ken-
tucky. During that time he covered civil
rights and public welfare news, and his en-
vironmental reporting won an American
Political Science Association award in
1968 and a Meeman Foundation award in
1969.
Before working in Kentucky, Mr. Bliss, a
native of Lowell, Mass., was a copy editor
and reporter with the Knoxville (Tenn.)
News-Sentinel, the Columbia (Mo.) Daily
Tribune and the Pacific Stars and Stripes.
He is a graduate of the University of Mis-
souri.
Dr. Norman R. Glass, Director of
Ecological Effects Research at EPA's
Corvallis Environmental Research Lab-
oratory, has been elected to a two-year
term as chairman of the Applied Ecology
Section of the 5,000-member Ecological
Society of America.
Dr. Glass has been with the Corvallis
Laboratory since 1972. Prior to that time,
he served on the Special Projects staff of
EPA's Office of Research and Develop-
ment in Washington. D.C.
The Ecological Society of America,
founded in 1915, is a national organi/.a-
tion of scientists who study the interrela-
tionships of organisms and their envi-
ronments. Its Applied Ecology Section
represents Geologists in government and
industry, as well as consultants in private
practice.
PAGE 21
-------
mi PEOPLE
Administrator Russell E. Train shakes
hands with Carmen Cruz of Region II
after meeting with the Spanish Speaking
Advisory Council for the first time re-
cently.
Recommendations made at the Spanish
Speaking Conference held in Denver in
August were the main topic of the meet-
ing, and the Council asked for a vigorous
program for the recruitment and training
of members of the Hispanic population.
Mr. Train expressed general support for
the council's objectives. Alvin Aim, As-
sistant Administrator for Planning and
Management, and Stanley Williams, Di-
rector of the Personnel Management Di-
vision, will work with the Council to help
obtain its objectives.
Other members of the Spanish Speaking
Council who attended the meeting with
Mr. Train are Charles Gomez, Region
VIII; Carlos Romero, Region VI; Ernesto
Pere/., Region IV; and Art Sandoval.
EPA Environmental Monitoring and
Support Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nev.
Jerome H. Svore, Administrator tor
Region VII, examines some of the fish
kept in the regional laboratory in Kansas
City, Kansas. The fish arc used in short-
term toxicity tests to determine the ef-
fects of municipal and industrial waste-
waters on aquatic life. This work is a
practical application of the research that
is done by the HPA laboratories at
Duluth. Minn., and Corvallis, Oregon.
PACK 22
Charles L. Klkins has been named
Deputy Assistant Administrator for the
Office of Noise Abatement and Control.
Mr. Elkins, who has been serving as Di-
rector of Program and Management Op-
erations for EPA's Office of Water and
Hazardous Materials, succeeds Alvin F.
Meyer Jr., who has resigned to engage in
private practice in the environmental
health and engineering field.
A graduate of Yale University (B.A.,
Magna Cum Laude) and of the Yale Law
School, Mr. Elkins is a career civil ser-
vant. His experience included service
with the former Bureau of the Budget.
Mr. Elkins served for six months as
EPA's Acting Assistant Administrator for
the former Office of Hazardous Materials
Control. His supervisory responsibilities
in this post included the noise program.
Mr. Elkins received EPA's highest
award—the Gold Medal—in 1972.
Mrs. Helen Fenske, former Special As-
sistant to the Commissioner of the New-
Jersey Department of Environmental Pro-
tection, has been named by Administrator
Russell E. Train as his consultant for
liaison with environmental and other pub-
lic interest groups.
Mrs. Fenske has been active in the con-
servation field since 1960 when she
planned and directed activities which led
to the creation of the Great Swamp Na-
tional Wildlife Foundation.
Mr. Train said that "Helen Fenske is
well known and well respected for her ef-
fectiveness and dedication. I am ex-
tremely pleased she is joining us at EPA
to help maintain good communications
with the environmental community."
Six women and four men, chosen last
July as Management Interns by the Per-
sonnel Management Division, are now
completing their second-quarter rotating
assignments. These assignments are de-
signed to give them varied experience
and to qualify them for permanent EPA
posts at the end of the fiscal year. The
interns and their present assignments (in
Washington if not otherwise stated) are:
Joan Barnes, Region IX Adminis-
trator's Office, San Francisco; Lynn
Brown, Office of Program Management,
Air and Waste Management; Carol Den-
nis, Office of International Activities;
Mitchell Luxenburg, Office of Trans
portation and Land Use Policy; Paula
Machlin, Office of Planning & Review,
Office of Research & Development;
Thomas Nessmith, Region II Deputy
Administrator's Office, New York; John
Schuster, Water Programs Division, Re-
gion V, Chicago; Alma Shea, Contracts
Management Division, Office of Admin-
istration; William Stewart, Standards &
Regulations Division, Office of Planning
& Evaluation; and Julie Van Camp, Pes-
ticides Enforcement Division, Office of
Enforcement.
-------
citizens' briefing
Region I held its fourth annual Citizen's
Briefing in Boston on Friday, Dec. 5.
Speakers scheduled included: Regional
Administrator John McGlennon, discus-
sing environmental quality in New Eng-
land; Russell Peterson, chairman of the
President's Council on Environmental
Quality; Deputy Administrator John R.
Quarles Jr.; Gladwin Hill, environmental
reporter for the New York Times, citizen
action and the future of the environmental
movement; Dana Duxbury, National
League of Women Voters, waste reduc-
tion and recycling; and David Rose, Mas-
sachusetts Institute of Technology,
energy alternatives.
$5,000 penalty
The Butcher Polish Co., Marlboro,
Mass., recently agreed to pay a civil pen-
alty of $5,000 for alleged violations of
Federal pesticide regulations in the mar-
keting of a disinfectant spray and a ger-
micidal detergent. Both were found by
EPA to have false and misleading label
claims and to be ineffective. The com-
pany recalled and stopped producing the
spray and changed the formulation of the
cleaner, for which it is applying for rereg-
istration.
new york traffic
The last of EPA's administrative orders
to New York State and City to carry out
the 1973 State plan to reduce automotive
air pollution in the City were issued re-
cently by Region II Administrator Gerald
M. Hansler. The four orders are the most
controversial of the 12 issued. They
would require:
Levying tolls on all city bridges over the
East and Harlem Rivers that link Manhat-
tan with Brooklyn, Queens, and the
Bronx by mid-1977;
Submitting and implementing by mid-
1977 plans for stricter parking rules in
Manhattan's business districts to cut auto
entries in the morning hours by 10 per-
cent and speed traffic flow;
Improving goods deliveries by consolida-
tion and better scheduling to reduce oper-
ations in rush hours (to be implemented
by April 14 next year); and
Limiting taxi cruising and enforcing
curb-only pickups from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
every day but Sunday.
Mr. Hansler said the city-bridge lolls
would cut the number of vehicles enter-
ing Manhattan, easing congestion and re-
ducing pollution not only in Manhattan
but also in the outlying boroughs near the
presently toll-free bridges, where drivers
now cluster, seeking to avoid the tolls of
the Port of New York Authority's bridges
and tunnels. City-bridge toll revenues
could be used for public transit.
The parking order calls for elimination of
metered, on-street parking in mid-
Manhattan. The strategy could provide
up to $21 million annually if a $2 parking
surcharge were imposed, Mr. Hansler
said. An additional $9 million could be
saved each year through reduced conges-
tion and fuel consumption, improved
travel time for trucks, and fewer acci-
dents.
enforcement actions
Columbia Mills, Minetto, N.Y., found
recently to be violating its permit to dis-
charge wastewater into the Oswego
River, was ordered to correct its effluent
sampling, monitoring, and reporting
within 30 days.
Two firms were recently fined for pes-
ticide law violations: Jaguar Chemical
Corp., New York City, $4,600 for mis-
branding and adulterating the product,
Jaguar Complete Vegetation Kill; and
Perfection Beauty Products, Pearl River,
N.Y., $330 for shipping an unregistered
product, Triple Cee Pine Disinfectant.
PHILADELPHIA
dumping phase-out
Region III is making plans to phase out
all ocean dumping of wastes by
municipalities and industries in the Re-
gion by 1981, following Administrator
Russell E. Train's affirmation of the re-
cent regional requirement that Philadel-
phia end its dumping of sewage sludge by
that date. The City had asked Mr. Train
to review and consider modifying its cur-
rent ocean dumping permit. Philadelphia
now dumps 150 million gallons of sew-
age sludge each year. Permits have been
issued also to Camden, N.J., to dump 15
million gallons per year of sludge, and to
the E.I. duPont de Nemours and Co.
plant at Edge Moor, Del., to dispose of
115 million gallons per year of acid
waste. All dumping is done in the Atlan-
tic Ocean 50 miles southeast of Delaware
Bay.
The dumping phase-out date for duPont is
1978, for Camden 1980.
PAGE 23
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storm damage
Eleven men from Region III made field
studies of the damage caused by the trop-
ical storm, Eloise, in September.
Seven from the Philadelphia office were
sent to central Pennsylvania to assess
damage to municipal water supply and
sewage treatment plants. Their investiga-
tions helped local officials get the plants
back in operation as soon as possible.
Three bacteriologists and a mobile lab-
oratory were dispatched to the Annapolis,
Md., Field Office to assist in bacteriolog-
ical analyses of public water supplies.
The Annapolis office conducted field and
laboratory tests to determine the effects
of the storm on water quality in
Chesapeake Bay, especially those affect-
ing shellfish.
radiation in florida
Elevated levels of radiation have been
found in houses built on Florida land that
had been mined for phosphate rock, accord-
ing to a recent EPA study.
The amounts of radon, a radioactive gas,
and its decay products pose no immediate
threat to public health, the preliminary
study found. But Administrator Russell E.
Train urged Florida Governor Reubin
Askew to discourage further building on
such lands, pending a fuller assessment of
the danger.
Phosphate rock, used to make fertilizer,
often contains uranium in amounts that may
range from ten to several hundred times the
uranium in most U.S. soils.
The radioactivity was detected by EPA sci-
entists in new homes and commercial build-
ings erected in Polk County in the central
part of the State. Here developers used re-
claimed land from which the "overbur-
den" of top- and sub-soil had been stripped
and much of the phosphate rock removed,
leaving waste and unmined rock close to
the new surface.
landmark suit
A landmark suit against the United States
Steel Corporation ended recently when
the company signed a consent decree,
pledging to stop polluting Lake Michigan
at its plant at Waukegan, III.
The suit, the first joint Federal-State
court action of its kind, was filed three
years ago. The company has been dump-
ing contaminated wastewater into the
lake at the rate of 3,870 gallons per min-
ute. U.S. Steel agreed to a timetable of
control measures that will halt all its lake
pollution by July, 1977, recycling most
of its wastes and discharging the remain-
der to the North Shore Sanitary District
for treatment. Terms of the decree will be
made part of a discharge permit that will
be the last permit to be issued to a major
discharger in Illinois.
nolo contendere
Wabash Alloys, Inc., an aluminum smelt-
ing firm in Wabash, Ind., was recently
allowed in U.S. District Court to plead
"nolo contendere" (no contest) to five
counts of a nine-count criminal charge of
air pollution.
The company was fined $125,000, but
the fine was suspended pending com-
pliance with a plea agreement that calls
for: installing pollution control equip-
ment within 15 months, submission of
quarterly progress reports by a responsi-
ble company officer, and placing the firm
on probation until 1980. Accepting the
plea agreement, the judge praised both
parties for resolving the case so as to
move toward pollution abatement without
an actual trial. Wabash Alloys was the
first emitter in Region V to receive a
notice of violation and a subsequent or-
der, in 1973. The region's Enforcement
Division later referred the case to the Jus-
tice Department for prosecution. Edward
Rodzinak handled the case for the Divi-
sion.
workshops
Regional Administrator John C. White
was keynote speaker at the 63rd Annual
Conference of the Texas Municipal
League in Houston Oct. 26-28. An
Agency booth at the conference featured
a multimedia presentation on environ-
mental problems.
Mr. White and Dr. Richard L. Hill were
featured speakers at the Oklahoma Short
School on Water Pollution in Oklahoma
City Oct. 28-31. This was a training ses-
sion for wastewater treatment and water
supply system operators, at the end of
which they take State certification tests.
A workshop on area-wide water quality
planning, first of a series planned for Re-
gion VI, was held in Dallas Nov. 6-7.
A workshop on water quality and forest
management was held in New Orleans
Nov. 11-13, sponsored jointly by EPA
and the American Forestry Association.
A public meeting on area-wide water
quality planning was scheduled in Dallas
Nov. 25, with James L. Creighton, con-
sultant, as the speaker. This meeting's
aim was to encourage citizens to become
involved in water quality management at
the local level.
KANSAS CITY
car emissions tested
More than 500 drivers in St. Louis, Mo.,
are getting $50 savings bonds, free tanks
of gasoline, and the use of a new car for a
day while their old vehicles are being
given emissions tests.
It's all part of an EPA-funded study "to
determine what part vehicles driven in
metropolitan St. Louis play in the total
air pollution picture within the area,"
said Jerome H. Svore, Regional Adminis-
trator.
A press release put out by Region VII's
Public Affairs Office in September
helped the contractor, Olson Laborator-
ies, St. Louis, to get vehicle owners to
volunteer for the program. The Olson
PAGE 24
-------
people wanted 500 automobiles and 10
light trucks or vans, ranging from 1965 to
1975 models, for the tests. All had to be
registered in the St. Louis area.
Each owner got a day's loan of a new
Pontiac with a full gas tank while his car
or truck was being tested (in the labora-
tory, not on the road). Each test vehicle
was returned with a full gas tank and a
S50 savings bond.
Similar studies are being conducted in six
other cities, Chicago, Denver, Houston,
Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Washington,
D.C. A total of nearly 2,000 vehicles are
being tested to determine the emission
levels of cars in use.
waterbeds
The owner of a Kansas City, Mo., store
that sells waterbeds recently discovered
that he had some environmentally nosy
neighbors in EPA's Region VII Office
about a block away.
Returning from lunch one October day,
Robert Morby and Leo Alderman of the
Pesticides Branch noticed in the store
window a display of a pesticide they sus-
pected had not been registered:
Clea"Vwater-Waterbed Algae Control.
A stop-sale order was issued to the man-
ufacturer, Land and Sky, Lincoln, Neb.,
and its distributors and dealers, pending a
full investigation of the product's effi-
cacy and registration status. About 2,500
containers of the algacide are involved.
wastewater hearing
A public hearing was held in Denver Oct.
29 on issuing wastewater discharge per-
mits for point sources of water pollution
that have hitherto been exempt from
EPA's discharge permit program.
This hearing and a similar one in Port-
land, Ore., Oct. 30 sought public com-
ment on how EPA should regulate point-
source water pollution from agri-
culture—for instance, return flows from
irrigated land—and from forestry.
Previous public meetings had been held
in Boston and Chicago on storm sewer
permits, in Omaha and Dallas on small-
feedlot permits, and in Washington D.C.
on all four types of point-source regula-
tions.
A Federal court in Washington, D.C.,
has ruled that the Agency cannot exempt
these sources from its discharge permit
program. Proposed rules for small -
feedlot and storm-sewer permits were re-
cently published in the Federal Register,
and regulations for agriculture and fores-
try point-source permits must be pro-
posed by Feb. 10.
Many regional officials feel that the
numbers of additional permits required
by the court order could pose a serious
administrative problem for EPA and the
States.
$50,000 penalty
A civil penalty of $50,000, highest yet in
a water discharge permit case, was paid
Oct. 15 by the American Crystal Sugar
Co., Hillsboro, N.D., for violations by
the Red River Valley Cooperative, Inc.,
which became part of American Crystal
in a recent merger.
The settlement covered five counts
against the cooperative for discharging
pollutants into the Goose River without a
permit, plus 27 days' violation of an EPA
administrative order for compliance.
The firm must also apply by Dec. 1 for a
permit or submit a plan for control of ac-
cidental spills from its sugar refinery at
Hillsboro.
SAN FRANCISCO
kaiser steel sued
At Region IX's request, the Justice De-
partment has filed a civil action against
Kaiser Steel Corp., charging non-
compliance with an EPA order to clean
up air pollution at the firm's plant at Fon-
tana, Calif., by December, 1977.
"Kaiser's recently announced pollution
abatement plans, which include construc-
tion of new basic-oxygen process
facilities, are inadequate," said Regional
Administrator Paul De Falco Jr. "They
would postpone full compliance with the
order until 1981. This is an unacceptably
long time to wait for the needed cleanup
of this major pollution source."
The Region has also issued a notice of
violation of Federal and State regulations
to Kennecott Copper Co. for emissions at
its smelter at McGill, Nev.
The Guam Power Authority on that
Pacific island has been ordered to com-
ply, by Jan. I, with EPA's new source
performance standards for sulfur dioxide
emissions.
minority workers
Minority workers are finding increasing
opportunities for employment in the con-
struction of EPA-funded sewage treat-
ment facilities in Region X, according to
a recent study by Alexander D. Hicks,
Director of Civil Rights and Urban Af-
fairs.
Only six and a half percent of the four-
State region's population is black, In-
dian, Spanish-surnamed, Asian, Eskimo,
or Aleut, Mr. Hicks said, but they ac-
count for:
• 12 percent of the man-hours worked on
construction grant projects costing
$100,000 or more,
• 15 percent of the total work force, and
• 17 percent of man-hours worked in cer-
tain skilled trades.
EPA monitors all Agency-funded proj-
ects of this size to see how contractors
comply with Federal "affirmative ac-
tion" requirements for employing minor-
ity workers. Mr. Hicks said, "It's en-
couraging to see.that minorities are get-
ting a larger share of EPA money in Re-
gion X. In 1974 alone, the Agency allo-
cated S57.1 million for new wastewater
facilities here, and that money created
more than 1,400 man-years of employ-
ment in the construction trades." o
PAGE 25
-------
ER/V JOINS
EARTHWMCH
Christian Honor, Deputy Assistant Secretary (if State tor Environmental and Population Affairs, speaks ai the ceremony opening the
National Focal Point.
An information center which will be-
part of a world-wide network for ex-
change of environmental data has been
opened at EPA headquarters.
The center and its counterparts in other
participating countries constitute an im-
portant part of the United Nations Envi-
ronment Program (UNEP), that was
created by the U.N. Conference on the
Human Environment held in Stock-
holm in 1972.
Establishment of this new, com-
puterized network is based on the prem-
ise that since neither environmental
know-how nor the problems of pollution
can be confined within a single nation's
borders, nations must develop a global
information exchange that will be ac-
cessible to all.
In opening the center. Administrator
Russell E. Train said that EPA has con-
sistently played a leadership role in
global efforts to protect the environment
and that he was pleased that the State
Department gave the Agency the re-
sponsibility for developing and operat-
ing the center, formally known as the
U.S. National Focal Point for the Inter-
national Referral System for Sources of
Environmental Information. All nations
are mutually dependent upon the re-
search and technologies produced
around the world, he noted. For exam-
ple, he said our own concern about
vinyl chloride in the air and water was
triggered by the findings of an Italian
scientist who had observed the adverse
effects of the chemical in his work with
animals.
Noel Brown, Chief, UNEP Liaison Of-
fice in New York City, said that when
the center is fully operational it will be a
major management tool to facilitate the
communication of data. Together with
the Global Environmental Monitoring
system, he said, it will comprise
"Earthwatch" the logical first step fora
world environment control program.
Mr. Brown spoke of the special needs
of the new nations in incorporating en-
vironmental protection technologies in
their industrialization programs. He
said the referral system can provide
those with questions and problems con-
cerning environmental degradation with
knowledgeable sources, able to help in
solving their problems.
Other speakers at the opening cere-
mony included Christian Herter, Deputy
Assistant Secretary of State for En-
PAGF: 26
-------
William W. Bennett, center. Director of the
I'.S. National Focal Point, explains a t'orni
Tor registration of sources of environmental
information to Fil/buuh Given, left. As-
sociate Administrator for International Ac-
tivities and to Noel Broun. Chief. Liaison
Office, L'nited Nations F.in ironmenl Pro-
tint m.
vironmental and Population Affairs,
who explained why EPA had been cho-
sen as the national Focal Point; James
T. Clarke, Assistant Secretary for Man-
agement, Department of Interior, who
described the great proliferation of en-
vironmental information that ha.s come
from the NASA satellite program and
the problems of making it available to
users; and Alvin Aim. Assistant Ad-
ministrator for Planning and Manage-
ment, who discussed the administrative
structure of the new office and intro-
duced William W. Bennett who is the
Director of the U.S. National Focal
Point.
Mr. Bennett comes to the Agency from
the United States Information Agency.
where since 1970, as Regional Librar-
ian, he directed library services and
programs for India. Ceylon, Nepal, and
Bangladesh. Earlier he served in USIA
posts in India and Ceylon, and from
1962 to 196? he was" the UNESCO
Expert-Advisor on University Library
Organization in Turkey. Mr. Bennett is
a graduate of Morehou.se College, At-
lanta, Ga.. and he has a MS degree in
Library Service Administration from
Atlanta University. Currently his staff
includes Charlene Savers, formerly
executive secretary to Howard Messner.
as Source Coordinator, and Charmayne
Browne, formerly of the Personnel Di-
vision. Ultimately the staff will be in-
creased to five.
Fit/hugh Green, Associate Adminis-
trator for International Activities, com-
mended two EPA women whose dedica-
tion helped make the U.S. National
Focal Point a practical, operating reality
within EPA. He said that the October ft
opening of the center was the culmina-
tion of almost three years of planning
and work, here and abroad, by Dolores
Gregory, head of the Visitors and In-
formation Exchange Division, Office of
Intel national Activities, and Sarah
Thomas Kadec. chief of the Library
Services Branch. Office of Planning and
Management.
The Focal Point is next to the EPA Li-
brary in the Headquarters building.
Waterside Mall, Washington, n
PAGE 27
-------
HAS EPA MADE A SIGNIFICANT
CONTRIBUTION
Jo Peek Cooper, program analyst. Of-
fice of Air Quality Planning and Stand-
ards, Research Triangle Park, N.C.: "1
believe EPA has made a significant con-
tribution toward a cleaner environment.
We have new regulations on the books
in air, water, solid wastes, noise and
pesticide control. Industry is taking
steps to comply with these regulations
and is conscious of EPA's activities.
The public is also aware of EPA's ac-
tivities and is generally supportive.
EPA has also found it possible and
necessary to respond quickly to prob-
lems in the environment. A key example
is the fluorocarbon situation where EPA
developed information and took posi-
tive steps to determine the magnitude
and possible solution to the problem.
Making both industry and the public
aware of the environmental problems
and means of solving them is one of the
most significant contributions EPA can
make."
Dave Calkins, Chief of Air Programs
Branch, Region IX, San Francisco,
Calif.: "Over-all, I think we have gone
a long way toward implementing at least
two of our major environmental acts,
the Clean Air Act of 1970 and the Fed-
eral Water Pollution Control Act of
1972. Probably the Agency's most im-
portant accomplishment has been tying
together the various environmental pro-
grams. One of the problems EPA has
had was the naivete of many Agency
staffers who thought we could accom-
plish environmental goals overnight or,
at a minimum by the date set by Con-
gress in the Clean Air Act. We soon
found cult that it was easier to make
statements and plans on how soon we
would clean up the environment than it
was to carry out these plans. We also
learned, quite painfully sometimes, that
ID THE
GDUNW
the political process must be adhered to
and careful ground work must be done
to sell a major program. Our staff was
young, but we have learned a great deal
over the past few years. I think the
Clean Air Act amendments will clarify
some of our more controversial au-
thorities. Energy conservation measures
will actually help many of our air pollu-
tion cleanup programs. Finally. I am
confident that technology will provide
many new solutions."
Howard L. Hunt, supervisory en-
tomologist. Technical Services Divi-
sion. Beltsville. Md.: "Has EPA made
a significant contribution to the coun-
try'.' Of course, EPA has made a signifi-
cant contribution to the country. I can't
cite any figures about how much less the
air and the water are polluted, or how
many tons of solid waste are now being
recycled, or what our burdens of pes-
ticides and radiation have become.
What I do know is that since 1970 mil-
lions of people in this country have be-
come aware that the quality of their
lives and the quality of the environment
are inseparably bound. EPA, with its
successes, with its failures, but
foremost through its actions, has had a
tremendous impact upon a little of ev-
erything that is happening to us now."
John DeKany, Director, Emission Con-
trol Technology Division. Ann Arbor,
Mich.: "There is no question but that
the effects of the Agency have resulted
in significant improvement in our Na-
tion's environment. More importantly, I
believe these environmental improve-
ments only reflect the result of the prog-
ress we implemented several years ago
and that the major returns arc yet to he
counted. For example, in the area of
auto emission control the 1975 and 1976
car models emit approximately 80 per-
cent less hydrocarbon and carbon
monoxide than pre-1968 uncontrolled
models. As the older vehicle fleet is re-
placed by the newer models I believe
dramatic and highly visible improve-
ments will be noted in our smog-bound
cities. In addition, new control
strategies for heavy duty vehicles,
motorcycles, light duty trucks and
evaporative emissions from light duty
vehicles are in the process of being
promulgated for the future."
Jack Keeley, Chief, Groundwater Re-
search Branch. Robert S. Kerr En-
vironmental Research Laboratory. Ada.
Okla.: "Little more than a decade ago
the greatest obstacle to environmental
protection was apathy on the part of the
American people. The available legal
and technical tools were more than
adequate to work within existing social
and economic constraints. In the ensu-
ing years, particularly since the birth of
EPA, there appears to have been con-
siderable gnashing of teeth and flailing
of arms; but in retrospect, this era was
one of skillful and friendly persuasion.
Now the American people, with youth
in the vanguard, are demanding quality
environment. EPA continues to update
the technical and institutional tools to
answer this demand while providing a
continuing measure of friendly persua-
sion. "
J« Pcele Cooper
PAGE 28
Davt- C'alkin.s
Howard I,. Hunt
John DeKanv
Jack Keelev
-------
news briefs
uiiifiiiiiiiiiiHuniu
BOTTLE AND CAN DEPOSIT SOUGHT AT ALL FEDERAL FACILITIES
EPA has formally proposed that vendors charge a five-cent deposit
on every beer and soft drink bottle or can sold on Federal property.
The purpose of the proposed guidelines is to encourage Federal
leadership in the use of refillable containers, thus reducing
litter and saving materials and energy. About 300,000 tons of
beverage container wastes are generated and collected by Federal
facilities--such as office buildings, military installations and
national parks—each year.
REPORT APPROVES BURNING TOXIC WASTES AT SEA
Highly toxic industrial wastes can be safely disposed of under
certain conditions without harm to the environment by incinerating
them in specially equipped ships far from land, according to a
recent study by EPA. The report presents the evaluation of a
series of test "burns" of four shiploads of organochloride wastes
in the Gulf of Mexico last year and concludes no harmful effects
were found.
NEW RULES TO SPEED UP PESTICIDE REREGISTRATION
New procedures have been adopted by the Office of Pesticide Programs
to expedite the reregistration of all pesticides by the legal target
date of Oct. 21, 1976. For example, groups of products having the
same active ingredients will be handled in batches — rather than
singly — in setting label requirements, deciding if a product is
effective, and classifying it for general public use or for
certified applicators only.
TWO EPA FILMS WIN 'CINE' AWARDS
Two short films produced for EPA's Office of Public Affairs
recently received Golden Eagle awards from the Council on
International Nontheatrical Events (CINE) in Washington, D.C.,
and will be entered by the Council in one or more international
film festival competitions. The films are "Choice Stakes," a
cartoon-fantasy on manmade environmental dangers, and "Does It
Have to Be This Way?" an amusing examination of America's
dependence on the automobile.
PAGH 29
-------
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS (A 107)
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20460
POSTAGE AND FEES PAID
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
EPA-335
THIRD CLASS BULK RATE
Return this page if you do NOT wish to receive this publication ( ). or if change of address is needed ( ). li«.t change, including /.ip code.
USE IT
AGAIN,
SAM!
Save high-grade white paper for Uncle
Sam.
This is the goal of EPA Headquarters
employees, who are shunting all high-
grade scrap paper into special desk-top
containers instead of the wastebaskets.
The paper is collected and sold for re-
cycling into more bond paper. The U.S.
Treasury should get about $50 for every
ton collected. Agency employees get
the satisfaction of knowing they have
(1) reduced disposal problems and
costs. (2) saved resources and energy.
and (3) practiced what EPA is preaching
to others.
High-grade white paper is saved for
recycling in the program that began in
November when white plastic contain-
ers were issued for every desk in Water-
side Mall. The containers, supplied by
the recycling contractor. Shade, Inc.,
Green Bay. Wise., list the types of
paper desired: stationery, letterheads,
tabulating machine cards, and paper
from copying machines and computer
printouts.
When the desk-top container is filled,
each employee takes it to a nearby col-
lecting station, drops off the accumu-
lated waste paper, and starts over again.
The collecting stations are emptied
daily by the building maintenance staff.
and the scrap paper stored until there is
enough for the contractor's truck to pick
up and ship to the paper mill in Wiscon-
sin.
The program follows the guidelines
proposed by EPA in September for all
Federal agencies. The guidelines urged
that Federal agencies take the lead in
programs to separate recoverable waste
from other types as close as possible to
the point of origin. Recovery and re-
cycling of high-grade paper is a first
step in this direction. The Agency hopes
that similar systems will be started early
next year in at least one Federal office
in each of the ten Federal regions.
Paper recycling was attempted once
before at Waterside Mall, but without
success. In mid-1973, EPA made an
ambitious attempt to recycle all waste-
paper at headquarters, segregating it
into three categories and placing each
kind in a different container. The pro-
gram soon collapsed because many em-
ployees were either unwilling or con-
fused about how to make the separation
and because buyers could not be found
for the paper that was collected.
The Shade, Inc. system is simpler and
has proved effective in more than 300
Instead of throwing paper into the
\\astebasket. Administrator Russell E.
Train, like other Headquarters employees,
puts it in his desk-top container for
recycling.
commercial and government office
buildings around the country, including
the old K St. quarters of EPA's Office
of Solid Waste Management Programs.
There are no complex instructions to
remember. The kinds of paper accepted
are listed on all the desk-top containers.
A cooperative attitude and a slight
change in one's office routine are all
that is needed to make the system work.
The program coincides with a separate
attempt by EPA Headquarters to buy
and use recycled paper for its everyday
office needs. As of this writing, the
Agency has purchased and is using re-
cycled paper for its copying machines.
The United States recycles a smaller
percentage of its wastepaper than any
other developed country. Sweden re-
cently passed a law requiring the im-
plementation of a national paper recov-
ery program by 1980.D
iiJS
!
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