Environmental Quality

The function of the Environmental Contaminants Program is to protect U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Trust Resources from injury as the result of interaction with environmental concentrations of anthropogenic (human-derived) chemical(s) or invasive species.

Division of Environmental Quality

Major Duties and Reponsibilities

1. Contaminants Prevention. Contaminants specialists review environmental documents, legislation, regulations, and permits and licenses with pollution potential to ensure that harmful effects on fish, wildlife, and plants are avoided or minimized.

2. Contaminants Identification and Assessment. Service environmental contaminant specialists conduct field studies to determine sources of pollution, to investigate pollution effects on fish and wildlife and their habitat, and to investigate fish and wildlife die-offs. Sites typically assessed include those impacted by pesticides, industrial wastes, oil and hazardous waste spills, and drain water from agricultural irrigation and mining, as well as Superfund sites and other sites contaminated at some time in the past. Contaminants specialists have also developed tools such as the Contaminants Assessment Process (CAP), which was developed in cooperation with the US Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division's Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program, to assist in evaluating contaminant threats to national wildlife refuges, as well as other Service lands. In addition, field specialists conduct contaminant surveys prior to the Service buying new lands.

3. Contaminant Cleanup and Resource Restoration. Data collected in contaminant assessments is often used to secure compensation for resources lost or degraded by hazardous waste releases or spills. These efforts are part of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Program (Restoration Program). The Service also takes part, through contaminants identification, assessment, planning and restoration, in the Department of Interior's National Irrigation Water Quality Program (NIWQP). Contaminant specialist are often called in by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), US Coast Guard, Department of Defense, or various other Federal or State agencies responsible for cleaning up a contaminated area, to ensure that fish and wildlife and their habitat are adequately protected during, and upon completion of, the cleanup. Contaminants specialists also work closely with National Wildlife Refuge managers to design and implement actions to cleanup oil and hazardous material on refuge lands.

For copies of the publications not available below, please contact the Panama City Field Office.

Recent Publications

Jon M. Hemming, Parley V. Winger, Heath Rauschenberger, Karen Herrington, Peter Durkee, and Dan Scollan. 2007. Water Sediment Quality Survey of Threatened and Endangered Freshwater Mussel Habitat in the Chipola River Basin, Florida. Publication No. PCFO-EC 07-01.

Hemming, J.M., B. Starkel, L. Irwin. Review of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Abnormal Amphibian Project for the Southeast Region, 2000 to 2005 data analysis. Report in preparation.

Hemming, J.M., J. Barkuloo. Evaluation of the water quality in the St. Andrew Baysystem as assessed by the Florida Bay Watch Program, 1990 to 2005. Manuscript in preparation.

Rauschenberger, H., J. Hemming, E. Boughner, J. Peterson, K. Benjamin. Contaminantsand egg quality of snowy egrets (Egretta thula) from Florida estuarine and freshwater habitats. Report in preparation.

Hemming, J.M., B. Starkel. 2007. Review of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2006 Abnormal Amphibian Project for the Southeast Region. PCFO-EC07-01. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Panama City Field Office, Panama City, Florida.

Hemming, J.M., K. Herrington, C. Caulking, A. Marshall, B. Martin, M. Brim. 2007. Assessment of Florida’s biological integrity standard in Watson Bayou of the St. Andrew Bay System, Bay County. Florida Scientist 70(1):1-11.

Hemming, J.M. , P.Winger, W.Gierhart, R. Jarvis, H. Blalock-Herod, J. Ziewitz. 2006. Waterand sediment quality integrity survey of threatened and endangered freshwater mussel habitat in the Ochlockonee River basin. Endangered Species Research 6:1-13.

Ueda, N., C. Partridge, J. Bolland, J. Hemming, T. Sherman, A. Boettcher. 2005. Effects of an Environmental Estrogen on Male Gulf Pipefish, Syngnathus scovelli (Evermann and Kendall) a Male Brooding Teleost. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 74(6):1207-212.

Hemming, J.M., R. Jarvis, P.Winger, H. Blalock-Herod, W.Gierhart, J. Ziewitz. 2005.
Water and sediment quality integrity survey of threatened and endangered freshwater mussel habitat in the Ochlockonee River basin. Publication No. PCFO-EC 05-01. U.S.

Hemming, J.M., J. Brown, M. Brim, R. Jarvis. 2004. Sediment quality survey of the
Choctawhatchee Bay system in the Florida panhandle. Marine Pollution Bulletin 50(2005): 889-903.

Hemming, J.M., H. J.Allen, K.A. Thuesen, P.K. Turner, W.T. Waller, J.M. Lazorchak, D. Lattier, M.Chow, N. Denslow and B. Venables. 2004. Assessment of estrogenic seasonality in wastewater effluent using biomarkers in fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas Raphinesque, 1820). Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 57:303-310.

Hemming, J.M. and W.T. Waller. 2004. Diazinon and chlorpyrifos toxicity to the freshwater Asiatic clam Corbicula fluminea Muller, 1774 and the estuarine hooked mussel Ischadium recurvum Rafinesque, 1820. Florida Scientist 67(1):1-8.

N. Ueda1, C. Partridge, J. Bolland1, J. Hemming, T. Sherman, A. Boettcher. 2004. Effects of an Environmental Estrogen on Male Gulf Pipefish, Syngnathus scovelli (Evermann and Kendall) a Male Brooding Teleost. In Press - Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology.

J. Brown and J.M. Hemming. 2003. Sediment quality survey of the Choctawhatchee Bay system in the Florida panhandle. Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance Report, Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance, Destin, FL.

Hemming, J.M., M. Brim, R. Jarvis. 2003. Water Quality Survey Report for Potential Sea Grass Restoration in West Bay of the St. Andrew Bay System in Northwest Florida. Florida Scientist 68(2):97-108.

Hemming, J.M., M. Brim, R. Jarvis. 2003. Water Quality Survey Report for Potential Sea Grass Restoration in West Bay of the St. Andrew Bay System in Northwest Florida. Publication No. PCFO-EC 03-01. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Panama City Field Office, Panama City, Florida.

Partridge, C., C. Cazalas, J. Rozelle, J. Hemming and A. Boettcher. 2003. Small-scale captive breeding of a euryhaline pipefish. World Aquaculture September:51-54.

Hemming, J.M., M. Brim, R. Jarvis. 2003. Sediment Contamination Survey on St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. Florida Scientist 66(4):314-322.

Hemming, J.M., M. Brim, R. Jarvis. 2002. Sediment Contamination Survey on St. Marks
National Wildlife Refuge. Publication No. PCFO-EC 02-02. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Panama City Field Office, Panama City, Florida.

Hemming, J.M., M. Brim, R. Jarvis. 2002. Survey of Dioxin and Furan Compounds in Sediments of Florida Panhandle Bay Systems. Publication No. PCFO-EC 02-01. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Panama City Field Office, Panama City, Florida.

Hemming, J. M. and M. S. Brim. 2002. Dioxin and furan compounds in the sediments of Florida Panhandle bay systems. Marine Pollution Bulletin 46(4):512-521.

Hemming, J.M., W.T. Waller, M. Chow, N. Denslow and B. Venables. 2001. Assessment of the efficacy of a constructed wetland system to reduce or remove wastewater effluent toxicity and estrogenicity using biomarkers in fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas Rafinesque,1820). Environ Toxicol Chem Vol. 20, No. 10, pp. 2268–2275.

Hemming, J.M. ,P.K.Turner, B.W. Brooks, W.T. Waller and T.W. LaPoint. 2001. Assessment of toxicity in wastewater effluent flowing through a treatment wetland using Pimephales promelas, Ceriodaphnia dubia and Vibrio fisheri tests. Arch Environ ContamToxicol Vol. 42, pp. 9-16.

Hemming, J.M., W.T. Waller, L. Ammann. 2001. Assessment of the wastewater effluent
estrogenicity using the vitellogenin biomarker in fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Tx J Sci Vol. 53, No. 4, 335-344.

Recently Submitted Investigation Proposals

Proposals

Habitat loss related to chemical caused life history changes in Okaloosa Darters in East Turkey Creek, Eglin Air Force Base. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Funds 2007-2009.

Relative mercury contamination of the aquatic ecosystems of St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge; a comparative assessment of management strategy and ecosystem health. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Refuges 2007-2009.

Archived Publications

Brim, M.S., D. Bateman, R. Jarvis. 2000. Environmental Contaminants Evaluation of St. Joseph Bay, Florida. Publication No. PCFO-EC-00-01. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Panama City Field Office, Panama City, Florida. Vol 1 - Vol 2.

Brim, M.S., D. Bateman, R. Jarvis, G. Carmody. 1994. Mercury in Largemouth Bass and Spotted Gar of the Florida Panther National Wildlife Reguge. Refuge. Publication No. PCFO-EC-94-04. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Panama City Field Office, Panama City, Florida. Brim, M.S., D.

Bateman, D., Brim, M.S., G. Carmody. 1994. Environmental Contaminants in Gulf Sturgeon of Northwest Florida 1985-1991. Publication No. PCFO-EC-94-09. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Panama City Field Office, Panama City, Florida.

Bateman, D., Brim, M.S., G. Carmody. 1994. Contaminants in Striped Bass from the Flint and Apalachicola Rivers 1986-1989. Publication No. PCFO-EC-94-10. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Panama City Field Office, Panama City, Florida.

Brim, M.S. 1993. Toxics Characterization Report for Perdido Bay, Alabama and Florida. Publication No. PCFO-EC-93-04. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Panama City Field Office, Panama City, Florida.

Brim, M.S., D. Bateman, R. Jarvis, G. Carmody. 1993. Mercury Concentrations in Gafftopsail Catfish of the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge. Publication No. PCFO-EC-93-01. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Panama City Field Office, Panama City, Florida.

Brim, M.S., D. Bateman, R. Jarvis, G. Carmody. 1992. Mercury and Selenium Concentrations in Largemouth Bass and other Fishes of the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge. Publication No. PCFO-EC-92-01. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Panama City Field Office, Panama City, Florida.

Brim, Bateman, Jarvis. 1992. Withlacoochee Upper Suwannee River SYstems Hamilton and Suwannee Counties, Florida Reconnaissance Field Evaluation. Publication No. PCFO-EC-92-02. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Panama City Field Office, Panama City, Florida.

Recently Submitted Investigation Proposals

Proposals

Contaminant Assessment Process for St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Environmental Quality. 2004.

Water and Sediment Quality Integrity Survey of Threatened and Endangered Freshwater Mussel Habitat in the Ochlockonee, Apalachicola and Chipola River Basins. 1) Submitted for USGS SSP funding; 2) Submitted for Northeastern Gulf Ecoteam Flex Funding.

Organochlorine Pesticides and their effects on reproduction of Snowy Egret nesting around Lake Apopka, Florida. Submitted with Karen Benjamin of the EC Program- Jacksonville to the Division of Environmental Quality for On-Refuge funding for fiscal year 2004.

Water Quality Survey Report for Potential Sea Grass Restoration in West Bay of the St. Andrew Bay System in Northwest Florida. US Army Corps of Engineers. 2003.

Contaminant Assessment Process for St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Environmental Quality. 2003.

Relative mercury contamination of the aquatic ecosystems of St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge; a comparative assessment of management strategy and ecosystem health. Submitted to the Division of Environmental Quality for On-Refuge funding for fiscal year 2003.

Assessment of contaminant effects on sea turtle nesting success on Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, Alabama. Submitted with Peter L. Tuttle of the Daphne Field Office to the Division of Environmental Quality for On-Refuge funding for fiscal year 2003.

Pre-proposals

Evaluation of water quality in endangered mussel habitat.

Evaluation of endocrine disruption risk from atrazine exposure for amphibians inhabiting the Florida panhandle.

The influence of West Nile virus vector control on a species of special concern, the St. Andrew Bay Crayfish.

An evaluation of mercury contamination on St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge; potential to implement protective measures.

An assessment of ecological risk associated with inadequate stormwater treatment impacting Gulf sturgeon critical habitat.

Determination of remedial action needed for the restoration the seagrasses of West Bay of the St. Andrew Bay system, Bay County, Florida

Trust Resources

Trust resources are those natural resources with which the Service is charged with protecting.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Trust Resources in the Florida panhandle include:

1. Federally listed threatened and endangered species:

2. Migratory Birds:

3. Anadromous Fishes:

Striped Bass

Gulf Sturgeon

4. Federal Lands:
St. Mark and St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuges