Interior Memo Scaling Back Bird Protections Is Illegal, Court Rules

"A U.S. district court struck down the legal opinion used to justify the Trump administration’s coming rollback of protections for migratory birds late Monday, writing that the Department of the Interior memo was “contrary to law.”

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) has for over 100 years offered protections to 1,000 different types of birds, instigating penalties for companies whose projects or infrastructure harm them.

But a 2017 legal opinion from now Interior Solicitor Daniel Jorjani advised punishing the oil and gas industry, construction companies and others only if their work intentionally kills birds, ending the practice of punishing companies that “incidentally” kill birds."

Rebecca Beitsch reports for The Hill August 11, 2020.

SEE ALSO:

"Quoting ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ a Judge Struck Down Trump’s Rollback Of A Historic Law Protecting Birds" (Washington Post)