StEEfc Times NEWS FOR AND ABOUT EPA EMPLOYEES INSIDE: ~ When to Retire ~ Open Season ~ Body Checks VOLUME 2 NUMBER 3 NOVEMBER 14,198/ Making CFC Work at EPA By Jack Lewis The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) depends on far more than the chari- table instincts of federal workers. It is in every sense of the word a "campaign." Like a political or a military campaign, CFC owes its success or failure to the or- ganized efforts of countless individuals. The average contributor may have little idea how much behind-the- scenes activity goes into planning and operating a Combined Federal Cam- paign. Landon Holt and William Whitson are in the eye of the hurricane. They have been detailed full-time to work on this year's head- quarters CFC as Principal Account Executives. Both report regularly on their progress to Clarence Hardy, EPA's CFC Coordinator, and Howard Messner, the agen- cy CFC Vice Chairman. This is the first year either man has been di- rectly involved in running a CFC. Holt has been with EPA Personnel Management since the founding of the agency in 1970. Whitson, a Presidential Management Intern at EPA since Decem- ber 1983, worked most re- cently in the Contracts Management Division. The overall goal of this year's headquarters CFC is the most challenging in the history of the Campaign. By November 21st Holt and Whitson hope to convince every EPA employee in Washington to make a con- tribution toward an EPA area goal of $190,000. How do Holt and Whit- son work to achieve this formidable goal? First, they recruited and trained 12 Agency program coordina- tors and approximately 100 key workers. Each of the keyworkers is responsible for spreading awareness of CFC to employees in their part of the agency. Holt and Whitson sched- ule visits to these Campaign zones to give what they call "M & Ms." "M & Ms" are not candy but the psy- chological equivalent: energy-boosting Motivation- al Meetings. These small group meetings give EPA employees a chance to view the Campaign film, "The Winners," narrated by John Madden, as well as to dis- cuss CFC and to ask any questions they have regard- ing the Campaign. Dozens of these meetings will be held before the Campaign is over. EPA Administrator Wil- liam D. Ruckelshaus gave an "M & M" of his own on October 22nd at the Cam- paign's Kick-Off Rally. Ruckelshaus is Vice Chair- person of the entire Com- bined Federal Campaign. Also featured at this year's kick-off rally was EPA's Loaned CFC Executive, Paul K. Mickey, who works reg- ularly at the Department of Transportation. Mickey has been detailed to administer the CFCs at EPA, USIA, and AID. To keep the momentum going on a day-to-day basis, Holt and Whitson distribute promotional materials to program coordinators and keyworkers. Most important of these is the official CFC leaflet and pledge card which every headquarters employee should by now have received. Holt and Whitson also arrange to have posters and milestone charts put up throughout EPA's Washington offices to publicize the Campaign and keep headquarters EPA workers informed of its progress. When all the last-minute contributions are totaled af- ter the Campaign ends on November 21st, it is hoped that EPA employees will be able to take pride in their part in meeting the area campaign goal of $17,686,000. It is already certain that we can take pride in the tireless efforts of our CFC account ex- ecutives, program coordina- tors, and keyworkers. ~ - 1 Landon Holt William Whitson. CFC Principal Account Executives CArCH*THE SPIRIT ------- People Congratulations to David Stephan, Jerry Stara, Robert Booth, Richard Bull, Francis Mayo, William Benoit, Cal- vin Lawrence, Lowell Van Den Berg, Clarence Clemons, and AndreaTanner, Cincinnati, on being recognized for their meritorious contributions to EPA's Minority Research Apprenticeship Program. Thanks in large measure to the work of Sheila Cook, James Favors, and Matthew Robbins of Region 4, EPA was cited as "The Outstanding Federal Agency" by the Depart- ment of Commerce's Minority B.usiriess Development Cen- ters in Jackson, IVIS, Atlanta,'GA, and Orlando and Tampa, FL. " . ' ' ' • Quality Step Increases awarded to: Elliott Gilberg and Brenda Black, Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring . . . Abraham Mittelman, Kenneth Partymiller, and Esther Perry, Solid Waste and Emergency Response. Special Act Awards presented to: Harriet Gray and Cheryn Jones, Region 4 . . . Yvette Carter, Susanne Lescal- Ieet, Kenneth Henderson, Annette Green, Leslie Haney, Richard Lemley, Patricia Spatarella, and Earl Price, Ad- ministration and Resources Management . . . Deidre Tho- mas, Sharon Dukeford, Renelle Rae, Merle Miller, Connie Gocher, Rosanne Light, Richard Duffy, John Lyon, John Winder, Kim Pearson, Deaetra Hicks, William Repsher, Charles Hungerford, David Rochlin, Carol Barnes, Bar- bara Jackson, Robert Brook, Pasquale Alberico, Sally Mansbach, Nancy Hunt, Matthew Amarella, Betty Durica, Pamela Lott, David Van Slyke, Janice Corwin, William Walsh, Joseph Schive, Heidi Hughes, and Steven Leifer, Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring . . . James Tomp- kins, Mary Wildermuth, Lori Simon, William King, Sher- lagh Griffin, Cheryl Smith, Stephanie Kaiser, Mary Wal- ler, Carol Langley, Karen Farmer, Kelly Jackson, Marite Nickens, Richard Johnson, James Roelofs, Linda Vlier,^ Roger Holtorf, Paul Lapsley, Barbara Moore, Arvella Farmer, Linda Stallard, Christine Gillis, Fannie Mosley, Anne Barton, Richard Schmitt, Gary Burin, Edward Za- ger, Stuart Cohen, Joe Reinart, Sami Malak, John Worth- ington, Charles Trichilo, Esther Saito, Diane Rains, and James Davis, Pesticides and Toxic Substances . . . Linda Wilcox, Angela Wilkes, Martha Madison, Eric Males, Michael Burne, Amy Schaffer, Russell Dawson, Lee Daneker, Paul Cassidy, Michael Flynn, Johanna Miller, and William Samuel, Solid Waste and Emergency Re- sponse . . . Vene Glascoe, Jeralene Green, Mary Rhones, Patsy Stewart, Sue Tehrani, and Mary Young, Office of the Administrator. Continued Superior Performance Awards to: Toni Fra- zier, External Affairs . . . Vivian Thomson, Policy Planning and Evaluation . . . Jerry Schwartz, Enforcement and Com- pliance Monitoring . . . Roxanne Yoder, David Kelly, and Ethel Bush, Research and Development . . . Michelle Bynum, Anne Hollander, and Sharon Briddell, Pesticides and Toxic Substances . . . James Michael, Richard Nace, Lorna Holloway, Kelly Lenox, Margaret Atchison, Donna Prince, Margie Russell, Loa Herbert, Patricia Savage, Vicki Campbell, Debra Villari, Arline Sheehan, Bill Myers, David O'Brien, Richard Horner, Barbara Hostage, Sharon Blandford, Dougles Cohen, Willimina Pipkin, James Jowett, Jack Jojokian, Steven Smagin, Karen Bur- gan, and Charlene Shaw, Solid Waste and Emergency Response. ~ Around EPA With the flu season coming up, the agency Health Unit is conducting an immunization program for headquarters personnel. If you are interested in receiving the vaccine please contact the Health Unit at 382-4349. The Health Unit would also like to remind all eligible employees that comprehensive physical exams are avail- able on an annual basis. The criteria for eligibility are: GS rating of 11, 12, 13 and forty years of age or older; and GS- 14 and above of any age. It is suggested that you schedule your physical during your birth month. Health benefits Open Season for federal employees is November 5 through December 7. Employees may enroll in a plan or change plans or options by completing a SF-2809 (Health Benefits Registration Form). The SF-2809 should be in the Personnel Office by COB December 7. Employees who do not wish to change their current enrollment need take no action. The effective date for Open Season changes is January 6. The 98th Congress adjourned October 12 having passed the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act during its final days. Of the nine major EPA legislative authorities only RCRA, when signed, Superfund and Construction Grants (authorized through FY 85) have not expired. ~ Agency Activities Rules proposed to reduce human health risks from fires in electrical transformers containing PCBs. Based on evaluation of recent transformer fires in Binghamton, N.Y., San Francisco, and Chicago, the agency believes that the combustion of PCBs in these transformers presents signifi- cant risks to humans and the environment. PCB combus- tion can result in the formation of polychlorinated di- benzofurans (PCDFs). Tests on rats have shown PCDFs to cause anemia and other blood problems. Mazda Motor Corporation will voluntarily recall approx- imately 47,000 vehicles to service an emission control tube that may deteriorate due to contact with road salt. The voluntary recall campaign will include all 1981 and 1982 Mazda 628 models currently registered in high salt usage states. Regulations proposed for new pollution source review and monitoring requirements for 34 states which failed^Q adopt such measures in order to protect visibility in ai^B around pristine areas. Of the 36 states required to develop and adopt plans, only Alaska and Louisiana have approved plans. Rule proposed to make many future surface coal mines, or strip mines, subject to construction permitting require- ------- Environmental News "A New Orleans man faces hundreds of thousands of pilars in fines for allegedly selling a highly toxic agricul- Jral pesticide in half-pint fruit jars for home use in kill- ing roaches. Emile Joseph told investigators he has been involved with selling the poison, methyl parathion, for 10 years."—The Times-Picayune, 9/26. "It began to rain as Team 2 headed into the forest . . . Out front, Martin Pfeiffer, his mustache dripping, forged ahead, leading the four-member team and its llama, Ferrous, toward one of the 2,759 lakes and ponds that se- quin Adirondack Park . . . Team 2 is one of four research units that are part of a three-year survey of ponds and lakes in the Adirondacks . . . Llamas . . . are being used for the Adirondack project because they eat virtually any- thing and, with their thick woolen coats, they are not bothered by the changing climate. Descending steep terrain seems to be their specialty."—New York Times, 10/16. "Drilling fluids dumped into the ocean by offshore oil rigs post no significant danger to marine life despite the claims of some environmental groups to the contrary, says a Duke University marine biologist who headed a national review of the practice. About two million metric tons of drilling fluid wastes are dumped into U.S. offshore waters each year, half that amount in the Gulf of Mexico."—The Durham Sun, 10/4. "In the haste to clean up asbestos, the fibrous material often is stripped and disposed of haphazardly, causing new environmental dangers, a House subcommittee was told Tuesday. 'People haul it away in automobiles and Jlush it down their toilets. They create asbestos levels hun- M'eds of times greater than those that existed before,' said john Welch, president of an environmental group called the Safe Buildings Alliance."—St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 10/3. A parasitic mite that preys on honeybees has invaded beehives in five states, including New York, forcing the authorities to destroy millions of bees, a spokesman for the Federal Department of Agriculture has disclosed. There is no known way to control the spread of the pest, according to entomologists, because no insecticide that would kill or repel the mite without harming the bees or adding toxic substances to the honey has been approved by any United States Government regulatory agency."—New York Times, 10/8. "Living next to a nuclear power plant could con- taminate you less than if you jet around the world, work with gold or coal, or live in the wrong natural location, according to a book by United Nations agencies. The re- port, Nuclear Power, Environment and Man, prepared by the International Atomic Energy Agency here and the World Health Organization says, 'natural background can give you higher radioactive doses than a nuclear power station.'"—The Baltimore Sun, 10/8. An upstate landfill ... is dominated by an organized- crime network that controls hauling throughout the New York area, an FBI-protected witness has told a State Assembly committee. The landfill ... is controlled by a Westchester County garbage firm with ties to organized crime, said the witness, who, testifying under heavy guard before the State Assembly's Environmental Conservation Committee, also said toxic wastes were illegally dumped at the site."—Newsday, 9/21. "Atmospheric pollution is a major problem at a giant Siberian power plant designed to supply a large part of Soviet electricity needs, the Communist Party daily Pravda said Wednesday. The complex at Kansk-Achinsk in central Siberia burns large quantities of locally mined coal . . . the plant's waste products include nitrates and flying ash in quantities that at times blot out the sun."—Los Angeles Times, 10/18. ~ ments for major sources of air pollution. The rule would require that "fugitive" emissions from these sources be taken into account in determining if a source is a major emitting facility required to meet preconstruction permit requirements. Fugitive emissions, in this case, involve dust and particulate matter from mining procedures. Proposed standards for radionuclide emissions with- drawn. The withdrawals for phosphorus plants, Depart- ment of Energy facilities, Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensed facilities, and non-DOE federal facilities are based on determinations that current practices provide an ample margin of safety. For underground uranium mines, the risks are significant but rules based on the original pro- posal could not legally have been issued under the Clean Air Act. U.S. participation in the first World Industry Con- ference on Environmental Management, scheduled for ¦ov. 14-16 at Versailles, France, announced jointly by U.S. ateel Chairman David Roderick and Administrator Ruckels- haus. The French government is host to the conference, sponsored by world industry with the U.N. Environment Programme, in cooperation with the International Chamber of Commerce. Region 7 Administrator Morris Kay describes training offered by three EPA-funded asbestos centers as: "unique in that it will provide contractors, school officials and other interested parties the opportunity to gain 'hands-on' experience in all asbestos abatement techniques." The goal of this program, he says, "is to produce skilled craftsmen capable of safely eliminating asbestos exposure situa- tions." Speaking Out: "These days EPA's people are being squeezed between two views of the role of a regulatory agency in securing safety from toxic substances. One group says that EPA must presume knowledge where there is only a question, and regulate possible threats to public safety whether or not they are proven and even though we lack adequate means to secure absolute protection. The other view suggests that, lacking complete knowledge of the threat and a proven means of protection, EPA should withold judgment and temporize on solutions. Amid a clamorous din from both sides, EPA risks losing the free- dom to examine each matter in turn and to make a dis- passionate judgment in the public interest."— Administrator Ruckelshaus, before the National News- paper Association. ~ ------- Letters ... a means for Agency employees to communicate to other employees whatever messages of criticism, praise, opinion, or explanation they so de- sire Brevity and constructive suggestions arc encouraged, obscenity and rudeness are disallowed. Letters ivill be published as space allows and may be edited for clarity and conciseness. No attempt is made by the editor to confirm any data presented by correspondents and the opinions expressed should not be taken to represent Agency positions, unless signed by the head of the appropriate office. All letters must be signed and accompanied by submitter's office location and telephone number Dear Editor: Information contained in the January 24, 1983, issue of The EPA Times, concerning the commencing date of retirement annuities was erroneous. As noted in the ar- ticle, people would conclude that annuities begin on the first day of the month after the month in which the retire- ment occurs. On Friday, January 7, 1983, the Washington Post reported in The Federal Diary that Congress changed the law in December, 1982, for the benefit of about 80 retiring members, to allow retirements that occurred up through the third of the month to go on immediate retire- ment. That allowed them to be on the payroll into the month of January, 1983, thereby qualifying for Medicare benefits, and also allowed them to qualify for immediate retirement benefits, as long as they were in retired status by the end of the day on January 3rd. Under the law im- mediately before this change, to start retirement on Jan- uary 1 the retirement would have had to be in effect as December 31, which meant they wouldn't qualify for MeTT" icare coverage. This change applies to all Civil Service retirees, and is not limited only to January, nor only to 1983. Employees who qualify for retirement any time after the 3rd of the month may determine it is to their advantage to continue working until the 3rd of the following month, to limit the length of time they will have to wait for the first retire- ment check. For example, a person retiring on the fourth of the month will not be eligible to start collecting retire- ment pay until the first of the following month. The pay check will not become available until the first of the next month, almost two months after the employee stops work. I had expected to see a correction of this information in a later issue, but if it ever happened, I must not have seen it. Such a correction is long overdue, twenty months after the fact! Norman A. Whalen Office of Water Use It or Lose St CFC Now Open to All By Marilyn Rogers The personnel office re- minds us that the 1984 Leave Year ends January 5, and that Non-SES personnel are permitted to carry over a maximum of 240 hours of annual leave from one leave year to the next. Any un- used annual leave in excess of this carry-over is for- feited. Agency supervisors should review the leave plans of their employees for the remainder of this year to assure that annual leave forfeiture is avoided. Federal leave regulations only allow restoration of forfeited annual leave if it was lost due to an adminis- trative error, illness, or an exigency of the public busi- ness. The regulations fur- ther stipulate that restora- tion can only be considered if the leave was formally scheduled and approved in writing before the start of the third bi-weekly pay peri- od prior to the end of the leave year. The last date for approval of potentially re- storable leave for this year is Saturday, November 24. More detailed informa- tion about leave policies may be found in the EPA Leave Manual. Questions should be referred to your servicing Personnel Office. ~ The Combined Federal Campaign gives federal em- ployees a chance to help 300 charities through a single donation, but donors who prefer to target their contributions now have more options than ever from which to choose. In years past, employees interested in designating a specific charity could choose only from the 300 private, voluntary agencies that fall under the CFC umbrella. Now, contributors inter- ested in helping an unlisted charity are at liberty to write in the name and ad- dress of other, non-listed agencies. CFC then for- wards to that organization the dollar amount specified, minus a nominal handling charge (which applies to listed designees as well). The only specific quali- fication a "write-in" de- signee must meet is: it must be a human health and wel- fare charity recognized as tax-exempt by the Internal Revenue Service. Should a "write-in" charity fail to meet IRS standards, CFC will notify the EPA donor and give him or her another chance to designate a specific charity. This year, potential CFC contributors will have ac- cess to more information than ever about specific pri- vate voluntary agencies. Charities now have the right to distribute brochures to federal workers in public areas at or near the entrance to office buildings. EPA has set up desks in the entry ways of the East and West Towers of Water- side Mall for the use of voluntary agencies wishing to distribute literature. An- other distribution channel open for the first time is EPA's interna] mail servi^ Any charity furnishing a minimum of 5,000 copies to the headquarters mailroom is entitled to free agency- wide distribution. ~ The EPA Times is published 24 times per year lo provide news and information for and about EPA employees. Readers are encouraged to submit news of themselves and of fellow employees, letters of opinion, questions, comments, and suggestions to: Miles Allen, Editor, The EPA Times, Office of Public Affairs (A-107). Telephone 382-4394. Information selected for publication will be edited as necessary in keeping with space available. GPO B1 0-983 ------- |