News Release No. 427

MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES NAMES DUSTIN KUEBLER AUGUST 2005 EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

Volume 33-427

Contact: Philip J. Tremblay

(For immediate release)

573-751-7629

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, OCT. 14, 2005 --- Dustin Kuebler, an air quality monitoring specialist III with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Environmental Services Program, has been named Employee of the Month for August 2005. Kuebler is being recognized for his exceptional work in collecting good information on local air quality under emergency or difficult conditions. He also maintains and repairs sophisticated air monitoring equipment and teaches department and contract employees how to get the best performance from these devices.

The department's air quality monitoring section posts air quality data on the Internet several times per day so people with asthma and other respiratory problems can obtain information about local concentrations of air pollution. Kuebler's work makes this service possible.

When an underground fire occurred at Charlie's Scrap Metal in Jefferson County, heavy smoke drifted into residential areas. Kuebler quickly assembled and installed a PM2.5 air monitor near the site and made numerous trips from Jefferson City to make sure the instrument was working properly and collecting valid data. Kuebler also helped the department's emergency response staff collect air samples that were analyzed for the possible presence of toxic and hazardous air pollutants that could have threatened the health of residents.

In July 2003, the department's air quality monitoring section was suddenly called upon to take on the operation of all air monitoring instruments in the Kansas City area when city health department employees were unavailable. All section staff were involved, but Kuebler played a key role in major upgrading and remodeling inside the air monitoring equipment shelters. It took several weeks of travel from Jefferson City for Kuebler and another staff member to complete the job. Much of this work involved making electrical and phone line improvements at the shelters in August, when the heat index was over 100 degrees.

This past winter, Kuebler was instrumental in establishing a new ozone data collection site north of St. Louis and a sulfur dioxide monitoring site near Clarksville. Under deadline, he spent long days delivering air monitoring equipment shelters to these locations. He also delivered equipment shelters to St. Louis City and St. Louis County to help them meet air-monitoring requirements requested by the department's Air Pollution Control Program. Again, weather conditions presented problems with several periods of freezing, thawing and snowstorms. Kuebler worked steadily to give each project special care and attention.

Kuebler's expertise has evolved into a role as the air quality monitoring section's technical expert on instruments that collect samples of airborne chemicals and particulates smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5). He is the lead person for troubleshooting, maintaining and repairing this equipment. He shares his expertise with other department staff and air monitoring staff from other agencies and other states. Over the phone he advises the section's contract employees regarding operation of the equipment and thus saves a great deal of travel time and staff time for the section.

In nominating Kuebler, co-worker Celeste Koon said, "Dustin willingly travels long distances and works long hours to fix equipment problems. Many people would not be willing to do field work under bad weather conditions at remote locations for hours on end. However, Dustin has done this for years. His attitude is excellent and he is always ready to work whenever work needs to be done.

"Dustin sets high standards and serves as a fine example to others," Koon concluded. "He's a proficient teacher and willingly shares his knowledge with less experienced staff."

Dustin Kuebler lives in Jefferson City and has worked for the Department of Natural Resources more than six years.

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