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.
4. Technical Support. Training field office
staff, analyzing contaminant samples, and managing information
are all key to the Contaminants Program's success. A large
part of the Program's technical support comes from the Patuxent
Analytical Control Facility (PACF), part of Patuxent
Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Maryland. Staff at
PACF are responsible for such things as overseeing all Service
chemical analysis and managing the Environmental Contaminants
Data Management System. This system is designed to electronically
store, analyze, and create reports on the vast amount of analytical
information obtained from fish and wildlife tissue samples
collected by FWS biologists.
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. 1998. Environmental Contaminants Evaluation of
St. Andrew Bay, Florida. Publication No. PCFO-EC-98-01. U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Panama City Field Office, Panama
City, Florida. Vol
1 - Vol
2 - Vol
3 .
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, R. Jarvis, G. Carmody. 1994. Mercury Concentrations
in Fishes of the St. Marks Natinal Wildlife Refuge.
Publication No. PCFO-EC-94-07. U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Panama City Field Office, Panama City, Florida.
Brim, M.S., D. Bateman, R. Jarvis, G. Carmody. 1994. Mercury
and Selenium Concentrations in Fishes of the St. Vincent Wildlife
Refuge. Publication No. PCFO-EC-94-08. U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Panama City Field Office, Panama City, Florida.
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
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