Federal Regulations
industry caused fatalties are preventable and fines are avoidable
Experts list electrocution and collision as the top reason for the death of endangered species. It is estimated that 57 million birds are killed by collisions with power lines annually in the USA alone. Because of this, many governments have strict regulations designed to protect various species.
Fortunately, we can help. Power hardening not only protects against electrocutions and collisions, it also reduces outages and increases power reliability.
North American Federal Regulations
MIGRATORY BIRD TREATY ACT
This law is intended to ensure the sustainability of populations of all protected migratory bird species. The act expressly forbids the: “pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, attempt to take, capture or kill, possess, offer for sale, sell, offer to purchase, purchase, deliver for shipment, ship, cause to be shipped, deliver for transportation transport, cause to be transported, carry, or cause to be carried by any means whatever, receive for shipment, transportation or carriage, or export, at any time, or in any manner, any migratory bird in the terms of this Convention… for the protection of migratory birds… or any part, nest, or egg of any such bird.” (16 U.S.C. 703)
BALD + GOLDEN EAGLE PROTECTION ACT
This act prohibits the “disturbing of Bald and Golden Eagles. “Disturbing” is defined as: “to agitate or bother a bald or golden eagle to a degree that causes, or is likely to cause, based on the best scientific information available, 1) injury to an eagle, 2) a decrease in its productivity, by substantially interfering with normal breeding, feeding, or sheltering behavior, or 3) nest abandonment, by substantially interfering with normal breeding, feeding, or sheltering behavior.” (16 U.S.C. 668-668c)
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT
This act is designed to protect endangered plants and animals by ensuring that actions are not likely to “jeopardize the continued existence of any listed species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of designated critical habitat of such species. The law also prohibits any action that causes a “taking” of any listed species of endangered fish or wildlife. Likewise, import, export, interstate, and foreign commerce of listed species are all generally prohibited.” (16 U.S.C. §1531 et seq.)