A Bird-Brained Prosecution
The Obama administration is prosecuting seven oil and gas companies for the deaths of 28 birds. But what about the wind industry?
The Wall Street Journal points out in an editorial this morning:
The Obama Administration’s hostility to oil and gas exploration is well known, but last week it took an especially fowl turn. The U.S. Attorney for North Dakota hauled seven oil and natural gas companies into federal court for killing 28 migratory birds that were found dead near oil waste lagoons…
Continental Resources is accused of violating the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act because “on or about May 6, 2011 in the District of North Dakota” the company “did take [kill] one Say’s Phoebe,” of the tyrant flycatcher bird family. Brigham Oil & Gas is accused of killing two Mallard ducks. The Class B misdemeanors carry fines of up to $15,000 for each dead bird and up to six months in prison…
Absurdity aside, this prosecution is all the more remarkable because the wind industry each year kills not 28 birds, or even a few hundred, but some 440,000, according to estimates by the American Bird Conservancy based on Fish and Wildlife Service data. Guess how many legal actions the Obama Administration has brought against wind turbine operators under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act? As far as we can tell, it’s zero.
Wild Thing’s comment………
Sheesh! Obama absolutely hates the American oil industry.
The windmills churn up more birds, thousands from what I heard. How many lawsuits has Obama had on them?
There’s a little bit more to this story. The lagoons are required to be covered with netting to prevent both animals and people from falling in. The companies ignored this safety requirement and had been fined. Although they paid the fines, they still ignored the requirement to have the netting. Now, they’re going to have to pay a lot more in fines and possibly prison.
BP,yes Boys and Girls we Noz who dat iz cuz da
putz 1 millin big ones in da Boz PAC fund in 08