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 ------- 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. ------- 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 ------- 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. ~ ------- |