A new law will lift current penalties for companies that cause the accidental death of protected bird species
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himAdministration Trump is working on one new law that that will allow any company, including oil and gas companies, to kill protected bird species indiscriminately, without any consequences.
Currently, a law in force since 1918 protects the migratory birds prohibiting the capture and killing of various bird species. The law provides for fines and judicial proceedings for those who cause the death of protected species and this has helped for decades to push industries to take measures to protect birds, like putting red lights on communication towers.
Thanks to the law in place, the federal government can apply company sanctions which endanger the life of these birds by causing accidental deaths on electric wires, oil wells, wind turbines.
For example, the oil company BP was forced to pay a fine of over $ 100 million for causing the death of hundreds of thousands of birds in 2010, following the spill of crude oil from its plants.
In 2017, however, the Department of the Interior issued a legal opinion that accidental bird deaths that occur as part of the activities of oil and gas companies are not punishable by law.
The opinion was widely contested by wildlife conservation groups, including the Center of Biological Diversity which, along with eight states, appealed the decision by proposing a bill that would make companies punishable even for accidental deaths of birds unequivocally.
Trump, on the other hand, wants to continue his work of weakening of environmental protections implemented by the previous administrations and intends to integrate the current legislation with the legal opinion of the Department.
This would put millions of birds are in danger relieving industries and oil and gas companies of any responsibility towards deaths among migratory birds. Furthermore, it would be more difficult to restore the current safeguards in the future.
“The Trump administration is doubling down on a cruel policy that has already resulted in the deaths of many birds.
This policy is only beneficial to the Trump administration's benefactors in the oil and gas industries.
After the recent study found that there are 3 billion fewer birds in North America than there were 50 years ago, we would expect more protection for birds, ”said Noah Greenwald, director of endangered species at the Center. of Biological Diversity.
With the presidential election getting closer, the Trum administration is working faster and faster to eliminate regulations that hinder the industry.
Just a few days ago the new regulation on water came into force, which excludes the protection of minor waterways and wetlands in the country.
Within the next month, the administration also plans to eliminate laws that limit vehicle emissions, as well as legislation that sets limits for mercury that can be released from coal-fired power plants.
If the new legislation were to enter into force and exclude the current protections for migratory birds, that will remain hope in the common sense of society and hope that they will continue to voluntarily protect protected species and their ecosystems.
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