™:Em Trnies NEWS FOR AND ABOUT EPA EMPLOYEES INSIDE: ~ Bloodmobile ~ Changing Plans ~ Action on EDB US EPA HQ & Chemical Libraries Washinaton DC 20460 VOLUME 1 NUMBER 6 FEBRUARY 17, 1984 EPA Seeks 800 Workyear Increase President Reagan's proposed budget for EPA requests an increase of 750 workyears in fiscal year 1985 in addi- tion to a 1984 supplemental of 50 workyears. (A workyear is any com- bination of permanent or temporary, full- or part-time, labor equivalent to one full-time employee.) The regional offices will gain 63 percent of the new positions for 1985. (See chart on back page.) The proposed budget is $4.2 billion. This is a seven percent increase over 1984 and one of the largest proposed percentage increases in the domestic federal budget. When funding for wastewater treatment facilities and Superfund is excluded, the 1985 in- crease in Agency operating programs is 27 percent. Spending increases are called for in almost all of the Agency's programs. Administrator Bill Ruckelshaus said the expanded budget, together with the $295 million provided in the amendment to the 1984 budget, in- creases EPA's resources by $590 mil- lion since he re-entered government service. "My long-range priorities reflect specific charges the President gave me when I returned as Administrator last May, and the press of problems— some old, some new, and all difficult—that the Agency must try to solve in carrying out its mandate," Ruckelshaus said. "Our 1985 budget continues a period of expansion for the Environmental Protection Agency, an expansion necessary for the Agen- cy's talented employees to do their job and to restore the public's trust in EPA." Ruckelshaus said the budget reflects Continued to back page EPA 1985 Budget Proposal $4,249 million Operating Programs Superfund Construction Grants 949 310 2,400 1,114 410 2,430 1,209 640 2,400 + 27% + 106% Stable FY 84 Budget FY 84 Estimate FY 85 Budget Training Center Readies Spring Offerings A series of courses, intended to meet the most frequent high-priority training needs reported by super- visors, has been scheduled for Febru- ary, March and April. The EPA Training Center, run by the Human Resources Development Branch (HRDB), designed the courses in response to the input of managers and supervisors in a training needs survey. Most of the offerings are free of charge to the participants. The full menu of courses will appear in the 1984 Training Center catalog, due for distribution to all em- ployees in the near future. In addi- tion, HRDB will send a supply of Training Opportunities Bulletins to Agency administrative officers ap- proximately 4-6 weeks before each course begins. Watch for these bulle- tins for complete information on course content and objectives, loca- tion, qualifications, and nomination procedures. Supervisory Management (the basic supervisory training course): Two non-consecutive weeks, March 19-20 and April 9-13. Meeting Management: Two days, March 12-13. Stress Management for Supervisors and Managers: Two days, March 5-6. Effective Writing for Professionals: Three days, March 26-28. Time Keeping for Supervisors: One day, March 14 and March 15. Proofreading: Five half-days, March 12-16. Beginning Secretarial Development: Three days, March 27-29. Effective Listening for Secretaries and Support Staff: Two days, March 7-8. Seminar on Biotechnology: Three days, February 27-29. Fee: $198. For additional information call the HRDB on 382-2997.B ------- People Congratulations on 40 years of service to: Joseph Mas- tandrea, Region 2. Congratulations on 30 years of service to: Paul Wagner, Office of Administration and Resources Management . . . Shirley Tenhover, Cincinnati. Bronze Medal awarded to Frank Mischlich, an engineer in Region 7, for outstanding work in outlay forecasting. As Program Management Coordinator for construction grant activities, Mischlich is responsible for the estimates of actual payment requests submitted by grantees throughout the year. EPA's 1984 nominee for the Federal Engineer of the Year Award, sponsored by the National Society of Pro- fessional Engineers, is Richard Rykowski, a chemical en- gineer at the Motor Vehicle Emissions Test Laboratory in Ann Arbor. Rykowski was nominated for this honor as a result of his achievements in regulatory developement re- lated to mobil source emission control issues. Special Act Awards go to: James Priestly and Gwen- dolyn Gray, Pesticides and Toxic Substances . . . Robin Campbell, Deborah Johnson, William Faustman and Edmund Hickey, Administration and Resources Man- agement. Continued Superior Performance Awards go to: Sherry A. Kaschak, Douglas Barrett, Michele Evans and Mary Rudisill, Administration and Resources Management." Agency Snapshots Changing Plans During Open Season, the largest shifts by EPA headquarters employees between health benefit plans were: 93 employees changed from Blue Cross High Option to Blue Cross Standard Option @ 110 employees left Blue Cross for another plan Q 123 employees left GEHA for another plan @ 92 employees changed from Comprehensive Medical Plans to Health Maintenance Deputy Administrator Alvin Aim speaks at opening of Black History Month ceremonies. Q & A Q. According to the pamphlets I read, the change I re- quested in my health insurance took affect on January 8, yet I have still received no card or official notification. Is something wrong? What should I do if I need medical ser- vices? A. Due to processing delays in the offices of the in- surance companies caused by the large number of federal employees who change plans during open season, enrol- lees may experience a six- to eight-week delay before receiving their correct identification cards. Your copy of the Health Benefits Enrollment Form (SF-2809) may be used until the cards arrive. If you have misplaced the form, you may obtain a copy from the personnel office. Q. Several months ago I heard that new personnel rules making within-grade increases dependent upon perform- ance appraisals were about to be issued. What has hap- pened to them? A. The Office of Personnel Management's revisions to personnel regulations became final on November 25. How- ever, Congress attached a last-minute rider to OPM's con- tinuing budget resolution which stopped implementation of those rules during FY 1984. After reviewing the exact wording of the congressional rider, OPM concluded that federal agencies were able to implement the regulations, but that OPM was precluded from providing agency assis- tance in that implementation. OPM directed agencies to begin implementation, but the National Treasury Em- ployees Union brought suit to contest that order. A federal judge has now ruled that Congress clearly intended to block implementation of the regulations. OPM Director Donald Devine has announced his intention to appeal. Un- til a decision on the appeal is reached, the regulations are in limbo. The main thrust of the rules was to strengthen the pay-for-performance philosophy by giving more weight to performance ratings in actions such as within-grade in- crease determinations and RIFs. The new rules also woul have guaranteed full comparability and an equivalent of a within-grade increase to all Merit Pay employees." ------- Around EPA Between October and January EPA hired 603 new people, and had 169 separations—for a net increase of 434 employees . . . The Agency's National Recruitment Task Force reports that 27 percent of the new hires are minorities and 56 percent are female . . . The task force plans a series of Job Fair/Career Days throughout the coun- try, beginning in March in Puerto Rico . . . Letters have been sent to over 200 minority schools and organizations to solicit their support in obtaining interested and quali- fied candidates to fill our vacancies ... If you have a specific need or hard-to-fill position, contact your local Recruitment Coordinator or Rich Lemly on 382-3348. Washington, D.C. area blood supplies are at a critically low level, according to Red Cross officials. About 800 donors are required each day to maintain adequate sup- plies. The Bloodmobile will be at Headquarters in Room S- 353 from 9:30 to 3:30 on March 6, 7, and 8. Appointments, which are preferred but not required, may be made by calling any of the following volunteers: Kate Litzelman, 382-7100; Alex Hall, 382-2546; George Garland, 382-4761; or Jack Diskin, 382-3618. For further information about the blood drive contact Debra Johnson on 382-4399. Procurement and Contracts Management Division an- nounces cutoff dates for receipt of procurement actions which must be processed prior to, or at the start of, FY 85. For contracts the cutoff date is April 30; except for ex- tensions of existing service contracts—June 30. For small purchases—September 1; except for certain lease renewals or maintenance agreements—August 1. For further in- formation contact your servicing procurement office.Q Agency Activities Regulatory: EPA announces the immediate emergency suspension of EDB (ethylene dibromide) use as a grain fumigant—the strongest action the agency can take under the law . . . Also establishes recommended maximum ac- ceptable residue levels for raw grains, milled grain prod- ucts and ready-to-eat products . . . Rulemaking process in- itiated to revoke the exemption that currently prevents the Agency from setting tolerance levels enforceable by the Food and Drug Administration . . . Coupled with the sus- pension last September of EDB use as a soil fumigant, these actions eliminate 97 percent of the chemical's agri- cultural use . . . Will announce decision soon on use of EDB on citrus fruit. Rule proposed to protect metalworkers from unreason- able health risks by prohibiting the addition of nitrites to certain corrosion inhibiters (a procedure which creates carcinogenic nitrosamine compounds) . . . This is the Agency's first exercise of powers under section 5(f) of the Toxic Substances Control Act to immediately regulate human health risks. Another first for EPA: Wastes contaminated with chlor- inated hydrocarbons are listed as hazardous as a group in- stead of issuing individual regulations to cover the wastes of 25 or so major commercial products such as dry cleaning liquids and degreasing solvents . . . Expediting the listing of wastes should bring about control quicker. Approval given of National Municipal Policy to ensure that publicly owned wastewater treatment plants (POTWs) meet pollution control deadlines under the Clean Water Act . . . Policy states in part: "EPA will focus on POTWs that previously received federal funding assistance and are not currently in compliance with their applicable effluent limits, on all other major POTWs, and on minor POTWs that are contributing significantly to an impairment of water quality." Compliance: A problem with the emission control sys- tem on approximately 78,000 vehicles will be voluntarily remedied by Subaru of America . . . Excessive nitrogen ox- ides are produced when deposits clog the recirculation systems on 1979 model-year vehicles using leaded gaso- line. Superfund: Two contracts totalling more than $100 mil- lion have been awarded for immediate emergency re- sponse capabilities at hazardous waste sites in the North- east and Midwestern states . . . Emergencies in regions 1. 2, and 3 will be handled by O.H. Materials Co. of Findlay, Ohio. PEDCO Environmental. Inc., of Cincinnati, Ohio will cover sites in Region 5. The Superfund Hotline will be significantly upgraded under a new three-year, $1 million contract awarded to Geo-Resource Consultants of San Francisco . . . The sys- tem, first established in 1980, will become a computerized information management system capable of storing data on inquiries and responses for quick access and reference. Five specialists will be available to handle the approx- imately 3,500 questions per month over two local and four toll-free lines (800-424-9346). A separate toll-free number is available to report spills and other releases of hazardous substances (800-424-8802). International: Ruckelshaus attends a series of meetings in Japan dealing with joint environmental projects the two countries are conducting . . . On his return trip he meets with Hawaiian Governor George R. Ariyoshi. Speaking Out: Administrator Bill Ruckelshaus urges the nation to "calm down" because there is no immediate health threat from EDB residues. "What we are doing is eliminating a chronic, long-term, unacceptable risk." "We have to develop a certain controlled state of out- rage in this Agency if we are going to get these laws en- forced . . . You not only have my support, you've got my demand that something be done."—Ruckelshaus at a meeting in Alexandria, VA, urging regional officials to in- crease enforcement efforts under RCRA and the Clean Water Act.Q The EPA Times is published 24 times per year to provide news and information for and about EPA employees. Readers are encour- aged to submit news of fellow employees, letters of opinion, ques- tions, comments, and suggestions to. Miles Allen, Editor, The EPA Times, Office of Public Affairs (A-107) Telephone 382-4371. In- formation selected for publication will be edited as necessary in keeping with space available. All letters of opinion must be signed and accompanied by submitter's office location and telephone number. ------- Workyear Increases in Proposed 1985 Budget Inspector General + 10 Management & Administration + 25 General Counsel & Enforcement + 36 Water No change Air & Radiation + 36 Research & Development + 65 Pesticides & Toxic Substances + 63 Solid Waste & Emergency Response + 45 (Superfund Portion + 20) Increase the Reagan Administration's com- mitment to the cleanup of hazardous wastes, as well as its intention to seek reauthorization of the Superfund pro- gram. Most of the 56 percent increase in the Superfund budget will be used to support a threefold increase from last year in the number of sites where remedial cleanup will begin. Other proposed Superfund program increases would fund EPA's expanded enforcement efforts, particularly for cost recovery, and for Superfund research and development. Based on current EPA estimates, there will be sufficient funds to sup- port the Superfund program through the end of fiscal 1985, when Super- fund taxing authority expires. Ruckels- haus will submit a study recommending changes in the Super- fund Act to Congress this fall, as re- quired by law. The proposal more than doubles funding for acid rain research to $34.4 million in 1985, and calls for a 1984 supplemental increase of $5.5 million to support the National Lakes Survey. This survey will measure acid rain damage to approximately 3,000 lakes around the country. "Many questions still remain un- answered about the causes, effects and methods of mitigating or controlling acid rain," Ruckelshaus said. "In 1985 we will expand the basic research program in order to develop the necessary data to fully understand the sources and characteristics of acid rain, to define the extent of damage caused by acid rain and, most im- portantly, to provide realistic options for mitigating its effects." The Office of Research and De- velopment is designated to receive re- sources to strengthen research in four areas: risk assessment of hazardous chemicals, acid rain, the assessment of technologies for pollution control, and the health effects of pollutants. Ruckelshaus said proposals to in- crease research resources "seek first to improve the management of our re- search efforts, and second to strength- en the resource base where it is needed and where it can be used effectively to achieve measurable en- vironmental benefits." The budget includes dramatic in- creases in the funding of enforcement efforts—60 percent of which will be used in the Superfund program. Re- sources for toxic substances enforce- ment to support additional in- spections and case development for PCB and asbestos-in-school rules will also be increased. And there will be increases aimed at eliminating the backlog of major water permits so that industrial and municipal dischargers have permits in time to comply with water statute limits. A special initiative in the 1985 budget proposes a $10 million dollar program to support efforts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay. The money would be used in cost-sharing grants to Bay states and to continue EPA's role in monitoring and modeling. Ruckelshaus said that the budget proposals "are most significant in that they are very clearly focused on the emerging needs of the Agency . . . With these resources, we will be able to achieve the objectives that the President, the Congress and the peo- ple have set for the Agency. These re- source needs are a solid foundation for the policies and strategies we as a nation must pursue to assure contin- ued progress across the spectrum of environmental challenges."" ------- |