That’s right!!
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act was instrumental in the $20 billion fine BP was
required to pay to mitigate the damage caused by the New Horizon oil spill that
killed over 100,000 birds.
On Jul 6, 2020, at 5:02 PM, Dev Joslin <devjoslin@xxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:devjoslin@xxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Thank you, Melinda.
I am working on my comments now. If I am correct, this change in the rule
would have left BP off the hook for their oil spill in the Gulf years ago
that killed so many birds and destroyed so much habitat. They would have had
no penalties!
Dev Joslin
Monteverde, Costa Rica
From: tn-bird-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:tn-bird-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<tn-bird-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:tn-bird-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> on
behalf of Melinda Welton <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
Sent: Monday, July 6, 2020 1:43 PM
To: tnbird <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
Subject: [TN-Bird] TOS Action Alert! Bird protections under attack
Dear all,
Bird protections are under attack in a major way and we have two weeks to
make our voices heard. In 2017 the Administration ceased enforcement of
penalties for bird deaths caused by avoidable industrial hazards. Now the
Fish and Wildlife Service wants to codify that rule. The new rule would apply
the Migratory Bird Treaty Act protections only when an activity
“purposefully” kills birds. The comment period for the draft Environmental
Impact Statement for this new rule is midnight July 20th. Submit your
comments here.
https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=FWS-HQ-MB-2018-0090-8411 ;
<https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=FWS-HQ-MB-2018-0090-8411>
This link summarizes the Alternatives in the draft EIS. Alternative B is the
best alternative to return the protections we have traditionally relied on.
You should make reference to this in your letter.
https://www.fws.gov/birds/news/200605MBTA.php ;
<https://www.fws.gov/birds/news/200605MBTA.php>
This link takes you to an excellent description of what the loss of these
protections would mean and has talking points you can use for your letter
https://abcbirds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/MBTA-DEIS-talking-points.pdf?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=a1553894-24c1-4bcf-aa5c-2e60a5c87d96
<https://abcbirds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/MBTA-DEIS-talking-points.pdf?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=a1553894-24c1-4bcf-aa5c-2e60a5c87d96>
Melinda Welton
Nashville, TN
