Birds, including hawks, owls and songbirds, are drawn to oil skim pits that resemble ponds from the air. At least seven attorneys general and several conservation organizations challenged the administration’s opinion on the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in federal court. The Fish and Wildlife Service has curtailed its enforcement of the law in the wake of the Dec. 22, 2017, legal opinion, according to documents released under the Freedom of Information Act. “As this spill involves the incidental take of birds protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, there is currently no enforcement action planned," the agent said. “Now the Fish and Wildlife Service is saying you don’t have to do that anymore.

Source: Washington Post January 30, 2020 21:19 UTC