A new regulation set to be unveiled by the Interior Department would
end most federal protections for migratory birds, allowing companies
that accidentally kill such animals to not face punishments.
The New York Times
reported that a rule change set to be announced by the agency as soon
as Thursday would codify a legal opinion issued by the Interior
Department in 2017 that found that laws established to protect migratory
birds should not be applied in situations where animal deaths are
accidental. When in effect, the rule change would allow companies that do
not establish safeguards to prevent the deaths of migratory birds to
avoid facing penalties, as only deliberate killings would now be
considered actionable. The change would come as the agency has already
largely stopped investigating such deaths under the Trump administration, according to the Times. Eight states, including California, have launched a legal effort to
reverse the opinion issued by agency attorneys in 2017, and the new rule
will likely face legal challenges, as well. Led by state Attorney
General
Xavier Becerra (D), California is also challenging the Trump administration's efforts to
change the Endangered Species Act...
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