"The move restores protections under the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which imposes penalties for unintentionally causing bird deaths through drilling, construction and other activities"
"The Biden administration finalized a rule Wednesday revoking a Trump administration policy that eased penalties for killing birds, restoring federal protections that had been in place for a century.
The Trump administration’s reinterpretation of the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act ranked as one of its most contentious wildlife policies. It relaxed legal penalties for energy companies, construction firms and land developers that unintentionally killed birds through activities such as construction and oil drilling.
The new U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule would restore protections under the bedrock environmental law, which prohibits the “take” of migratory bird species — regulatory-speak for hunting, killing, capturing, selling or otherwise hurting them. Under President Donald Trump, officials had sought to exclude accidental deaths from the “take” definition, a move backed by the oil and gas industry."
Maxine Joselow reports for the Washington Post September 29, 2021.
SEE ALSO:
"US To Resume Enforcement Of Unlawful Bird Deaths By Industry" (AP)
"Biden Administration Restores Bird Protections, Repealing Trump Rule" (New York Times)
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