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Environmental Contaminants
 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. 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 Kentucky.
In an effort to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future,
the Service provides biological analyses of the ecological effects of pesticide
use during each compound's registration by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency. Environmental contaminant
 specialists
also provide guidance to the National Wildlife Refuges 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. We 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. Information or questions concerning the
Environmental Contaminants Program in Kentucky may be obtained from Mr. Tony
Velasco (anthony_velasco@fws.gov).
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