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Aug 13, 2009 04:50 PM | 17
ExxonMobil pled guilty to five violations of the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act stemming from the deaths of 85 protected birds at natural gas facilities in five states, including Texas and Colorado, the Justice Department said today.
Hawks, owls, and other birds were apparently looking for a place to rest when they made an unfortunate stop in the company's oily open pits, where they became coated with or swallowed fatal amounts of contaminants.
With development of oil and gas resources encouraged by the Bush Administration, many new waste ponds have appeared on public lands. Some companies use electronic hazing devices that make noises and flashing lights to scare birds away. Others clean the water before discharging it or cover ponds to keep birds from landing there. Whatever ExxonMobil was doing, it apparently wasn't enough, even though a spokesperson told the Associated Press that the company has "a long-standing water-bird protection program."
"We are all responsible for protecting our wildlife, even the largest of corporations," Colorado U.S. Attorney David M. Gaouette said in a prepared statement. "An important part of this case is the implementation of an environmental compliance plan that will help prevent future migratory bird deaths."
ExxonMobil will pay $400,000 in fines that go to the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund and $200,000 in community service payments to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and a non-profit bird rehabilitation foundation.
"We were gratified to see the Justice Department taking violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act seriously and prosecuting a major corporation," Betsy Loyless, senior vice president for policy for the Audubon Society in Washington, D.C., told Scientific American. "It probably took a new Administration looking for a balance of wildlife and energy development to prompt this kind of action."
Photo of Exxon sign courtesy brownpau via Flickr
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17 Comments
Add CommentSince when are hawks and owls migratory birds?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHmmm . . . ExxonMobil pays enormous fine for its crime against us. Probably used some of the money it didn't have to pay for the Exxon Valdez disaster. There will be no justice for environmental crimes against humanity until responsible humans are held accountable for their criminal negligence or acts. This is an outrage! Corporations don't act or fail to act. Human decision makers do. Isn't it time to end the convenient fiction that shields criminals from the consequences of their actions?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this$600,000 is nothing to a corporate giant such ExxonMobil! That's like an average joe/jane accidently dropping a quarter. It's not even a slap wrist. That company donates multiple times that amount through it's PR division and because Bush released them of enormous EPA restrictions for the full of his eight year term, they were allowed to gorge themselves without remiss! They were allowed to be environmentally irresponsible, all the while saving millions and making billions in profits.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisGreat to see that EXXON MOBIL is a wild life protecting foundation...read it
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisdeepika bhatt
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It seems like in President Bush's eight year term, he did everything he could to try and destroy this country, its people and environment, and he and his sidekick republicans are still trying to render America into a third world country. Why are they, Bush and his accessories, not being brought up on charges against humanity and war crimes against humanity? Why is this evil criminal being allowed to walk away from all the damage and destruction he has done to this country and the rest of the world?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAppears to me the author used the story to take a cheap shot at Bush. Something tells me the mindless will still be using the words Bush Cheney to blame bad things on for decades.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI want to know if the waste pond in question was on public lands as is implied in the slam on Bush. Also, I want to know if it was a "new waste pond" which resulted from the encouragement of oil and gas production by Bush.
According to other sources, the bird deaths took place at 5 separarate facilities over a 6 year period. That is 2 - 3 birds per facility per year. Someone has really been paying attention!
Also, they have already spent $2.5MM to cover the ponds, which comes to about $30,000 per bird which could have been saved.
So when will we see fines against wind farms for their slaughter of birds? Or is that overlooked under the "wind good, oil bad" thinking?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSo when will we see similar fines against wind farms for their slaughter of birds? Or is that overlooked under the "wind good, oil bad" thinking that currently pervades society?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSJ,
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIf it has the word oil, gas, coal or (for some) nuclear attached it is automatically evil. Even though these commodities are desired by consumers and have value in the marketplace, the companies that produce and deliver these products are evil. And any politicians in the White House that support the workings of the free market in relation to these goods are evil, especially if their middle name begins with W.
Any item with the word solar or wind or (for some) biomass is good. Even if they are real losers economically and need massive taxpayer support and production mandates.
Soccerdad...makes you look stupid to defend that 82 I.Q. ex-president. The facts and evidence speak for themselves. You shouldn't get your information from church or Fox. Please evolve.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisUh yes they do, Einstein. Basic. Research and learn something before you spout stupidity.Stupid like comparing wind farm bird deaths to this , it's like the Holocaust compared to Israeli's death due to Palestinian rockets in the last year!!! I HATE you apologists for the world killers. The coming death of the planet will be YOUR fault!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisUh, yes they are migratory, Einstein. Please research before you post stupid comments. The death of out world will your fault along with other idiots like the guy who compares wind farm bird deaths to this...like the Holocaust compared to Israeli deaths from Palestinian rockets this year, Get a clue!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisUh yes they are Einstein. Research before you post stupidity, as usual for the apologists.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe difference being exponential fool and unnecessary as well,scary , these ppl consider themselves Scientific thinkers? FSM help us.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this"
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHey Einstein,
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHow many posts does it take to make your "point"?
Obviously, never enough
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this