StEIft
Tunes
NEWS EOli
AND ABOUT
EPA EMPLOYEES
INSIDE:


Radon Action


One of Us


VOLUME 5
NUMBER <)
SEPTEMBER 1<)XX
Flexpay
Laugh MDRs
The Senate has approved legislation
to allow federal agencies to test
alternative pay scales for 10 percent of
the federal work force and to pay
bonuses of up to $10,000 to recruit or
retain employees in fields such as
engineering and nursing. The measure
would allow agencies to test systems
for 10 groups of up to 25,000 federal
workers each. Half of the
demonstrations would be run by the
Defense Department and NASA, with
the rest in various agencies that apply.
Each demonstration would have to
cost no more than if the agency had
continued to pay its workers under
the general schedule and awarded no
bonuses.
The act would protect employees
from pay cuts, but not RIFs. It
would allow bonuses of not less than
$1,000 or more than $10,000 to
workers in occupations and locations
where government experiences
"significant difficulty" in recruiting or
retaining well-qualified employees.
Currently 150,000 jobs out of 2.1
million are designated hard-to-fill.
Indoor Update
The Environmental Monitoring
Systems Laboratory (EMSL) of the
Office of Research and Development
has reported to Office of
Administration on air samples taken
in May from two newly refurbished
offices (#3241 Mall and #935 East
Tower); two nearby but unrefurbished
offices (#3304 Mall and #1015 East
Tower), and one outdoor (Mall roof)
location. EMSL's findings are similar
to those of previous tests.
•	The concentration of
4-phenyl-cyclohexene (4-PC) was
highest in areas most recently
carpeted, but is now less than 2 parts
per billion in all areas measured, a
level that may be safe and acceptable
for all but the most sensitive
employees.
•	Levels of organic compounds,
including formaldehyde, are in the
range typical of office buildings.
ANOTHER ONE / THIS HEART£0MPITI0N
IS CONTAGIOUS/
The medical experts tell us we eat
lousy and don't get enough exercise or
fresh air, and we're not diligent
enough about stress tests, shots,
proctos and other aggravations.
Fortunately, according to health
expert Donald Demaray, laughter can
alter moods and promote healing. In
fact, one authority has determined a
minimum daily requirement for
humor. He insists that if you chuckle
less than 15 minutes a day and fail to
get in at least three good belly-laughs,
you're "under-humored." So if you're
behind schedule, get started. Try
giving the experts a horselaugh for
starters.
•	Levels of carbon dioxide are also
typical for offices, ranging from about
400 to 750 parts per million (1000
parts or less is acceptable).
•	Humidity levels in the four indoor
locations stand at a comfortable 35-65
percent.
Copies of the EMSL report are
available from the Occupational
Health and Safety Staff (382-3640).
Worker Appraisals
In a recent check of evaluation
records of more than one million civil
servants, some 49 percent rated above
the norm and only one percent below!
The Merit Systems Protection Board
reports widespread "rating inflation"
in performance appraisals made
annually to evaluate the work of
federal employees. This phenomenon
is not unique to the federal
government, but is more pervasive
here than elsewhere.
The Board suggests the appraisals
may have been successful in one
sense: more than one-quarter of
"unacceptable" workers left the
government, compared with only six
percent of workers rated outstanding.
The report found that the higher the
grade on the general schedule, the
higher the performance rating. Women
did better than men, on average, and
workers in the Washington metro area
were more highly rated than their
counterparts across the country.
Rating inflation, the report suggests,
may come from structural flaws in
goverment's personnel system—for
example, the rigidity of federal
compensation, which makes it
difficult to retain people in some job
markets. In other words, managers
may overrate average GM employees
to give them more money so they
won't quit. Although 79 percent of
feds support the concept of merit pay,
most don't think the system is
working fairly. Nearly 60 percent of
staffers covered by the general
schedule said they didn't think they
would get more money if they did
better work, and nearly 40 percent of
GM 13-15 managers agreed.
Top STAA Awards
The Eighth Annual Scientific and
Technological Achievement Awards
were recently presented by the Office
of Research and Development. The
highest award (Level I, $5,000) went
to co-authors Judy Mumford and
Robert Chapman of the Health Effects
Research Laboratory, Bruce Harris of
Continued on next page

-------
the Air and Engineering Research
Laboratory, and William Wilson of the
Atmospheric Sciences Research
Laboratory, Research Triangle Park,
for work on lung cancer and indoor
air pollution in China.
In the category of Transport and
Fate, Dr. James McElroy,
Environmental Monitoring Systems
Laboratory, Las Vegas, was accorded a
Level 2 Award ($2,500) for two papers
on lindar detection of air pollutants in
southern California. Winners at Level
III ($1,000) were Joel Schwartz, OPPE;
Patricia Beyer, Neil Chernoff, Donald
Horstman, Howard Kehrl, James
O'Callaghan, Robert Kavlock, Ellen
Rogers and Blair Rehnberg,
HERL/RTP; Brian Gullett, Bruce
Tichenor and Robert Borgwardt,
AEEL/RTP; Silvestre Tejada, Roy
Zweidinger and John Sigsby, Jr.,
ASRL/RTP; James McElroy and Joseph
Behar, EMSL/LV; Michael Henson and
John Wilson, RSKERL/Ada; James
McKim, Patricia Schmieder and
Russell Erickson, ERL/Duluth; Arlene
Porteous, Raymond Seidler, Joel
McCrady, David Larsen and James
Omernik, ERL/Corvallis; Richard
Swartz, George Ditsworth, Donald
Schults and Janet Lamberson,
ERL/Narragansett; and James Clark,
Patrick Borthwick, Larry Goodman,
James Patrick, Jr., Emile Lores, James
Moore, John Couch and Lee Courtney,
ERL/Gulf Breeze.
A total of 131 peer-reviewed
publications were evaluated by a
subcommittee of the Science Advisory
Board, which recommended 21 papers
for awards. All EPA scientists and
engineers are eligible for the annual
competition.
Conservation Service Award
Jay Hair, president of the National
Wildlife Federation, presented former
EPA staffer Peter Wise with the
NWF's 1988 Conservation
Achievement Award in recognition of
his outstanding work as Director of
EPA's Great Lakes national program
office from August 1984 to May 1987.
Wise coordinated EPA's activities
protecting the world's number one
freshwater resource. He was the
federal government's watchdog for the
health of the Great Lakes, a visible
and articulate advocate for Great
Lakes water quality who often spoke
to environmental groups around the
hasin and helped build public
support. He worked skillfully with
Canada, the Congress, EPA
Headquarters, the State Department,
environmental groups and the lake
states to develop and implement a
number of vital initiatives, including a
successful push to place a specific
Great Lakes section in the Water
Quality Act of 1987. Section 104 of
those amendments gives EPA's Great
Lakes office statutory status, and that
will help future directors deflect the
annual budget meat-ax. The new
Clean Water Act also gives the office a
specific mission in planning and
implementing the U.S. role under the
Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement,
focusing attention for the first time on
the need to clean up contaminated
sediments in basin river mouths and
harbors, and providing for five
sediment clean-up demonstration
projects.
Radon Action
The Region 4 chapter of Women in
Science and Engineering (WISE)
sponsored a residential
radon-detection program for EPA
employees as the organization's
contribution to Human Resources
Month in May, implemented with the
assistance of the regional Office of
Radiation. WISE selected an
EPA-approved laboratory to provide
the radon-detection canisters, conduct
the analyses and organize the
resulting data, all for a mere $11
dollars. Region 4 WISE took canister
orders and distributed and collected
them for analysis.
An opening "brown bag" lunch was
sponsored by WISE to present the
facts about the radon threat, discuss
testing methods and explore remedial
measures for sick buildings.
Attendance was excellent and two
hundred-plus canisters were
purchased by EPA staff and their
friends and neighbors. Approximately
20 percent of the residences registered
levels in excess of the recommended
4.0 picocuries per liter. The levels
ranged from 0.0-19.0. Employees
whose homes tested high were given
the opportunity to consult
confidentially with regional radon
experts.
Patriotism is the last refuge of
a scoundrel. Burke
One of Us
She came to the United States eleveii
years ago from Mexico knowing threa
words of English, but four years later
graduated from high school with the
highest honors. We're talking about
Gina Weber, program analyst with the
Planning and Management Division,
Region 5. Now armed with a B.S. in
political science and an M.A. in
public administration, both from
Northern Illinois University, Weber
recalls that in Mexican secondary
schools one takes about 15 subjects at
a time, "so in high school here 1 was
far ahead of the average student in
math, physics and social sciences, yet
the language slowed me down."
But not for long. She loaded up on
English classes, and in no time caught
up with native students and even
surpassed them. She was also
surprised to find that U.S. college
students still take arithmetic and
elementary English. "In Mexico, when
you graduate from high school, you go
directly to your major—and
professional subject matter." She did
notice that U.S. students surpassed
foreigners in science and technology
at that time.
Recalling her student days at
Northern Illinois, Weber said "I was a
dishwasher, a mail clerk, a tutor in
Spanish and political science, and
coordinator of the foreign-language
students' residence hall. The latter
kept me on tap 24 hours a day, but it
did pay tuition and fees." Her first job
out of college was that of planning
assistant in the DuPage County
Department of Human Resources.
Some two years later she left to join
EPA; that was just over a year ago.
Meanwhile, she's pursued ceramics,
oil painting and pen-and-ink
drawings, exhibiting one of her works
at the prestigious La Rasa Arts
Consortium in Chicago. But most of
her spare time is spent doing
volunteer work with the fast-growing
Hispanic community.
Weber is a board member of United
Latin Americans of West Chicago, an
associate member of the Society of
Hispanic Professional Engineers, and
a mentor with DePaul University's
STEP program aimed at helping
secondary students stay in school.
"I'm sort of a role model to these
students." She does take time out tor
annual visits to family and friends in
Mexico. "I miss that closeness here."

-------

^EP Selectees
Hee Thomas has informed the governors of five states that
Delaware inland bays, New York-New Jersey Harbor and
Sarasota, Galveston and Santa Monica Bays have been
selected for the National Estuary Program, and that a
management conference has been convened under section
320 of the Water Quality Act of 1987. The goal of the
Program is to balance conflicting uses of estuaries while
restoring or maintaining their natural character. The
Program defines environmental challenges, investigates
causes of system-wide problems, and implements action to
save vital biosystems. The Administrator said he
appreciated the commitment of the various states and
looks forward to working with them to make a success of
this grass-roots initiative.
Private-Sector Cooperation
EPA will hold a National Leadership Conference for
Public-Private Partnerships on October 26 in Washington,
DC, to promote private-sector inputs in environmental
renovation. The conference will bring federal, state, and
local governments together with business people to plan
an agendum for the next decade. Some 100-150 are
expected to attend, including representatives of trade
associations, professional organizations, environmental
groups, universities, and members of Congress.
.^Administrator Lee Thomas will keynote and OARM chief
^^arles Grizzle will chair the event.
Attention Managers
Just when you think EPA has exhausted the potential for
streamlining operations and slashing overhead, along
comes a breakthrough that promises new gains. Prompted
by a 1985 study showing that 75,000 federal employees
provide administrative services in over 1400 locations, the
President's Council on Management Improvement (PCM1)
has initiated a program to render consolidated
administrative services to member organizations located in
multi-tenant buildings or complexes. This old idea is
being applied with a new twist that has kindled fresh
entrepreneurial thinking among federal managers and has
spawned a growing network of self-directed cooperatives
throughout the federal community.
Federal tenant agencies are now sharing in the
development and management of Cooperative
Adminstrative Support Units (CASUs) to provide basic
services. The bottom line for a CASU is improving the
quality of service and reducing the cost of delivery. A
national board of directors, organized by PCM1 and
comprising senior government officials, provides policy
guidance and operational support. A small interagency
staff, housed largely at GSA in Washington, provides local
managers and agencies with day-to-day advice and
technical assistance. At the local level, the CASU structure
jarludes assistance from a federal executive association,
^Aicy direction by a local tenant board of directors, and a
agency to provide management support.
Owing to its emphasis on voluntary cooperative
participation, the program has won unprecedented
attention from federal agencies and ddniiiiistiaLive
personnel at the national level and at individual CASU
sites. Participating agencies include Army Corps of
Engineers, IRS, HHS, DOI, OPM, USDA, VA, GSA, DOL,
SBA, DOE, HUD, EEOC, MSPB and parts of EPA.
Estimated cost savings by GSA and Navy for consolidated
management of photocopying services alone by the CASU
network range from $75 million to $100 million a year.
Across the board, CASUs are proving that the same work
can be performed with fewer people and less space,
equipment, and money. For information contact CASU c/o
GSA (CN), 18th & F Streets, NW, Washington, DC 20405;
(202) 523-5284.
Lab Reorganization
ORD recently announced a major reorganization of its
activities at the Andrew W. Breidenbach Environmental
Research Center in Cincinnati. The Hazardous Waste
Engineering Research Laboratory (HWERL) and the Water
Engineering Research Laboratory (WERL) have been
merged into a joint Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
(RRELJ. An Office of the Senior Official for Research and
Development (OSORDJ has also been set up encompassing
the activities of the present Support Services/Public Affairs
Office. Consolidating the two engineering laboratories
means a significant savings in overhead and a more
intensive focus on science. It also embraces the creation of
a new branch for waste minimization and pollution
prevention research. Dr. Thomas R. Hauser, former
director of HWERL, has been named to head the new lab.
OSORD will enable the Agency to boost its outreach
program in the Cincinnati area and augment activities
under the Federal Technology Transfer Act and
right-to-know provisions of the Superfund Amendments
Reauthorization Act (SARA). Francis T. Mayo, former
director of WERL, has been named Senior Official for
Research and Development.
Organizational Development
The Policy Research and Development Division and
Procurement and Contracts Management Division of the
Office of Human Resources Management have set up an
organizational effectiveness and development consulting
service to provide a blend of internal and external
expertise to better meet Agency needs in communications,
conference management, team-building, career
development and strategic planning.
Anyone who wishes to use this service should contact
Ken Wright or Carolyn Scott of OHRM's Organization
Assessment and Innovation Branch. They will consult
with interested parties to help analyze the nature of the
issue, provide guidance, and work with them to determine
the need for contractor services. If such services are
warranted, the requesting office will hire the best-qualified
contractor. Since vendors have already been competitively
selected, there will be no further need for procurement
justification. Wright or Scott can be reached on
8-382-3311.
The EPA Times is published monthly for EPA employees Readers are
encouraged to cubmit news of themselves or fellow employees, letters of
opinion, questions, comments, and suggestions to the Editor, The EPA
Times, Office of Public Affairs (A-107). Telephone: 475-6643 Items
coloctod for publication may be edited to accommodate space available
Editor. Don Bronkema

-------
Note*
Radon Meeting
The 1988 symposium on radon and radon-reduction
technology has announced a revised starting date and will
run from October 17-21, 1988 at the Sheraton Denver Tech
Center, 4900-DTC Parkway, Denver, CO 80237. RSVP (800)
552-7030; inquiries (303) 779-1100.
The purpose of the symposium is to provide a forum for
the exchange of technical information on radon-reduction
technology for the indoor environment. Application of
radon-resistant construction techniques, the measurement
of radon and its progeny, and the assessment of health
impacts will be major topics. The thrust of the meeting is
to educate and inform without sales presentations.
Governmental radon programs, international studies and
diagnostic experience before, during and after application
of reduction systems will be emphasized. The audience
will include diagnosticians and mitigators, sampling and
control equipment manufacturers, and representatives of
government, universities, and R&D firms.
Final Announcement
The first combined Flue-Gas Desulfurization and Dry SO2
Control Symposium, sponsored by EPA's Air and Energy
Engineering Research Laboratory and the Electric Power
Research Institute, Coal Combustion Systems Division,
will take place October 25-28, 1988 at the Adam's Mark
Hotel, St. Louis, MO.
The symposium will provide a forum for the exchange
of technical and regulatory information on sulfur oxide
control technology. Wet and dry scrubbers, emerging
processes, and clean coal/acid rain technology will be
major topics. There will be no sales presentations.
Operating experience, equipment and process testing, pilot
and demonstration results, international developments and
regulatory changes will be emphasized. The audience will
include utility and industrial users of desulfurization
technology, consultants, engineering firms, equipment
manufacturers, process suppliers and representatives of
government, universities, and R&D firms. Contact Charles
Sedman, 919-541-7700 for information and 314-241-7400
for reservations.
Animal Testing
Deputy Administrator John Moore has replied as follows
to citizens asking why EPA persists in using animals to
test compounds for toxicity:
Two of our programs, those evaluating pesticides
and industrial chemicals, can require industry to
submit test data to demonstrate the safety of their
products. Since these chemicals are handled by
workers and homeowners and in some cases may
be applied to foods we eat, we must ensure that
exposure will not cause untoward medical effects.
Experimental animals often provide the only
scientifically acceptable means of evaluating
potential hazards.
The Agency is acutely aware of the need to
reduce expensive animal testing and cut pain and
suffering to the lowest feasible level. Our test
guidelines embrace these principles, and changes
are made whenever scientifically reasonable. For
instance, the Agency is about to announce the
second revision of guidance 011 acute toxicity
testing, an evaluation of the health consequences
of a single exposure to a chemical substance. Each
revision has further, diminished dependence upon
animals. In other cases, animals have been totally
replaced by bacteria or cells grown in the lab. In
addition, the EPA health research program
commits significant funds each year for the
development of test methods that do not involve
whole animals, especially the higher orders. In any
event, the Agency recommends use of as few
animals as possible.
It is important to recognize, however, that EPA is
charged by Congress to protect human health from
chemical exposures. This requires a balancing of
priorities vis-a-vis animals and human beings. We
require only those tests absolutely necessary and
harmonize our test requirements with those of
other nations around the world.
CO Emission Levels
Lee Thomas has responded further to inquiries from the
House Subcommittee on Health and the Environment
concerning EPA's projections of future carbon monoxide
(CO) emission levels. A sampling of Qs and As is
presented here.
Question: Explain why the 1981 Agency forecast of cartj
monoxide attainment for virtually all of the nation's citial
has proved false.
Response: Several shortcomings in the methods and
assumptions behind the 1981 forecast are now obvious,
which could explain part of the error.
• 25 nonattainment areas were not analyzed. If they had
been, some probably would have been predicted to remain
in nonattainment.
o All modeling was based on emission factors for 75
degrees F., yet CO violations occur primarily under cold,
stable winter conditions.
® The penetration of lower CO-emitting diesels into the
light-duty vehicle and truck markets was overestimated,
and the effects of emission control-system tampering were
underestimated.
© Many I/M programs have suffered from operational
problems, e.g., low failure-rates due to inspection errors or
high waiver-rates.
Q: Discuss the importance of stationary source CO
emissions compared with highway sources.
A: Most CO monitors are at sites where highway
traffic is predominant relative to aircraft, ships,
locomotives, furnaces, waste incinerators, etc. Our
"off-highway" and point-source growth estimates
are 2.5 and 2.4 percent per year, based on 1980
Commerce Department figures. By contrast, we
assume a 1.9 percent annual increase in vehicle
miles and a concomitant rise in CO in modeled
urban areas; the Office of Technology Assessment
assumes 2.25 percent through 2003 C.E.

-------