™;Em
Times
NEWS FOR AND ABOUT EPA EMPLOYEES
INSIDE:
~	New Hazardous Waste Collection
~	Travel Allowances Change
VOLUME 3 NUMBER 9 JUNE 1986
Education Center to Open July 15
By Michael Hamlin
OARM
In one classroom, new
managers learn supervisory
skills. In another room, secre-
taries teach office manage-
ment, while in a third room
new employees receive an
orientation to the Agency. In
the auditorium, a dis-
tinguished scholar presents
results of important new re-
search to 150 Agency scien-
tists
Such is the proposed sce-
nario for a typical day in the
new EPA Education Center.
With balloons and band
music, EPA will launch the
center luly 15 on Waterside
Mall's North Plaza. Adminis-
trator Lee Thomas and Dep-
uty Administrator James
Barnes will be on hand to
kick off the ceremonies.
Information booths and
displays will be set up in all
three of the Center's training
rooms. They will showcase
developmental programs
available to EPA staff, includ
ing:
•	Headquarters Training
Program, with course offer-
ings aimed at support, pro-
fessional, and supervisory/
managerial staff. As part of
this exhibit, employees will
be able to obtain a per-
sonalized course search from
the newly acquired "Edvent"
computer system.
•	Framework for Achieving
Managerial Excellence
(FAME), with initiatives for
recruiting, selecting, develop-
ing, and rewarding Agency
supervisors and managers.
•	EPA Institute, offering
courses developed and taught
by EPA employees for their
colleagues.
•	Career Management,
planned activities to help
employees direct their own
development.
In addition to the informa-
tion booths and displays,
training sessions for specific
employee groups will debut
in the center's new 150-seat
auditorium. The schedule for
these sessions appears on the
back cover.
While the EPA Education
Center is new, the Agency's
commitment to the develop-
ment of its workforce is
well established. With
the return of William Ruckels-
haus and continuing under
Lee M. Thomas, EPA began
efforts to build a structure
within which an employee
could develop professionally,
viewing his or her position as
a step in a career, not just as
a job.
The following year, 1984,
the National Academy of
Public Administration com-
pleted a study of manage-
ment at EPA. The academy
found EPA employees to be
dedicated, intelligent people
concerned that the Agency be
managed in such a way as to
give them a professional fu-
ture. Based on the academy's
many recommendations, EPA
embarked on a two-part strat-
egy to improve and expand
developmental opportunities
for employees and to bring
employee development con-
siderations to recruitment
and workforce planning.
Renovation of the old twin
theaters into a facility to
house employee development
and press events has been a
long-term project for the
Agency. Consultation with
the General Services Ad-
ministration on plans began
several years ago, with the
Training and Employee De-
velopment staff and repre-
sentatives of the Facilities
and Support Services Divi-
sion working closely on the
design. In addition to the
150-seat auditorium, the
Education Center complex
consists of three training
rooms that can accommo-
date about 20 trainees each.
The Office of Public Affairs
will also use the auditorium
as a site for press events.
Staff may reserve the au-
ditorium or seminar rooms
for employee development
activities by calling 382-2997.
Since January, almost 150
staffers in six field locations
and in headquarters have
completed the Framework for
Supervision course now re-
quired of all new supervisors.
(Continued on Back. J
Administrator Lee M. Thomas and Howard Messner,
Assistant Administrator for Administration and Resources
Management, examine architect's plans for new EPA
Education Center.

-------
People
Around EPA
Died: Bernard Haberman, 41, Research and Development,
March 24. Special Act Awards presented to: Christine Bell,
Diane Sheridan, Delores Valentine, Stephanie Love, and
Rosyletta Simms, Administration and Resources Management
. . . Christopher Prins and Clifton Bailey, Policy, Planning
and Evaluation . . . Bala Krishnan, Tsye-Lang Tang, and
Marlene Smoot, Research and Development . . . Thomas
Super, Air and Radiation . . . Peter Wyckoff. Office of the
General Counsel.
Sustained Superior Performance Awards presented to: Ruby
West, Shirley Pate, and Arnold Edelman, Pesticides and
Toxic Substances . . . Stephen Harper and Vivian Thomson,
Air and Radiation . . . Mary Rhones, Shushona Clark, [ulie
Parrott, Jeralene Green, and Sharon McBride, Office of the
Administrator . . . Bart Ostro, Policy, Planning and
Evaluation.
Region 1 Administrator Michael Deland presented Bronze
Medal Awards to: Charles Conway, Dennis Gegne, Nancy
Piligian, Peter Hagerty, Dennis Lawton, Marvin Rosenstein,
Thomas Wholley, Andrew Lauterback. Bridget McGuiness,
Douglas Thompson, Ann Williams-Dawe. and Marilyn
Francer. Congratulations also go to the Secretary and Clerk of
the Year in Region 1, Eileen Hahnen and Marilyn Janunas.
Howard Howell, Office of Information Resources
Management, was awarded a certificate of appreciation from
the Office of Personnel Management. Howell made
significant contributions in designing and instructing OPM's
interagency course, Information Resources Management. ~
Howard Howell
''4,
3 wen
On June 9-13, EEO Coordinators from ORD Laboratories at
Ada, Athens, Duluth, Gulf Breeze, Corvallis, Las Vegas, and
Narragansett, as well as from the National Enforcement
Investigation Center, Denver, met in Corvallis, OR, at th
Environmental Research Laboratory for their annual mes
They discussed strategies to improve their programs as
as receiving updates on all civil rights issues.
As part of its review of the Agency's emergency evacuation
plans, EPA's Facilities and Support Services Division (FSSD)
has recently established a task force to study the Agency's
procedures for evacuating disabled employees. The task
force, which includes representatives of two employee
unions, the Personnel Management Division, the
Occupational Health and Safety Staff, the Office of Human
Resources Management, and the Office of Civil Rights,
expects to complete its recommendations by June 30.
William Finister, Director of FSSD, invites employees to
call Kym Davis (382-2012) with questions and suggestions.
EPA's Office of the Comptroller has announced that plans
are currently under way to move its Financial Management
System (FMS) from the Health and Human Services' Parklawn
Computer Center in Rockville, Maryland, to the National
Computer Center (NCC) at Research Triangle Park. A
Task Force has been established to move FMS to NCC, with
Willis Greenstreet. Director, Office of Administration and
Resources Management, RTP, as the Chairman. The Task
Force plans to have FMS fully operational at NCC during
August 1986. For more information, contact Dave Lindsey,
FTS 382-5152.
The new edition of the Federal Register Drafting Handbook
has arrived. Offices which ordered copies in advance should
already have received their orders. Any office that has nj
received its order should contact Printing Management
Distribution (382-2125). Since these handbooks are very^
important for writing Federal Register documents, all offices
should have a supply. The Handbook is available for
purchase in the Waterside Mall Supply Store. LI
Available Information	
Employee Turnover in the Federal Government. By Mark
R. Musell. HF5549.5r8. 1986.
Dow vs. California: A Turning Point in the Envirobusiness
Struggle. By Christopher Duerksen. HD3616. U48 C334. 1982.
Ecological Knowledge and Environmental
Problem-Solving: Concepts and Case Studies. National
Academy Press. GJ541.E19. 1986.
Environmental Regulation and Economic Efficiency.
Congressional Budget Office. HC110.E. E49885. 1985.
Energy in Transition: A View from 1960. By Hans
Landsberg. TJ163. 3.L26. 1985.
Environmental Planning and Decision Making. By
Leonard Ortolano. HC79.E5.078. 1984.
Research in Progress: FY 1986, Summaries of Projects
Sponsored by the Office of Health and Environmental
Research. Office of Health and Environmental Research,
Department of Energy. RA565. Al. U5. 1986.
The Office of Research and Development announces the
availability of project summaries which present the results of
recently completed research, development, and engineering
work. If you wish to order them, write to ORD Publications,
P.O. Box 12505, Cincinnati, OH 45212.
Region 2 celebrated EPA's 15th Anniversary on Earth Day
April 24 by honoring outstanding individuals inside and
outside the Agency. During a lighter moment in the I
ceremony, Regional Administrator Christopher Daggett.
standing at left, was surprised with a "Toxic Avenger" film
poster held here by New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean.
Region 2's first Administrator Gerald Hansler looks on.

-------
Hazardous Collection
Per Diem Rates Go Up!
The Grants Administration
Division (GAD) has es-
tablished August 15, 1986, as
the cutoff date for the re-
ceipt of 1986 Fiscal Year
funding recommendations
from program offices for fel-
lowships, grants, and coopera-
tive agreements awarded
from Headquarters.
GAD recommends that op-
fcuting programs submit
Bding recommendations
Pr in advance of August 15
so that all awards can be
processed efficiently.
GAD will process all fund-
ing recommendations proper-
ly completed and take appro
priate award actions prior to
the end of the 1986 fiscal
year on all recommenda-
tions submitted by the cutoff
date.
Funding recommendations
received after the August 15
deadline will be processed in
order of receipt, but only af-
ter award actions have been
made for those submitted
prior to the deadline.
If you have any questions,
please call Lorraine Mercier
at 382-5266. ~
Beginning July 1, 1986,
the General Services Ad-
ministration (GSA) put into
effect a new method of
reimbursing government
travelers called "lodgings-
plus per diem." The new
method will help travelers
avoid out-of-pocket expenses
for hotel costs and relieve
travelers of providing some
of the detailed information
previously required on travel
vouchers.
The key feature of the new
system is that travelers now
receive travel reimbursement
for their actual hotel cost,
subject to a maximum geogra-
phic rate, plus a set amount,
also by geographic area, for
meals and incidental ex-
penses.
This is in contrast to the
outgoing system which set
one maximum per diem
amount for high-cost
geographic areas and required
travelers to submit itemized
information on meal expenses
for reimbursement.
So that all EPA travelers
were ready to use the new
procedures beginning July 1,
the Fiscal Policies and Pro-
cedures Branch released in
June a brochure, "Reimburs-
ing You for Your Travel Ex-
penses." The brochure an-
swers questions on the new
system, provides examples
for completing revised travel
forms, and gives all the GSA-
prescribed maximum locality
rates.
Additionally, the Financial
Management Division pre-
sented extensive briefings
to Senior Budget Officers,
Financial Management
Officers, and Administra-
tive Officers on assisting
EPA employees to con-
form with the new travel
regulations.
Copies of the brochure are
available from your Adminis-
trative Officers. If you have
any questions about the new
procedures, please contact
your Administrative Officer
or Servicing Finance Office. ~
The Headquarters library introduced a special new
Hazardous Waste Collection at a reception on May 21. Among
75 attendees at the reception were Howard Messner.
®stant Administrator for Administration and Resources
^nagement, and his Deputy AA, Seymour Greenstone. Also
attending were Ed Hanley, Director of Information Resources
Management. J. Winston Porter. Assistant Administrator for
Solid Waste and Emergency Response, and his Deputy AA,
Jack MacGraw. Also, Henry Longest, Director of Superfund,
and Willis Greenstreet, Director of Administration and
Resources Management, RTP.
The new hazardous waste collection is designed to better
meet the information needs of EPA staff by making key
documents and services more readily available through the
EPA library network.
The major goals of the collection are: to develop a unified
collection of major hazardous waste reports, books, journals
and data bases; provide current information to program staff to
make timely and effective technical and policy decisions; and
increase the EPA program staff's access to the entire EPA
Hazardous Waste Collection.
(left to right) Loretta Marzetti, Howard Messner, and Seymour
Greenstone at the reception where the Hazardous Waste
Collection was introduced.
Cutoff Dates for Grants
Employees at EPA's Athens, GA, laboratory celebrate the
Jab's 20th anniversary. Dr. Rosemarie C. Russo, Laboratory
Director, is shown at left serving anniversary cake.
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 382-4355. Information
selected for publication will be edited as necessary in keeping with
space available.

-------
EPA Education Center (Cover SloryJ
The EPA Institute, whose fac-
ulty and students are all EPA
employees, presented its first
programs in May. The in-
stitute will have sponsored
over 20 courses by the end of
the fiscal year. Hundreds
more courses are available at
EPA training centers in re-
gional and headquarters
offices.
Future employee develop-
ment plans include a rota-
tional assignment program, to
be announced this month.
This program will promote
the use of developmental job
details as a vehicle for
broadening employees'
knowledge and skills.
The new EPA Education
Center will serve as a home
for these and other training
and development activities.
But it will serve another, per-
haps even more important,
function as well. It will be a
continuing demonstration of
how seriously the Agency
takes its responsibilities to
assist us all in our career de-
velopment. ~
Conferences, Etc.
EPA's Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory in
Research Triangle Park, NC, and the Electric Power Research
Institute are cosponsoring the Tenth Symposium on Flue Gas
Qesulfurization. The Symposium will be held in Atlanta at
the Waverly Hotel, November 18-21. The program is intended
to provide a forum to discuss recent technological
developments in flue gas desulfurization. For more
information, contact Jack Greene, MD-60, EPA, AEERL,
Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711. Telephone: FTS 629-2903.
A symposium titled Solid Waste Testing and Quality
Assurance co-sponsored by EPA and the American Public
Works Association will be held July 15-18 at the Vista
International Hotel in Washington, DC. For more information,
contact Agnes Ortiz at 382-4770. ~

Opening Activities

July 15
11:00-11:30 AM
Opening ceremonies
Administrator Lee Thomas
Deputy Administrator James Barnes
All employees invited
1:00-4:00 PM
Open House and Showcases
All employees invited
July 16
9:30 AM-4:00 PM
Open House and Showcases
All employees invited
July 17
AM (time to be
announced)
SES Forum
All members of SES invited
PM (time to be
announced)
Writing Workshop for Professionals
Presented by Dr. Thomas Murawski
Tickets will be distributed to Assistant
Administrators and AA's will decide on
distribution of tickets
July 18
AM & PM (two
presentations,
times to be
announced)
Support Careers (secretarial and clerical,
20 percent of workforce) Advisory
Committee and Developmental
Opportunities for Secretarial/Clerical
Staff
All support and secretarial/clerical stafjg
invited
July 21
9:00 AM-12:00
PM
Speech: "Why the Environment is
Important: A Cancer Viewpoint"
Presented by John Higginson, M.D.
All scientific/technical staff invited
2:00-4:00 PM
Discussion: Topic to be announced
Presented by Donald Ehreth, Acting
Assistant Administrator for Research
and Development
All scientific/technical staff invited
July 22
AM (time to be
announced)
Writing Workshop for Professionals

-------