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The American Bird Conservancy notified the
administration on Wednesday of its intent to sue over the
changes, which grant wind farms permission to kill eagles
accidentally for a period of 30 years without having to apply
for a new permit, rather than five years as previously required.
U.S. law bans killing bald and golden eagles without a permit,
except for narrow purposes such as scientific research.
In 2009 the government expanded the permits to include other
activities, including renewable energy.
The new 30-year permit rule, issued by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service in December, is aimed at further encouraging
the development of renewable energy sources such as wind power,
but conservationists want them overturned.
Experts differ on how many eagles are killed by wind farms each
year. The Fish and Wildlife service estimates that 85 bald and
golden eagles have died this way since 1997.
Doug Bell, wildlife program manager with the East Bay Regional
Park District in Northern California, says that 50 to 70 golden
eagles are killed each year in his area.
In the required notice of intent to sue the U.S. government, the
American Bird Conservancy argued the change violates federal
laws like the Endangered Species Act and the Bald and Golden
Eagle Protection Act, contains no scientific justification and
was generated without the benefit of an assessment of the
nation’s eagle populations.
The rule “undermines the nation’s longstanding commitment to
conservation of eagles,” which have immense cultural and
symbolic value, the conservancy said in legal documents.
Fish and Wildlife Service spokeswoman Laury Parramore said the
Interior Department agency would not comment on pending
litigation.
Lindsay North, spokeswoman for the American Wind Energy
Association, did not respond to a request for comment on
Wednesday.
(Editing by Sharon Bernstein and Michael Perry)
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Group
To Sue U.S. Over Changes To Eagle Protection Rules
