Environmental Progress - Summer 2003

Employees of the Month

Editor's Note: Each month the Illinois EPA recognizes outstanding employees for making quality part of every job they do. Three recent honorees are listed below.

Lanina Schnapp was the Agency EOM for April 2003. Lanina is a laboratory associate in the Springfield Organic Laboratory where her versatility and productivity have been outstanding in an associate with only two years experience. Recently, Lanina analyzed five samples containing more than 100 chemicals using a variety of analytical techniques necessary to test laboratory proficiency and every one of those compounds met acceptance criteria. As well as providing confidence in laboratory capabilities, acceptable results are needed to maintain the Division of Laboratories' National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation. She also continues to keep up her extraction proficiency for 10 completely different extraction methods and always produces results of the highest quality. These different extraction methods are for environmental samples that range from drinking water to industrial waste to materials wiped off building surfaces and require exacting technique and attention to detail. In addition to her Agency responsibilities, Lanina is completing a degree in environmental studies at the University of Illinois at Springfield part-time and is a member of the Illinois Air National Guard.

Kathy Vieregge was EOM for May 2003. Kathy is a project manager/field inspector for the Bureau of Land in the Collinsville regional office. Over the past year, she was active in management of the corrective actions at the Bi-State Landfill and the Anna Municipal Landfill under the Illinois First program. The monumental Bi-State Landfill project has been plagued with weather delays and labor issues. Kathy faced all adversities and delays with professionalism and demonstrated her skills in diplomacy while working with local authorities and the clean-up contractors. Her diligent review of project invoices has saved the state money. Kathy also presented technical material about the Anna Municipal Landfill in a concise and understandable manner to a group of concerned citizens and local officials. When a co-worker became suddenly ill, Kathy accepted the responsibilities of overseeing a large remediation project in East St. Louis until the project was reassigned, performing these duties in an excellent manner.

Stan F. Komperda was the EOM for July 2003. Stan works for the Bureau of Land, Division of Remediation Management, where he is project manager for cleanup at four of the 33 worst landfills in the state. All four are in various stages of work. Currently, at the Chicago Heights Refuse Depot Landfill, he worked with area contractors to obtain free clay for the construction of the cap. Approximately 35,000 cubic yards has been delivered at a savings of $400,000 to the state. Construction is expected to begin in the spring. At the Paxton 1 landfill, local contractors have been bringing clean clay for use as capping material. To date, approximately 50,000 cubic yards have been delivered and another 150,000 cubic yards have been guaranteed. At this landfill, the contractors are not only bringing in clean clay, but they are also moving the material to areas in need at no cost. Stan's ingenious resourcefulness and hard work is part of an overall effort that to date has saved the state more than $2.2 million. Stan is also the project manager for the Lockformer project, one of the most highly publicized sites in the state. He had to present highly technical information to local citizens at several public meetings and was responsible for coordinating the sampling of more than 260 private residential wells for TCE contamination. He coordinated both equipment and personnel in an operation where often as many as eight different teams were sampling at one time. Subsequently, residents with wells contaminated beyond the standard have been provided water service by Lockformer.