Fern Davies Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 11 ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including OrnithologyExchange and the Ornithological Council. Congressman Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) has circulated a discussion draft of legislation that would "amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to affirm that the Migratory Bird Treaty Act’s prohibition on the unauthorized take or killing of migratory birds includes incidental take by covered commercial activities, and to direct the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to make a rule establishing a permitting program authorizing and regulating such incidental take, and for other purposes." The discussion draft provides that ‘covered commercial activity’ and ‘covered commercial activities’ mean an industry or type of commercial activity that the Secretary determines cause significant harm to migratory birds including: oil, gas, and wastewater disposal pits; methane or other gas burner pipes; ‘communication towers; electric transmission and distribution lines; and wind and solar power generation facilities. It would authorize a permitting program that would limit the amount of authorized take and require the use of best practices or technologies that are deemed practical and effective. It would also require mitigation measures, including mitigation fees. Even if this bill is eventually introduced and even if it is passed by the House, it has little chance of getting through the Senate, given that the Senate majority leader is blocking virtually all legislation coming from the House or Senate legislation proposed by Democrats. LowenthalDiscussionDraft2019.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fern Davies Posted June 11, 2019 Author Share Posted June 11, 2019 The House Natural Resources Committee subcommittee on Waters, Oceans, and Wildlife will hold a hearing on this discussion draft on Thursday, 13 June 2019. The witnesses will be: Mr. Paul Schmidt Consulting for Conservation Retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Palmyra, VA Dr. Amanda D. Rodewald Garvin Professor; Senior Director of Conservation Science Cornell Lab of Ornithology Ithaca, NY Mr. Stan Senner Vice President for Bird Conservation National Audubon Society Washington, DC Mr. Alexander K. Obrecht Energy & Regulatory Attorney BakerHostetler Denver, CO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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