Tell Washington to REJECT Weakening Protections for Eagles!

Bald Eagle, ClipArt.com

A proposal to gut an important rule that protects eagles is being rushed through the Fish and Wildlife Service before President Obama’s new Secretary of Interior can be confirmed.

This rule will result in more of these iconic birds being killed at wind energy projects throughout the United States.

It wasn’t that long ago that Bald Eagle numbers plummeted to just 800 breeding birds, placing them on the Endangered Species List and putting their very existence in doubt. Majestic Golden Eagles, also suffered declines, and continue to struggle today in the face of ongoing threats.

The federal government currently allows corporations to get permits to avoid prosecution for killing limited numbers of eagles as part of their normal operations if they also promise to offset this damage. These permits must be renewed every five years, giving the public regular opportunity to assess an industry’s operations. However, at the request of wind energy industry lobbyists, the federal government has now proposed making the permits good for 30 years! That means 30 years without the possibility for public review of the permit.

This will lead to more dead eagles, more costly lawsuits, and more Americans who will wonder why some private businesses are getting a free pass to kill some of our nation’s most remarkable birds.

Learn more about the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and see the proposed regulations.

Please send a message TODAY to give the new Secretary of Interior time to reject this terrible proposal.

Please enter your information and send your comments. We have drafted a letter for you, but your additional thoughts will really make an impact.

Subject:

Your Letter:

Dear Secretary Salazar:

I respectfully request you defer any further consideration on whether to change the maximum duration of Bald and Golden eagle take permits to 30 years from the current five until a new Secretary of the Interior has been confirmed and has the opportunity to fully participate in the decision.

These iconic birds still have historically low populations due to habitat loss and declining prey. The internal agency proposal to make 30 year eagle take permits available is not supported by science, is not in the best interest of conserving these species, and has rightfully drawn the opposition by the National Park Service and more than 120 conservation, animal welfare, tribal, and local interest groups.

This important and highly controversial decision should not be made without the full participation of the new Secretary of the Interior since the incoming Secretary will be responsible ultimately for the decision’s implementation. As a dedicated public servant with decades of honorable achievements, I am sure you will agree that rushing this decision before your imminent departure runs contrary to creating good public policy.

Thank you for your consideration of my request.

Sincerely,