News Release 259

TINA WHITE NAMED DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR MAY 2008

Volume 36-259

Contact: Philip J. Tremblay

(For immediate release)

573-751-7629

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, MAY 12, 2008 --- Tina White, an environmental specialist with the Division of Field Services, has been named Missouri Department of Natural Resources May 2008 Employee of the Month. White serves as water pollution inspection and enforcement unit chief with the Southwest Regional Office, Springfield.

White is being recognized for her work on the site-specific discharge monitoring report templates that she created. These forms make it easier for facility personnel to record required site data and for department data entry personnel to file it. The discharge monitoring reports were set up to mirror exactly the requirements in each facility's permit. Previously, facilities used a generic discharge monitoring report that often resulted in missing information, confusion and noncompliance. White also helped train staff in using the forms through development of a PowerPoint presentation that walked them through each step of the process.

In nominating White, Victoria Lovejoy, Southwest Regional Office's public information specialist, said, "Tina is an outstanding employee. She strives constantly to improve the service our department provides for the public and to ensure better environmental protection. When management became aware of this discharge monitoring report process, it was recognized as a method to increase efficiency and compliance."

White has developed considerable knowledge of the environmental regulatory process, methods of investigation and analysis and techniques related to environmental control. She created 15 facility-specific discharge monitoring report templates and nearly 40 general permit discharge monitoring report templates in addition to her regular duties. She also created instructional tools that can be used by employees.

White voluntarily travels to schools, science fairs and career days to teach young students about recycling and water pollution issues and advises them on what they can do to help maintain and improve the environment. She also created a presentation that can be used for students or adults to demonstrate the effects of pollution on natural resources. 

"Tina is generous with her knowledge and her time and volunteers at Department of Natural Resources booths at both the Missouri State Fair and the Ozark Empire Fair," said Lovejoy. "She also volunteers for the James River Basin Partnership annual river cleanup event."

White began working as an intern in drinking water and wastewater in May 1995 and earned her degree in wildlife conservation and management in December 1996. She became a full-time department employee in March 2000.

White lives in Battlefield.                                                   

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Editor: Photo is available at http://www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel/tina-white.jpg.