NEWS FOR AND ABOUT EPA EMPLOYEES MAY YOUR HOLIDAYS BE MERRY AND THE NEW YEAR CALM VOLUME 3 NUMBER 3 DECEMBER 1985 Celebrating 15 Years of Progress This month marks the fif- teenth anniversary of the En- vironmental Protection Agen- cy's creation. The history of EPA's first decade and a half was described in the Novem- ber issue of the EPA Journal and the occasion was marked at Headquarters with a colorful ceremony that was combined with the annual awards presentations. The Washington, D.C. observance, held at a down- town auditorium, featured addresses by William Ruck- elshaus, the Agency's first administrator, Lee Thomas, EPA administrator since last February, and U.S. Senator Robert Stafford of Vermont. The program also featured the first appearance of the 60-voice EPA chorus, a new film depicting the Agency's history, and a slide series The Coalescing of EPA Personnel 1970 HEW Air Pollution Control 1261 Solid Waste Management 206 Radiological Health 456 Water Hygiene 184 Pesticides Tolerances 213 Other 450 Total 2770 Interior Water Quality 2996 Pesticide Label Review 88 Total 3084 AEC and Federal Radiation Council 10 Agriculture 359 EPA 6223 As of March 1985, 1,910 stalwarts were still with EPA. Music and pomp to get the festivities started were provided by the U.S. Marine band and color guard. During a reception after the anniversary/awards ceremony, Administrator Lee Thomas and fill Collins show off the anniversary poster. showing hundreds of EPAers at work. Teamwork by scores of people in many offices was involved in planning the event, which went off with- out a hitch. Special credit must be given to the events "producer" and "director": Jill Collins and Mary McCaffery, to the Agency's audiovisual division, and to Bob Flanagan for his design of the anniversary illustra- tion. Around the country, the Agency's Regional offices held a variety of anniversary observances—award ceremo- nies involving both EPA em- ployees and the public, speeches by one Senator— John H. Chafee, (D.RI)—and one former Senator— Gaylord Nelson, press luncheons, special events, and two bake- offs. One bake-off, in Region 7, was judged by community officials. The other, a choco- late bake-off, was judged by former Administrator Ruck- elshaus. No EDB in the recipes, we hope. Other anniversary notes: How did EPA get its name? Doug Costle, Agency Ad- ministrator during the Carter administration and a staffer at the President's Council on Reorganization (known as the Ash Commission) during Nixon's presidency, recalls that it didn't take contests or focus groups or brain- storming sessions. "We had just about finished the rec- ommendations for establish- ing the new agency, and we needed a name to go with the recommendation. Someone suggested the 'National Pollu- tion Agency.' We agreed that even though that was the agency's purpose it sounded too negative and limiting. The second suggestion was, 'Environmental Protection Agency.' There was very lit- tle discussion. We just put that name into the recom- mendation, and it stuck." Moving day, December 2, (Continued on Back.) ------- People Died: Ralph Scott, 74, Environmental Research Lab, Corvallis, November 1. Retirees: Doris Longo, 33 years, Region 5 . . . Donald Thomas, 30 years, Ferdinand Suhrer, 17 years, and Ho Young, 22 years, Region 9. Special Act Awards presented to: Arvella Farmer, Steven Saunders, Debra Thomas, Ricardo Talento, Helen Stone, Blake Lewis, Sandra Artis, Rhonda Craig, Emily Glover, Sandra Moyer, Mary Travers, Neil Pelletier, Diane Ierley, Bruce Kapner, Josie Hollingsworth, Ingrid Sunzenauer, Mike Branagan, Linda Vlier, Betty Shackleford, Raymond Krueger, and Lawrence Culleen, Pesticides and Toxic Substances . . . Denise Mims, Patrick Marshall, Lela Price, Lucy Tanner, Patricia Spatarella, Karen Stinson, Julia Smith, Nadene Wright, Teresa Sawyers, Teresa Malone, Shirley Ruffin, Sandra Martin, Dionne Walker, Lena Price, Brenda Mason, Carolyn Perry, Tom Davis, Georgette Boddie, Deborah Banks, William Harrison, David Lindsey, John Adams, Mark Haque, Leslie Baldwin, Ronald Bachard, Mary Holland, Wayne Anthofer, Doreen LaFone, Arthur Flaks, Bernadine Davis, Gabrielle DeSorto, Charles Collins, Barbara Gudger, Sheila Hall, Rosalind Brown, Sherry Kaschak, Jean Ewing, Teresa Lau, and Arthur Davis, Administration and Resources Management . . . Peter Murtha, David Van Slyke, Pasquale Alberico, Jonathan Libber, and Allyn Stern, Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring . . . Rachel Holloman, Anthony Guadagno, Sonia Ruiz, and Sylvia Ghee, Office of the General Counsel . . . Robert Kenney, Barry Nussbaum, Richard Kozlowski, and Sylvia Correa, Air and Radiation . . . Mary Lyon-Allen and Raanana Levin, Policy, Planning, and Evaluation . . . Robert Wood and Linda Strachan, External Affairs. Sustained Superior Performance Awards go to: Joanne Edwards, Dennis Guse, Judith Loranger, Portia Jenkins, Dennis Edwards, Jr., Daniel Peacock, Dorothy Portner, Dana Pilitt, and Aurelia Williams, Pesticides and Toxic Substances . . . Cynthia Sayers, Jeffrey Meetre, Linda Washington, Saundra Womack, Loretta Long, Ken Anderson, Gloria Brooks, Zandra Kerns, Rosalind Frost, Mary McCaffery, Dixie Taylor, Sterling Wallace, Randall Bacon, Robert Beverly, Felicia Jackson, and Avis Robinson, Administration and Resources Management . . . Howard Corcoran, Barbara Pace, Catherine Winer, Dov Weitman, Barbara Morrison, William Jordan, Bonita Follins, Diane Weeks, Kendra Sagoff, Sara Schneeberg, Nancy Ketcham-Colwill, Erik Olson, Louise Wise, Ellen Siegler, Robert Friedrich, Patricia Millhouse-Barkley, Lee Tyner, Sheila Dickerson-Brown, Ralph Colleli Jr., Mark Stanga, Earl Salo, Paul Frazier, Patricia Roberts, Nancy Hutzel, Gail Cooper, Joseph Freedman, Robert McLaughlin, Deborah Warrick, Barbara Jones, Arnita Moore, Susan Schmedes, Laurance Cook, Jane Roemer, Kevin Lee, Margaret Silver, Steven Silverman, Rose Arnold, Marlyne Lipfert, Patricia Dozier, Norman Fazenbaker, Donnell Nantkes, Andrew Gordon, Gaylene Vasturo, Richard Feldman, Douglas Henderson, Martha Dickerson, Timothy Backstrom, Alan Carpien, Thressa Pearson, Cara Jablon, Philip Ross, James Nelson, Richard Ossias, Stephen Pressman, Susan Butler, Jacqueline Cross, Lee Schroer, Karen Wardzinski, Alice Mims, Avery Avance, and Christina Kaneen, Office of the General Counsel . . . Rochelle Gantt, Air and Radiation . . . Hugh Pitcher, Theodora McManus, Joel Schwartz, and Indur Goklany, Policy, Planning, and Evaluation . . . Patricia Miller, Helen Keplinger, Duane Graham, Eugene O'Neil, Elizabeth Cox, Theresa Thomas, Amy Svoboda, Carol Barnes, Linda Thompson, John Barth, Elliott Gilberg, Annie Stubbs, Patricia Little, Neil Stoloff, Carmelle Sanders, Constance Williams, Philip Gray, Rachel Jopp, Barbara Jackson, Janice Linett,^^ Gary Hess, Wanda Stevenson, Margie Howard, Heidi Hu^B, Jonathan Fleuchaus, Charyl Lewis, Richard Ostrov, Kenneth Farber, and William Walsh, Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring. Quality Step Increases awarded to: James Gibson, Marianne Clark, and Douglas Sutherland, Pesticides and Toxic Substances . . . Helen Smith, Patricia Blacknall, Frederick Langholz, Lawrence Tucker, Linwood Bryant, and Martha Burtoff, Administration and Resources Management . . . Lawrence Groner and Brenda Gross, Enforcement and Compliance Monitoring. Region 5 Administrator Valdas V. Adamkus and Regional Counsel Robert B. Schaefer received the Federal Executive Board's Certificates of Appreciation for their valuable services to the Hispanic Employment Program, in support of the FY 85 Youth Motivation Program. Lillian Johnson, the Region 2 Superfund Community Relations Coordinator, was featured in the "Speaking of People" column in the October issue of EBONY, a monthly national magazine. All regions have one to four coordinators to assist affected communities involved in the Superfund process. Around EPA The Washington Information Center will hold a vendor show on December 13 that will include demonstrations of both hardware and software currently on the market. The products presented at the show, which will run from 9 to 4:30, will feature capabilities that have been judged to be relevant to the Agency's needs. Hardware exhibits are expected to include graphics equipment, laser printers, plotters, mass storage disk units, tape backup units, 3270-terminal emulators and math co-processor chips. Software will probably include new ISSCO graphics software, mainframe and PC FOCUS, a new PC space management package, and other exciting products. The Graduate School, U.S. Department of Agriculture, begins its winter session January 13. Courses offered this winter include computer sciences, technical writing, economics, editing, and statistics. Register early by phone or mail until December 20. In-person registration is January 6-11. Call 447-5885 for more information. ~ ------- Letters Dear Editor, ^^pnyone else offended or surprised by the content of E^ffs recent pamphlet on security? I thought it was totally irresponsible for EPA to advocate self defense techniques clearly designed to kill without recourse, warning, or restraint: "Don't hold back . . . strike, using anything sharp . . . go for the eyes, groin, throat ... as hard as you can." It was one thing for Stormy Friday, Facilities Management, to promote attendance for renowned speakers on self defense (the Memphis Message) but it's quite another thing for EPA to openly advocate that all EPA employees resort to lethal violence, under certain conditions, rather than submit to assault. I think EPA's latest security pamphlet offers loads of good advice on preventing problems but creates far greater problems for all of us by adding a list of ruineously cruel acts of violence without much greater explanation. The question of when lethal force is justified is an extremely critical one for us to face as a society and far beyond the isolated opinion of EPA's office manager or even its Administrator. Certainly, the rule of law is quite complex and done a total disservice by mere explanations on the back of an EPA leaflet. 1 have worked with EPA employees that had lo be warned by managers to stop carrying guns during business hours. Maybe that serves to underscore the problem of security we face, but I don't think so. I worry about the excesses that the advocates of lethal self defense will cause. Will more employees carry knives or other weapons to further the self defense goals that EPA advocates? Nowhere in the leaflet does EPA bother to warn concerned employees against over reacting, misinterpreting the situation, or questioning their judgment carefully. "If you feel you are in danger of otWous bodily harm ... go for the eyes . . . with a nail file." This is wrong for some of us if not all of us and EPA is clealy misguided in pushing it on employees as correct behavior for all. There are two sides to every story. I am sure many will not agree with my own opinion against the use of lethal self defense in any situation. Everyone has a very emotional response to the issue of crime and violence, particularly in the context of piotectiiig employees. I just hope that the men and women leading this Agency don't forget it either! For many of us, this may be a moral issue, and we may well have the right to question why EPA is imposing its own judgment on 10,000 employees without seeking consensus or allowing for reservations. Robert Wright Air and Radiation Conferences, Etc. EPA's Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, and the Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA, are co-sponsoring the 1986 Joint Symposium on Dry S02 and Simultaneous S02/N0x Control Technologies. The symposium will hp hplrl Jimp 19HR, at the Hyatt Regency, Kansas City, MO. The 5 day program is •Bnded to provide for the exchange of knowledge on earch, development, and applications of this technology, and to stimulate new ideas on emissions control processes based on the injection of drv calcium or sodium sorbents. For more information, contact Jack Greene, MD-60, EPA, AEERL, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. Telephone 919-541-2903. ~ Dear Editor: In response to letters complaining about the quality of the diskettes that we provide for our Lexitron word processors, 1 have the following to report to you: ® The contractor has done his best to take action to solve problems when he has been made aware of them. • There is still dissatisfaction with the diskettes and I have taken action to resolve the problems. The Facilities and Support Services, and Procurement and Contracts Management Divisions are conducting an investigation into the quality of the diskettes currently being provided. We have designed a controlled study which will document diskette problems over a 2-month period. To participate in this study, all Lexitron users should report any problems with the diskettes to their Word Processing Coordinator who will document the specific problem encountered, attempt to solve it or seek assistance from the WIC. Through this study, the Office of Administration expects to gather data which can be used to provide specifications to ensure that in the fuluie EPA mrill contract for the purchase of high quality diskettes. Meanwhile, please bear with us. Don't throw away the diskette that's giving you a problem. Advise your Word Processing Coordinator of those problems. If you don't know your Coordinator, contact the Supply Store for guidance. We want to help and can only do so when we are aware of the problems. Keep us advised. We are working to come up with solutions. Frank E. Powers Property Management Officer Available Information Selections from recent acquisitions by the EPA Library which may be of general interest. Indoor Air and Human Health. By Richaid D. Gaiuiuage, et. al. RA575.5 .153. 1985. Going Sour: Science and Politics of Acid Rain. By Roy Gould. TD196 .A25G68. 1985. Environmental Planning and Decision Making. By Leonard Ortolano. HC79 .E5078. 1984. Natural Resources: Rureaucratic Myths and Environmental Management. By Richard L. Stroup, et. al. HC103.7 .S84. 1983. Directory of U.S. College and University Programs in Environmental Studies and Natural Resources Management. International Earthcare Center. S94G .D57. 1983. The McGraw-Hill Environmental Auditing Handbook: A Guide to Corporate and Environmental Risk Management. L. Lee Harrison, ed. HD69 .P6M33. 1984. Sustaining Tomorrow: A Strategy for World Conservation and Development. Francis R. Thibodeau and Hermann H. Field, ed. HC79 .E5S87. 1984. ~ The EPA Times is published monthly to 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: Marilyn Rogers, Editor, The EPA Times, Office of Public Affairs (A-107). Telephone 382-4350. Iiifuinidtiun selected for publication will be edited as necessary in keeping with space available. ------- Dallas Employees Capture Intruder Protecting the Environment In Our Backyard by Robert A. Drummond by Mary TV sleuths Cagney and Lacey could learn from EPA's Cathy Bius and Mary Con- treraz about apprehending culprits. They played their own version of cops and rob- bers recently when they chased a male intruder flee- ing a ladies restroom, col- lared him in an elevator, and held him some 10 minutes before security police put him in handcuffs. Both young women are Re- gion 6 Water Division em- ployees in the permit enforcement program. Though their normal duties are administrative, they take their enforcement responsibi- lities seriously. Contreraz, who is deaf, could not hear the accosted woman's screams but dis- regarded her own safety and chased the intruder when he rushed past her and out the restroom door. As she was leaving her office, Bius heard Ellen Guay the commotion and also gave chase down the hall to the 29th floor elevator. She grabbed his coat lapels, pin- ning him against the elevator wall while holding the door open with her foot. Water Division staff in a nearby conference room, dis- turbed by the loud screams of the intended victim, rushed to assist the three women. A relieved Bius told the group calmly, "I'm going back to my desk. Would you all like to hold the elevator?" An investigation revealed that the intruder had been arrested five times previously and was carrying stolen prop- erty. The victim, owner of a private business on the 29th floor, only days before had had a frightening experience at a parking garage. She praised the ladies' quick and courageous assistance and said, "EPA people are really great!" ~ EPA Scholarship Fund Agency personnel are fre- quently offered honoraria when they speak before groups or write articles for publication. Since federal regulations prohibit accept- ance of such honoraria by Government employees act- ing in official capacity, an EPA Scholarship Fund was created to be supported by contributions in lieu of hon- oraria. All such contributions are strictly voluntary. The object and purposes of the Fund are exclusively charitable and educational. They are specifically limited to provision of financial aid to assist or enable deserving children of present or recent- ly separated career em- ployees of the Agency to pur- sue educational studies in ac- credited institutions of higher learning in the U.S. The Fund collected $10,807.40 this past year and received 27 applications. The Board approved distribution of $1,000 scholarships to ten students: Nathan Dean (son of Roger Dean) and David Mohr (son of Jack Mohr, Jr.) Region 8 . . . Maria Blazevich (daughter of Joseph Blazevich) Region 10 . . . Darin Cosby (son of Roger Cosby) Region 6 . . . Christo- pher Holliday, (son of Mary Holliday) and Syed Naseeruddin (son of Syed Noorddin, deceased in 1984) Region 4 . . . Donald Kloster- man (son of Donald Kloster- man), Patricia Gehring (daughter of Robert Gehring) and Julie Chang (daughter of Lina Chang) Cincinnati . . . April Cheer (daughter of Sue Cheer) Narragansett. For more information on the Scholarship Fund, con- tact Charlotte Englert in the Administrator's office, 382- 7957. ~ Sometimes EPA em- ployees become so involved with helping to protect and improve our environment that they overlook their own "backyard." Until recently, employees at the Environ- mental Research Laboratory in Duluth MN were in this category. A few wildlife- minded employees have started a program to change this. They formed a group called the Committee Handling En- vironmental Aesthetics Proj- ects (CHEAP) in keeping with government acronyms. The committee wrote up a long- range plan for enhancing wildlife populations on ERL- D grounds. Plans call for var- ious projects that not only benefit wildlife but help to beautify the landscape in the process. One of the major goals was to plant various trees and shrubs that would naturally attract birds and other small animals. The property is not large enough (approximately 13 acres) to support a resi- (Cover Story J 15 Years 1970: The Agency came into being with virtually no moving-day publicity. If it were not for the herrings about Ruckelshaus' confirma- tion as administrator on the same day and news stories that referred to the coincidence of dates, you'd never have have known that over 6,000 employees had be- come a part of the brand new EPA. The Washington Post buried the story on an inside page, although the day after the confirmation hearing the paper had an eight-column headline over a story about a Maryland community that was suffering health prob- lems due to its proximity to a chemical plant. The New York Times front-paged the confirmation hearings and creation of the new agency, but that was largely because dent population of large arT" imals. However, deer, bear, and moose do wander through on occasion. During the fall of 1985, volunteer ERL-D employees dug up and transplanted 110 trees com- posed mostly of Norway pines, sugar maples, and green ash. These trees were planted along a previously barren border area. A variety of shrubs beneficial to wild- life will be planted next spring to complete this area. Most of the trees planted were obtained free from the City of Duluth's Park and Recreation Department. ERL- D volunteers donated other trees and have contributed both time and money to this worthy endeavor. Future projects include building purple martin houses and bluebird nesting boxes; adding more "islands of vegetation"; and perhaps setting up a mini self-guid® nature trail. What can you do to im- prove your EPA "backyard" environment? ~ Ruckelshaus protested a move by Interior to relax oil spill regulations before he took office; he protested to the White House and Congress. He won. There was no media men- tion of what was happening to the EPA staffers who were changing agencies that day. Hundreds moved into the Normandy Building on K street, others stayed in old locations like the Parklawn Building with new signs on their nffirps In coastal Mis- sissippi, for one group of workers the changeover meant leaving a beat-up USDA quonset hut laboratory where they had been doinj^® pesticide research for a bea^^ tiful NASA building in Bay St. Louis. One of the chem- ists had been with USDA for just one day when he moved again to EPA. ~ ------- |