(C) Common Dreams
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Trump administration weakens protections for migratory birds [1]
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Date: 2025-03-13 11:49:00+00:00
The Interior Department has suspended 20 Biden-era legal opinions, including one that penalized energy companies for unintentional bird deaths caused by oil spills and industrial activities.
Catrin Einhorn and Lisa Friedman report for The New York Times.
In short:
The Trump administration’s move reinstates a legal stance that shields companies from penalties when their operations accidentally kill migratory birds.
The decision reverses a Biden-era policy, which had restored the traditional interpretation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to include accidental bird deaths.
Conservationists warn the change could reduce accountability for industries linked to environmental disasters like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Key quote:
“It basically means that the Fish and Wildlife Service won’t take enforcement action against any private party that unintentionally kills migratory birds. It's devastating.”
— Tara Zuardo, senior advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity
Why this matters:
Migratory birds, already facing steep population declines, could be at even greater risk following regulatory changes that remove penalties for accidental bird deaths. Since 1970, North America has lost nearly 30% of its bird populations, a drop linked to habitat destruction, climate change, and pollution.
The rollback of protections under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act — long a safeguard against industrial hazards like oil spills and wind turbine collisions — marks a shift toward deregulation that prioritizes industry interests over conservation. Critics warn that this move not only threatens bird populations but could set a precedent for loosening other environmental laws, further weakening protections for wildlife in an era of accelerating ecological stress.
Learn more: New order weakens protections for public lands and wildlife
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[1] Url:
https://www.ehn.org/trump-administration-weakens-protections-for-migratory-birds
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