News Release 403

JIM GAST NAMED JULY 2008
EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH BY DEPARTMENT

Volume 36-403

Contact: Philip Tremblay

(For immediate release)

573-751-7629

JEFFERSON CITY, MO., July 7, 2008 --- Jim Gast has been named July 2008 Employee of the Month by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. He is a natural resources manager with the Division of State Parks and facility manager at Rock Bridge State Park.

In nominating Gast, Dave Goggins, an environmental specialist with the parks division, said, "Jim and this park staff have taken a proactive approach to reducing waste in the park operations, reusing materials in appropriate and creative ways and recycling other waste streams if possible. The example that Jim and his staff have set should be a lesson to all state offices and facilities to reduce, reuse and recycle."

In setting out to remove unwanted material from a barn on the Rock Bridge State Park property, Gast discovered a quantity of used oil and rechargeable batteries among the trash. He sought a bid for the waste removal and was told that it would cost $2,000 to have the job done. After contacting state park's Facility and Visitor Services Program, and with the help of Tim Hennessy and Randy Mellerup of his staff and Kris Purcell with the Northern Parks District Office, Gast was able to locate recyclers for nearly all of the unwanted materials.

"Jim had already done the right thing in managing this waste according to regulations," Goggins said, "but he decided to look further and found local recycling outlets for the material. In doing so, he paved the way for continued environmental improvement in operations at the park and educated himself and staff about waste management."

Gast's efforts have resulted in the used oil being used for heating at a local mechanic's shop. Drained oil filters have been recycled as scrap metal. Batteries have been sent for recycling through an area business, and a local service has been found to recycle used antifreeze generated by park operations.

A few phone calls not only resulted in the savings of a one-time cost of $2,000 but also fostered a continuing relationship between the park and local recyclers so future waste management expenses will be reduced.

Gast begin working for the department in January 1992 and has served as tourist assistant, seasonal aide, assistant park superintendent and park and historic site specialist during his career. He resides in Columbia.

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Editor:  Photo is available at http://www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel/gast-04.jpg.