Eric Medlock selected as September 2025 Missouri Department of Natural Resources Team…

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, SEPT. 30, 2025 - Eric Medlock, a section chief with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Division of Environmental Quality, is the department's Team Member of the Month for September 2025. He was selected for his service to the department and his work coordinating department efforts related to a group of chemicals known as PFAS, as well as the implementation of new Lead and Copper Rule requirements.

As the monitoring section chief with the Water Protection Program's public drinking water branch, Medlock and his team are responsible for monitoring 2,800 public water systems for 91 regulated contaminants. Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency finalized new rules related to PFAS and to the identification and removal of lead water service lines. PFAS is an abbreviation for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. PFAS are widely used, long-lasting chemicals, components of which break down very slowly over time.

Medlock spent a significant amount of time attending and leading stakeholder workgroups, overseeing sampling of public water systems, and developing a mapping tool to make information about PFAS available to the public. In addition, he worked with his team to develop resources to help public water systems comply with the new Lead and Copper Rule requirements.

Medlock is known for taking on the difficult task of attending public meetings to present results of the department's monitoring efforts and help decision-makers understand rule requirements. His personal involvement in compliance assistance is often responsible for helping public water systems meet safe drinking water requirements.

"Eric is a great leader and a valued member of the public drinking water branch team," said David Lamb, the public drinking water branch chief who nominated Medlock for the award. "He provides excellent customer service and does a great job representing the department in all of his interactions with regulated entities and the public."

Medlock joined the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in February 2010 and resides in Osage Beach.