"The Interior Department is on the cusp of finalizing a rule that would give wind farms 30-year permits that authorize killing eagles."

"The Interior Department appears close to finalizing a controversial permitting rule that authorizes wind farms to kill eagles for decades.

The White House Office of Management and Budget signed off Wednesday on the heavily lobbied rule, which would boost the available permit period from five to 30 years, records show.

The rule, which has faced opposition from environmental groups, authorizes the non-intentional deaths of eagles but also contains conservation provisions, according to a summary of the plan on OMB's website."

Ben Geman reports for National Journal December 5, 2013. [2]