Times
NEWS FOR AND ABOUT EPA EMPLOYEES
INSIDE:
~ Congratulations
And Goodbye
Ruckelshaus
VOLUME 2 NUMBER 6 JANUARY 2, 1985
Exceptional Contributions Honored
Exceptional contributions
to the Agency's mission by
108 employees were ac-
knowledged and applauded
on December 6. A large
crowd from headquarters
gathered at a downtown au-
ditorium to pay tribute to
those honored at EPA's
13th annual Honor Awards
Ceremony.
The formalities were in-
itiated by the U.S. Marine
Band and the Joint Armed
Forces Color Guard. Deputy
Administrator A1 Aim gave
the opening remarks, and
Administrator Bill Ruckels-
haus spoke at some length
on the qualities of EPA per-
sonnel and talked of his de-
cision to leave. (See inside
for selections from his re-
marks.)
Henry F. Washington,
Chief of the Printing Man-
agement and Distribution
Section, Office of Adminis-
tration and Resources Man-
agement, received EPA's
Distinguished Career
Award "in recognition of a
distinguished Federal career
and for exceptional judg-
ment and leadership in the
development, management
and administration of a
comprehensive and ex-
emplary Agency-wide print-
ing program."
The Distingished Career
Award was also presented
to Howard M. Biggs, "in
recognition of a dis-
tinguished Federal career
and for exceptional leader-
ship in engineering, labora-
tory construction, and faci-
lities improvements." Biggs
is Chief of the Architec-
tural/Engineering Services
Section at Headquarters.
Gold Medals for ex-
ceptional service went to:
Francis J. Biros, an
environmental scientist for
the Office of Solid Waste
and Emergency Response at
Headquarters, "for outstand-
ing performance in the de-
velopment and implementa-
tion of the Hazardous Waste
Enforcement Program" . . .
Richard T. Dewling, Deputy
Richard Dewling
Henry Washington
Administrator, Region 2,
"in recognition of outstand-
ing leadership, management
and scientific contributions
to the accomplishment of
the Agency's environmental
protection mission" . . .
Leroy S. Loiselle, Jr., an
environmental protection
specialist in Region 10, for
"outstanding achievement
in the reduction of pollut-
ant discharges from gold
placer mining activities
resulting in measurable im-
provement in the water
****
Leroy Loiselle
Howard Biggs
quality of Alaskan streams
and rivers."
Four groups of employees
also received Gold Medals:
the Ann Arbor Lab Techni-
cal Support Staff, Motor Ve-
hicle Emission Lab, Ann
Arbor, Michigan—Philip A.
Lorang, Jane A. Armstrong,
John M. Cabaniss, Davis J.
Brzezinski, and Eugene J.
Tierney—for "outstanding
achievement in the
revitalization of motor vehi-
cle Inspection and Mainte-
nance programs throughout
the Nation" . . . the
Asbestos-In-Schools Pro-
gram Team, Office of Pesti-
cides and Toxic Substances,
Regions 1,5, and 7—John
S. Seitz, David W. Mayer,
William P. Heffernan, An-
thony L. Restaino, and
Wolfgang Brandner—for
"exceptional achievements
essential to the successful
implementation of the
Agency's Asbestos-in-
Schools Program" . . . the
(Continued on back page.]
Francis Biros

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Congratulations and Goodbye
Selected comments from Administrator Bill Ruckelshaus' address to the 1984 EPA Honor Awards
Ceremony audience.
... I think that we are in good shape. I think that the
Agency is in good shape and, as I said in my letter to
the President and as I said to him in our direct con-
versation, "the people of this institution are second to
none, in the government or out. They are focused on
their job, which is among the most vital and difficult in
' our society."
... I am absolutely delighted that the President
accepted my recommendation and that he moved as
rapidly as he did and that he gave us Lee Thomas as
the new Administrator of EPA.
... In the last few days, Lee and I have been receiv-
ing a number of briefings from a number of you about
the various program areas, about some of the problems
we face, and Lee's eyes are opening—and occasionally
spinning—as he thinks in terms of what lies ahead. He
turned to me a couple of days ago, as we were going
through one particularly knotty problem, and said,
"You know, one of the things about EPA is that we are
really in the middle of everybody's life." . . . Lee was
right. This Agency is in the middle of everybody's life.
That's why it's so vital, I think, that we carry out re-
sponsibilities not only as well as I know the talented
employees of this Agency can, but that the rest of the
country appreciate that that's being done and that this
Agency gets the trust that it deserves.
... I was at a cabinet meeting yesterday ... in which
the news about the deficit and what was going to be re-
quired by all agencies of government was laid upon the
cabinet and sub-cabinet members. EPA is going to be
like all domestic agencies ... If we freeze domestic pro-
grams right where they are, all those that are not
already frozen—and there are suprising numbers that
are already frozen—we are only talking about $0 billion
out of the FY 1986 budget. So, obviously, we have to go
beyond that . . . These cuts did not come from this
Agency, as currently recommended. There is some effort
to gain control over the capital budgets of the govern-
ment which would include the sewage treatment plant
grants program, but even if that were to be ad-
dressed, it would not have any immediate effect on the
program. And many, many other agencies are
affected—far more dramatically than are we—so there
isn't any 30 percent budget cut. There never was one
considered as far as I can see. It had nothing to do with
my departure.
... I believe EPA is no longer in trouble ... I also
believe thai what we need right now is less emphasis on
personalities at EPA and more understanding of the
issues at EPA . . . My own belief is that we are going to
get more of an understanding of these issues—more of a
discussion about the way in which this country should
manage risks in the future, than if I were to remain.
... I do not like the idea of leaving an institution like
EPA when I recognize what tremendous challenges lie
ahead. How interesting it would be to grapple with
them when I think of the unfinished agenda. But it will
be ever thus.
. . . Our most important asset at EPA is our people.
They are the life blood of this agency. That is as true
today as it was when I returned and I believe that, in
leaving, I'll leave it in good hands with all of you. I've
said it so many times and I believe it so strongly: that
there simply isn't a collection of people in any organ-
ization in the world any more talented or capable than
the people of EPA.
. . . All you need do, Lee, is cut these people loose,
trust them . . . They work hard. They work on Sat-
urdays and Sundays. I've been down here myself sever-
al times on weekends and I am flabbergasted at the
sign-in sheet downstairs. How many people there are;
the parking lot is often filled. The people at EPA are
highly motivated . . . dedicated, talented, and pro-
fessional.
When I think of all of you and I see my departure de-
scribed as the results of my own frustration, anger, or
disillusionment, then I know, way deep down, and I
want all of you to know, that nothing could be further
from the truth. Since returning to EPA, I have found the
work interesting, challenging, exciting, and, ultimately,
fulfilling. And anyone who has had to look for a job as
often as I have has begun to think about what is it that
makes a job worth doing. The attributes that I mention
are the ones I've cyme to believe are important: chal-
lenge, interest, excitement, fulfillment. 1 have found all
four at only one place in my life, and that is the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
In addition, I have found you. You, the employees of
EPA, my fellow toilers in the environmental regulatory
mine fields, you have never let me down. You have
been loyal to me and to your mission. You work hard,
you work well. I say to you—and I know that I speak
for every man, woman, and child in this country—
thank Cod you're here!
Thank you, very much.

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Agency Activities
As part of the acid lakes survey, EPA Region 3 and 4
personnel have been engaged in the sampling of lakes in
¦Astern North Carolina. During the sampling of a lake on
Plivember 25, the sampling team was confronted by a
man armed with a pistol and shotgun. By motioning with
his pistol, the man indicated that the team should leave
the lake. The team immediately took the sampling appara-
tus out of the water, and the pilot of the helicopter being
used lifted off the lake. After takeoff, the man fired at the
helicopter with the shotgun but missed. The helicopter
landed at a nearby golf course, and the Jackson County
Sheriff's Department was contacted. A Deputy Sheriff went
to the scene and found the man, who admitted firing at
the helicopter. Region 4 is working with the Jackson
County Sheriff's Department, the State Bureau of Investiga-
tion and the FBI to ensure that criminal charges are filed.
On November 29, Region 2 met with representatives of a
number of industries and facilities located in Staten Island
and nearby areas of northern New Jersey to discuss the es-
tablishment of a voluntary, cooperative program aimed at
identifying and reducing odor problems in Staten Island.
Representatives of interstate, state and local air pollution
control agencies and Congressman Guy Molinari also par-
ticipated in the meeting.
Cancellation of most of the non-wood preservative uses
of the pesticide pentachlorophenol proposed. Decision
based on data indicating pentachlorophenol causes defects
in offspring of laboratory animals and its contaminants,
hexachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (HxCDD) and hexachloroben-
zene (HCB), also cause cancer in laboratory animals. As a
jaon-wood preservative pentachlorophenol is used as a her-
Bcide, disinfectant, defoliant, for moss control and as an
anti-microbial agent.
Agency denied petitions filed by the states of Pennsyl-
vania. New York and Maine, which had claimed violations
of ambient air quality standards within their boundaries
from the emissions of pollutants from sources in the Mid-
west. The petitioning states claimed that such emissions
interfered with their ability to meet federal air quality
standards, interfered with visibility, and caused acid rain.
In denying the petitions, agency said that Section 126 of
the Clean Air Act does not address either acid rain or the
long-range visibility effects cited by the petition.
A Federal/State/Local Nonpoint Source Task Force,
chaired by Jack Ravan, Assistant Administrator for Water,
presented a proposed National Nonpoint Source Policy to
Administrator Ruckelshaus on December 12, 1984. The
policy states that "additional progress in restoring and
maintaining the nation's water quality and water uses will
require greater implementation of nonpoint source man-
agement programs in addition to ongoing point source
control efforts." Nonpoint source pollution is caused by
runoff from agriculture, urban areas, construction sites,
mining activities and silviculture, and similar op-
erations. ~
The EPA Times is published 24 times per year to provide news and
information for and about EPA employees. Readers are encouraged to
Isubmit 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.
Gold Medal Teams
Ruckelshaus with:
Ann Arbor Technical Support Staff
Asbestos-In-School Program Team
State/Federal Enforcement Relationships Team
National Dioxin Trace Analysis Troika Team

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Awards Ceremony
State/Federal Enforcement
Relationships Team, Office
of Enforcement and Com-
pliance Monitoring at
Headquarters—Cheryl E.
Wasserman, Darla J. White,
Felicia D. Cunningham,
James S. Vickery, and
Glenn Unterberger—for
"outstanding contributions
to the improvement of State
and Federal Enforcement
Program relationships" . . .
the National Dioxin Trace
Analysis Troika Team,
Office of Research and De-
velopment, Duluth, Research
Triangle Park, and Bay
St. Louis,—Robert L.
Harless, Aubray E. Dupuy,
Jr., Danny D. McDaniel,
Dougles W. Kuehl, and Nor-
bert A. Jaworski—for out-
standing contributions to
the development and val-
idation of trace analysis
methods for the National
Dioxin Survey."
Recipients of Silver Med-
als for superior service:
Peter W. Anderson
(posthumously),
Chief of Water Permits and
Compliance. Region 2 . . .
Jonas Dikinis, a Life
Scientist, On-Scene-Coordi-
nator. Region 5 . . . Allan
Hirsch , Director, Office of
Federal Activities, Head-
quarters . . . Arnold M.
Kuzmack, Office of Drink-
ing Water, Headquarters . . .
Warren H. Oldaker, Chief,
Quality Assurance Office,
Region 1 . . . William A.
Spratlin. Deputy Director,
Air and Waste Management
Division, Region 7 . . . Tho-
mas J. Maslany, Chief, Air
Enforcement Branch, Re-
gion 3 . . . Harold W. Hop-
kins, Chief, Facilities Con-
struction Branch, Region 4.
Group recipients of Silver
Medals: the Quality Assur-
ance Support Group—J.
Gareth Pearson, George
M. Brilis, John M. Moore
and Larry C. Butler—Office
of Research and Develop-
ment, Las Vegas, Nevada
. . . the GM Pretreatment
Enforcement Litigation
Team— John S. Winder, Jr.,
Kim Pearson, Susan G.
Lepow, Daniel F. Geisler,
and Edward P. Kenney—
Office of Enforcement and
Compliance Monitoring,
Office of General Counsel,
Office of Water, Region 5
Office of Regional Counsel
. . . the OTS Risk Manage-
ment Branch—Jeanette A.
Wiltse, JoAnne Folks, J.
William Hirzy, Albert J.
Colli, Stephanie G. Roan,
Harry Teitelbaum, Richard
H. Hefter, Jr., James N.
Rowe, Jane S. Hopkins, An-
ita L. Schmidt, and Paulette
H. Grimes—Office of Pesti-
cides and Toxic Substances
at Headquarters . . . the
Asbestos-ln-Schools
Survey—Joseph J. Breen
and Cynthia R. Stroup—
Office of Pesticides and
Toxic Substances, Head-
quarters . . . the Ethylene
Dibromide Group—Richard
J. Johnson, Gary J. Burin,
Linda K. Vlier, Robert S.
McLaughlin, Marcia E.
Mulkey, Vincent J. Cog-
liano, Albert L. Nichols,
and Albert J. Heier—Office
of Pesticides and Toxic
Substances, Office of Gener-
al Counsel, Office of Policy,
Planning and Evaluation,
and Office of Public Affairs,
Headquarters . . . the His-
panic Recruitment Team—
Gene A. Lucero, Robert
Knox, James A. Maes,
Pamela A. Garrow, Richard
L. Caspe, Weems L. Cleven-
ger, Eugene J. Viti, Andrew
J. Porcelli, Stewart Alexan-
der, Abraham Ferdas, and
Carmen Negron—
Headquarters, Regions 2 & 3
. . . the Asbestos-in-EPA
Buildings Group—David J.
Weitzman, Wolfgang
Brandner, Anthony L.
Restaino, John A. West, and
Karen A. Reed—Regions 5,
6, and 7 . . . the Lead-in-
Gasoline Team—Jane Leg-
gett, RaAnana Levin, Albert
L. Nichols, Bart D. Ostro,
Hugh M. Pitcher, Joel D.
Schwartz, George Martin
Wagner, Karl H. Hellman,
Barry D. Nussbaum, and
George Y. Sugiyama—
Office of Policy, Planning
and Evaluation, Office of
Air and Radiation, Head-
quarters.
Recipients of the Ad-
ministrator's Award for Ex-
cellence "for exceptional
contribution to the accom-
plishment of the EPA mis-
sion": Wendy L. Andersen,
Administrative Clerk, Re-
gion 10 . . . Claudio G.
Cano, General Services
Clerk, Region 10 . . . Bever-
ly E. Goodsell, Secretary,
Region 8 . . . Suzanne M.
Canning, Secretary, Region
3 . . . Anne B. Marvel,
Special Assistant, Region 3
. . . Gail Dawson, Manage-
ment Assistant, Las Vegas
. . . Barbara Quesnell, Budget
Analyst, Cincinnati . . .
Paul Eric Frazier, Corres-
pondence Control Tech-
nician, Headquarters . . .
Margaret L. Hardesty, Man-
agement Analyst, Headquar-
ters . . . Patricia F. Fisher,
Secretary, Denver . . .
Geraldine F. Hilden,
Environmental Protection
Assistant, Denver . . . Beg
nadine David, Secretary,"
Headquarters . . . Barbara
"Lucille" Robinson, Secre-
tary, Headquarters . . . and
Mary L. Holliday, Manage-
ment Analyst, Region 4.
The Trudy A. Speciner
Award for "outstanding
contribution by a non-, .
supervisory professional
employee" was presented to
Paul Q. Riederer, Manage-
ment Analyst, Region 8.
Public Health Service
Meritorious Service Medals
for "exemplary performance
of duty" were received by:
Robert L. Duprey. Director,
Air and Waste Management
Division, Region 8 . . . John
O. Burckle, Research Chem-
ical Engineer, Office of Re-
search and Development,
Cincinnati . . . Paul A. Ken-
line, Director, Support Ser-
vices Office, Research
Triangle Park . . . and
Richard E. Stanley, Depu^g
Director, Environmental
Monitoring Systems Labora-
tory, Las Vegas. ~
Additional photos inside
Around EPA
The Graduate School, USDA, will host an open house
to explain its certificate programs. The open house will be
held Tuesday, January 8, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at
Capital Gallery Building, 600 Maryland Avenue, SW. A
reservation is necessary. Classes begin January 14. The
Graduate School offers continuing education for all adults
regardless of educational background or place of employ-
ment.
The base amount of wages subject to FICA and Medi-
care taxes will increase in 1985 from $37,800 to $39,600
per annum. In addition, employees' contributions to
FICA will increase from 7 percent to 7.05 percent, and em-
ployees' contributions to Medicare will increase from 1.3
percent to 1.35 percent. These increases will go into effect
in pay period 7, which ends January 5. Pay period 7 is
also the pay period in which withholdings for FICA and
Medicare will resume for those who have reached the
maximum deductions in 1984.
The second National Conference on Waste Exchange
and Resource Re-use will be held in Tallahassee, Florida^
on March 5-6, 1985. The conference will examine current
waste exchange issues and provide an opportunity to share
information and ideas. Information concerning registration
and participation can be obtained by contacting Roy C.
Herndon at 904-644-2007. ~

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