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Environmental Contaminants
Bald Eagle
FWS Photo
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The Mission of the Fish
and Wildlife Service's Environmental Contaminants Program is focused on
identifying harmful contaminant effects on fish and wildlife and restoring
resources degraded by contamination.
Our Nation's majestic symbol,
the bald eagle, and the peregrine falcon were at the brink of extinction
nearly two decades ago due to the use of what was believed to be
a safe product,
the pesticide DDT.
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This compound, and others such as chlordane and
PCB's, were routinely used and disposed of on the land or discharged to streams
and lakes. Although some of these compounds are now banned or not
routinely used, many still persist in the environment and have resulted in the
current posting of fish consumption advisories in certain stream reaches and
impoundments in Tennessee. In and effort to prevent similar situations
from occurring in the future, the Service provides biological analyses of the
ecological effects of pesticide use during each compounds registration by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Environmental Contaminant
specialists in the Tennessee Field Office also provide guidance to the seven National Wildlife Refuges in Tennessee
on pesticide
use and survey these important lands to determine the presence of contaminants.
Surveys are also performed in a variety of other habitats, including those
of endangered and threatened species, which could be impacted by activities
such as waste
disposal, wastewater discharges, and habitat modification. |
Peregrine Falcon
FWS Photo
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are actively involved with developing response plans for potential oil spills or
hazardous substance releases and assist with cleanup, wildlife rehabilitation,
and habitat restoration activities at numerous hazardous waste sites throughout
the area.
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