Spring Storm in the Great Basin Red Cliffs Desert Tortoise Reserve After a Spring Storm in the Great Basin Hunting Upland Birds at Kingsbury Lake Waterfowl Production Area Sandhill Migration on the Platte River Badlands Sunrise The Green River at Ouray NWR North Park Lupines Moab Sunset
Wyoming Ecological Services
Mountain-Prairie Region
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Wyoming Ecological Services Office

 

Jump to a section: Bird mortality investigations | Environmental Contaminants Investigations | Migratory Bird Mortality in Oil and Gas Facilities | Spill response | Additional info and WYES Contaminants Reports | Open / close all

Service employee conducting and environmental contaminant investigation. Credit: USFWS.

Service employee conducting and environmental contaminant investigation. Credit: USFWS.

One of the primary responsibilities of the Environmental Contaminants (EC) program is the identification of environmental contaminant problems affecting National Wildlife Refuge lands, migratory birds, and threatened and endangered species. When problems are identified, appropriate actions are pursued to eliminate the contaminant threat and restore affected resources. Equally important, the program provides technical assistance to other Service programs, to State and Federal agencies, tribes and to the public.

Bird mortality investigations »

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EC Specialists assist Service Law Enforcement agents with the investigation of bird mortality incidents. Large bird mortality events can be caused by disease, pesticides, oil spills, releases of hazardous materials, or contaminants. EC specialists apply their wildlife toxicology expertise in collecting and analyzing data to assist with determining the probable cause of mortality.

 

Environmental Contaminants Investigations »

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EC Specialists conduct investigations involving pesticides, lead, selenium, petroleum hydrocarbons, oilfield produced waters, and coalbed methane produced waters. Environmental contaminants and other stressors can impair reproduction, stunt growth, alter behavior, increase sensitivity to disease, and result in direct mortality of fish and wildlife.  Data from EC scientific investigations are used to resolve contaminant threats to fish and wildlife and their habitat.  A rapid turn-around capability ensures that scientifically credible data is readily available for decision-makers.

 

Migratory Bird Mortality in Oil and Gas Facilities »

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EC Specialists assist the Service’s Office of Law Enforcement with the assessment of migratory bird mortality in oil and gas facilities (oil production skim pits, reserve pits, oilfield wastewater disposal facilities) in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.  The EC staff produces informational materials on best management practices to prevent or minimize bird mortality in oil and gas facilities.

 

Spill response »

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Environmental Contaminants (EC) Specialists respond to oil spills and hazardous materials spills that threaten National Wildlife Refuge lands, migratory birds, and threatened and endangered species. In 2010 and 2011 EC Specialists provided response assistance at the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf Coast, the Yellowstone River pipeline spill in Montana, and an oil spill at the Sinclair Refinery in Sinclair, Wyoming.

 

Additional info and WYES Contaminants Reports »

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with Others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American People.
Last modified: May 06, 2015
All Images Credit to and Courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Unless Specified Otherwise.
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