Thirty-five conservation groups, including ABRA and several of its members, filed comments with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on December 3 in response to the agency’s Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding incidental take regulations under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). The proposed rule changes are a revocation of rules put in place by the Trump Administration to limit the impact of MBTA. (Click here for background information.)
The comments, which were prepared and submitted on behalf of the groups by the Southern Environmental Law Center, included the following points:
- Migratory birds and their habitats in the southeastern United States are at risk, with some facing an extinction crisis.
- MBTA clearly prohibits the taking of “any migratory bird” and any permitting program should cover the full suite of activities prohibited under the treaty.
- Any permitting program should facilitate public involvement.
For a copy the comments, click here.
Groups comment on new migratory bird regulations