s;:Em limes NEWS FOR Aj\ ID AHOU'i ERA f EMPLOYEES INSIDE: Operation Bootstrap Awards VOLUME 5 NUMBER 8 AUGUST 1DHX Sidestream Smoke James Repace of the indoor air staff, OAR, presented a seminar at the Education Center auditorium June 29, explaining that the typical nonsmoker in this country suffers an exposure of up to 14 milligrams of cigarette tar per day, an amount yielding five extra Hand-Holding Aerobics The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports met July 20 to announce the winners of the recent Federal Fitness Day competitions. EPA fielded 17 six-person running and walking teams for the hellishly arduous 3K Fun Run around the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, four more than last year, producing a rank of fourth in number of teams entered. Some 1260 people took part. The photo shows Captain Angela Fitzgerald, No. 2855, in a comical - lung cancer fatalities per 100,000 people per milligram, or an extra 5000 such cancers per year in the United States as a whole. That exposure is twice as high as what is permitted hazardous pollutants under the Clean Air Act. moment seconds after her team, the Determinators, sped off the blocs. Each team had to have three men and three women and all members had to start and finish together while holding hands. Among upcoming events—3K and 6K runs on the third Wednesday of each month, starting 12 noon in front of the Jefferson memorial, no registration required. Call Mike Shannon, 382-4697, or Howard Beard, 382-7796, for information. Parking on an Angle A recent review by the Office of Inspector General (OIGJ has revealed inequities in the use of the headquarters parking garage. The Facilities Management and Services Division (FMSD) has been depending on employees to tell the truth in submitting their applications for parking permits. However, OIG found—in a random audit at FMSD's request—that more than half the employees examined made false or misleading statements to obtain their permits, or failed to notify FMSD when they left their carpools. As a result, other employees who are truly eligible for permits cannot obtain them. When questioned, many employees admitted that they had not actually been members of their pools when permits were awarded. Others stated they had left their pools since, and still more could not even name their alleged pool members. Providing false information to the government is a violation of federal law and Agency regulations, and action could be taken against the offenders. FMSD is tightening its surveillance of the permit issuance process, and will review more thoroughly and verify all applications before awarding permits for next year. This should help ensure that only eligible employees park in the EPA garage. Health Check The services of the Washington Occupational Health Associates, Inc. (WOHAJ are now available for any employee who gets sick due to poor air quality. Many WOHA staff are board-certified occupational physicians with an expertise in indoor air. By calling 382-4347, you can schedule an appointment at the Health Unit with Dr. Robert Swotinsky between 2:00 and 4:30 p.m. Mondays and Fridays. At other times, you may see a physician in Northwest (continued on next page) ------- Awards Recently the Boston Federal Executive Board presented its coveted annual Excellence in Government Awards to 14 recipients at the Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Among them were three EPA Region 1 employees. Marcia Spink, chief of the Planning and Technical Evaluation Section, Air Management Division, was named distinguished federal supervisor of the year; Cynthia Greene, an environmental scientist also in the Technical Evaluation Section, was cited as outstanding technical-professional employee of the year; and Ruth Ricker, grants specialist and minority and women's business enterprise coordinator, Water Management Division, gained recognition for outstanding community service. Robert Goetzl, chief of the Human Resources and Support branch, received an honorable mention for distinguished federal manager of the year, and Patricia Sweeney Poole, secretary in the Office of the Regional Administrator, merited an honorable mention for secretary of the year. Michael Deland, Administrator of Region 1 and chairman of the Boston Board, heaped praise upon the awardees for their integrity, imagination and dedication to duty. The Boston Federal Executive Board, a coordinating group of 90 executives from some 40 departments and agencies employing over 34,000 in the Greater Boston area, established the awards to recognize public service and promote broader awareness of its importance to democracy. The winners are selected by an independent blue-ribbon panel comprising private- and public-sector managers. EPA Task Force members talking with Backus faculty and students. Left to right, Talidah Haamid, student; Tarita Scott, student; William Lee, science teacher; Carolyn Scott, task force chair, EPA; Natalie Jones-WallacQ assistant principal; Ferial Bishop, BIG; Gideon Ferehee, EPA civil rights office. Operation Bootstrap During EPA's observance of the third annual Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday, Lee Thomas pledged the Agency to continue to make the American dream accessible to younger citizens, stating: "EPA will develop long-range strategies to challenge students to pursue courses of study in math and science, targeting and motivating as many young people as resources permit to achieve the kind of excellence that can lead to environmental careers." Spearheaded by the Office of Human Resources Management, the Office of Civil Rights, and our own William D. Barber Chapter of Blacks-in-Government (BIG), EPA has begun formal negotiations, mediated by the D.C. Office of Volunteer Services, to "adopt" Bertie Backus Jr. High School in Northeast Washington. EPA staff members from the Office of Community and Inter-governmental Relations, the Office of Water, and the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE Local No. 2050) have also joined in to form a Partners-in-Education task force to develop the initial proposal. On June 2, Assistant Administrator Charles L. Grizzle (OARM) issued a call to Agency officials to designate a contact person for each AA-ship to serve as a liaison with the task force; the response has been very encouraging. The liaisons will contribute their time, talent and ideas, as will NFFE and other volunteers still to be recruited. The task force, chaired by Carolyn Scott (OHRM), has charted a program for headquarters employees to lecture, counsel and motivate more than 300 Bertie Backus students in the fields of science, math, and health during the 1988-89 academic year. Plans include field trips, in which EPA experts will lecture students before and after the outings to reinforce the learning process; regularly scheduled in-class presentations by EPA staff, especially scientists and mathematicians; an Environmental Day at the school next spring; and an intensive support program to help students develop science-fair projects. Other initiatives are in the works. To volunteer your assistance, just call Carolyn Scott, 475-8833, or David Grim, at 382-4588. TASK FORCE MEMBERS: Carolyn Scott (OHRM), Ferial Bishop and Mary Settle (BIG), Melba Meador and Douglas Cooper (OEA), Gideon Ferebee and David Grim (OCR), Bill Hirzy (NFFE), Sally Mansbach (OCEM) and Reah Seals (OW). Health Check (Continued from front page) Washington by calling Theresa Santoro, 463-6698. The Office of Human Resources has arranged to explain workers compensation benefits to employees who believe they may have sustained work-related illnesses. These benefits allow eligible employees to retain pay and be granted special leave while recovering. Contact Rosanne Tucker, 475-9686. The EPA Times is published monthly for EPA employees. Readers are encouraged to submit news of themselves or fellow employees, letters of opinion, questions, comments, and suggestions to the Editor. Thtj EPA Times, Office of Public Affairs (A-107)" Telephone: 475-6643. Items selected for publication may be edited to accommodate space available. Editor: Don Bronkema ------- Note# SDBU to the Fore ^PA's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), has been chosen to receive a Certificate of Special Recognition by the Public Employees Roundtable for work on behalf of small and disadvantaged businesses throughout the nation. In presenting the award to then Deputy Administrator Jim Barnes, Joan Keston, Executive Director of the Roundtable, stated "competition was extremely keen this year with several hundred entries from across the country, overseas military bases, and Puerto Rico. EPA can be proud that the committee selected OSDBU as an excellent example of public service and worthy of special commendation." The Public Employees Roundtable is a non-profit coalition of 26 professional and management associations, representing about 800,000 public employees and retirees with 35 federal, state, and local agency members. Barnes stated that he was "very pleased to accept this distinguished honor on behalf of the Agency" and commended OSDBU for its "award-winning labors." Human Resources Program Lee Thomas said recently in a memo to top managers that human resources are a continuing focus of his administration. "You and I know that EPA's success depends on its people and that our efforts to employ, I tain, and develop the talented people we need are as mortant as any of the initiatives we have pursued "ether." Thomas commended staff for their foundational efforts thus far, saying that we must now direct our efforts toward actual construction of the main framework. "We are now ready as an agency to formalize our commitment to excellence in human resources management." A small workgroup has already sketched out some proposed core program elements. In broad terms, they are: *Each location should ensure that its basic personnel services are in place and meet the needs of local management and employees, including promoting personnel-specialist interaction with management to head off issues before they become problems. Opportunities to participate in career planning and development activities, rotational assignments, EPA Institute-sponsored courses and wellness programs are vital. It goes without saying that equal employment opportunity and affirmative action objectives and initiatives play important roles in all programs and systems. *The Manager's Role. All leadership cadres must be effective human resource managers. The Framework for Achieving Managerial Excellence (FAME) initiative has produced selection criteria, core developmental programs, and recognition systems for our supervisory/managerial corps. These systems and programs must be available and used throughout the entire Agency, providing our Inagers with the skills they need to manage people jptively and give Agency leadership a mechanism for rarding them when they do. *The Employee's Role. Employees should recognize their responsibility to provide thoughtful input on decisions affecting their work and workplace. Such advice on the direction of the human resource program has' been a unique feature of EPA's efforts. Human Resource Councils and other advisory bodies at the national and local levels are priceless vehicles for employee feedback. Written communication tools can enhance morale and promote even greater employee participation for those not in advisory groups. Pollution Prevention EPA has made significant progress over the last 18 years through media-specific pollution control programs. However, there are limits to how much we can reduce pollution using "end-of-pipe" controls. Our whole society, including government, industry, and private individuals, must think more about opportunities to reduce or eliminate contaminants before they reach the pipe in the first place. In hearings before Congress, Lee Thomas has committed the Agency to an aggressive leadership role in incorporating source-reduction strategies, where appropriate, into all EPA programs. Recently, a number of EPA headquarters, lab, and regional SES managers joined the Deputy Administrator in a retreat to discuss how the Agency should fulfill this commitment. Concomitantly, Thomas directed all EPA offices to cooperate in implementing the new program. They have established an Office of Pollution Prevention that will report directly to the Assistant Administrator for Policy, Planning, and Evaluation. The office's primary goal will be to foster an ethic of source reduction both inside and outside the Agency, focusing on changes in design, process, or materials that cut the tonnage of pollutants and wastes generated. It will play a key role in encouraging the recycling or reuse of pollutants or waste that cannot be eliminated up front. The Pollution Prevention Office will be service-oriented, stimulating public awareness through outreach activities; assisting other EPA offices in their own pollution prevention programs; coordinating contacts with states; establishing a strategy for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data; identifying research needs; and developing general policies and strategies. It should complement rather than displace the activities of other EPA offices. Indeed, each program should aggressively pursue its own pollution prevention program as before. In addition, a Pollution Prevention Advisorv Committee, comprising office directors and senior regional managers, will help direct the activities of the Pollution Prevention Office and assure the participation of the entire Agency in this vital mission. Superfund Contracts EPA has announced the award of twelve contracts in Regions 3 and 5 totaling a potential $1.64 billion. These contracts will support clean-up activities at hazardous waste sites under the Superfund Program. Work will consist of site investigations and characterizations, feasibility studies of alternative cleanup technologies, design specifications, and construction cleanup. The twelve represent completion of the first of three cycles implementing a new, aggressive cleanup strategy nationwide. (Continued on back page) ------- This Alternative Remedial Contracts Strategy (ARCS) program is an innovative approach to hazardous waste site-cleanups because one firm will be responsible for accomplishing all phases of a single site cleanup. That means tighter competition for contract awards, continuity of performance through each phase of site cleanup, high focus on quality performance, and decentralization of management to regional offices. Contractors with superior performance records will receive the most valuable work assignments. Contractors failing to perform satisfactorily will receive no further assignments. In addition, profit is derived primarily from award fees earned through periodic EPA evaluations of contractor performance. Affirmative action will be taken to boost the number of subcontract awards to small and minority business. Indian Communications The Indian amendments of the reauthorized SDWA, CWA, and SARA have intensified the need for EPA to communicate directly with Indian tribes, native Alaskan villages, and national and regional Indian organizations. This will be vital as EPA develops regulations and guidance under these acts, and as it seeks Indian amendments to the remainder of its authorizing legislation. Recent meetings with tribal governments sponsored by various EPA national and regional offices have clearly indicated that Indians expect EPA to maintain regular face-to-face consultations as it implements environmental laws on their lands. A number of Indian groups want the Agency to set up either an Office of Indian Affairs or pn Indian Desk as a primary point of communication with the Indian community. EPA, on the other hand, wishes to deal with Indians through its regional offices and media programs in the same way that it relates to state governments. The Office of Federal Activities has sought to reconcile these views by proposing that a number of communications channels be opened and points of contact established on headquarters and regional levels to ensure timely feedback of Indian opinion. It proposes a two-tiered system of Indian coordinators and liaisons to facilitate interactive information flow between EPA and tribal jurisdictions. The liaisons would consult with Agency communications strategists, respond to tribal requests for assistance, and- serve as members of the Agency's Indian Work Group. The plan calls for occasional Indian-program review conferences to seek tribal input on implementation of EPA Indian policy overall. The EPA Journal would continue to be distributed gratis, and SEE, EPA Institute, and Circuit Rider programs would be pushed to spread techno-managerial skills. If history is any guide, both EPA and Indian governments are likely to continue to ask Congress for increased authority and resources for the development of environmental programs on Indian lands, and it is likely that Congress will continue to grant these requests. This communications plan suggests a relatively minor reallocation of carefully budgeted resources to ensure that communications help maximize cooperation as we pursue our mutual goal of restoring and maintaining the Indians' environmental patrimony. Mine Waste Lee Thomas has responded as follows to inquiries about EPA's nonfuel mining-waste programs. The Agency recognizes the unique and variable characteristics of mining operations from state to state, and shares the National Governors' Association view that a flexible, state-based regulatory approach for mining waste under Subtitle D of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) is most desirable. EPA has already developed a "strawman" rule as a rough working draft to generate interest and focus comment. Though the accelerated development of that rule precluded early participation of the states, they will enjoy many opportunities to shape the rule we eventually propose. EPA is currently developing criteria for the management of mining waste under Subtitle D and will augment these criteria by developing regulations designed specifically for mining waste and to be administered by the states. The program will be confined initially to wastes addressed in the December 31, 1985 report to Congress, which included wastes from the mining and beneficiation of copper. The multi-media program will address the potential impact of these wastes in air, land, and both surface and ground water, ranging from large volumes of acid-generating waste rock to cyanide-leaching solutions to conventional metal-bearing or acid solutions. An outline of the mining-waste criteria was presented in June in Denver to a selected group of interested parties, including states where mining is a significant part of the economy. State participation will be coordinated by the Western Governors' Association. Development of expanded, detailed criteria will proceed concurrently. Tech Transfer Mary Hoffman of the headquarters library has published "Technology Transfer: An Overview," the ninth in the library's bibliographic series. Others cover indoor air pollution; estuarine management; asbestos in schools; risk; and waste minimization. Copies are at hand. The articles in the bibliography are taken directly, without editing, from the database that cited them. The technology transferred ranges from techniques, computer applications, and management tools to products and expertise. Transfers are accomplished through joint development projects, continuing professional education, consulting arrangements, clearinghouses, information centers, and libraries. The bibliography focuses on the use of unclassified technical material generated by government funds to help solve problems in both public and private sectors, and exemplifies the need for new transfer mechanisms, receptiveness to federal technology, support of top management, availability of funds and personnel, and cooperation with federal laboratories. The transfer of technical information is dependent on successful communications, so may include technical assistance, expert-to-expert exchange and training, specif library services, telephone hotlines, newsletters, and customized research services. ------- |