JEFFERSON CITY, MO, MAY 23, 2022 - Stephen McLane, an environmental program specialist with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Environmental Services Program, has been selected as the department’s Team Member of the Month for May 2022. McLane was selected for his dedication to the department and for his efforts coordinating the development of the Missouri Environmental Record Logging Index (MERLIN).
In 1994, the Missouri Environmental Emergency Response Tracking System (MEERTS) was created to track all hazardous material and environmental emergency incidents reported through the Environmental Emergency Response (EER) Section’s 24-hour emergency spill telephone line. The system contained nearly 62,000 records with detailed information about each incident. Over time and as reporting requirements changed, the system was periodically updated and patched in an effort to maintain usability, while also suffering in performance. The system had reached the end of its useful life, so work began to find a replacement.
In early 2021, development of a replacement database began and McLane was chosen to lead the project because of his experience, grasp of technology, organizational skills and passion for EER’s mission. McLane held almost daily meetings with information technology and geologic information system developers, as well as department team members and external partners who use the system, to guarantee information needs were met.
The new system was completed in November 2021, ahead of schedule and under budget. McLane was able to facilitate this project while continuing to perform his regular job duties, which include responding to environmental emergencies; maintaining and calibrating scientific equipment; hazardous substance identification, management, control and disposal; coordinating emergency response planning, preparedness, training and exercises; and, training fellow team members.
“MERLIN has allowed us to automate many processes that were formerly completed by several staff and that required more cumbersome steps,” said Brad Harris, an environmental program manager and McLane’s supervisor. “Without Stephen’s leadership, tenacity and determination, MERLIN would not have crossed the finish line and the EER Section would still be spinning its wheels in MEERTS.”
McLane joined the department in December 2005 and resides in Hallsville.