Source: Fox News
Summary
The University of Minnesota is facing a proposed penalty of $14,536 for killing a bald eagle at its Eolos Wind Energy Research Field Station in Dakota County, Minnesota. The incident occurred when a wind turbine struck the eagle, dismembering it into three pieces. The university violated the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act by killing the eagles without an “incidental take permit.” The Department of the Interior issued a notice of violation and urged the university to reassess the turbine’s danger to eagles.
Our Reading
As expected, the matter has reached another stage.
The University of Minnesota is facing a proposed penalty for killing a bald eagle at its wind energy research field station.
The incident occurred when a wind turbine struck the eagle, dismembering it into three pieces.
The university was aware of the danger of bird collisions and was testing its collision detection sensors at the time.
The eagle’s remains were discovered in pieces, with the lower torso and tail found first, and the head and wings not found until over a month later.
It’s not the only such killing to have occurred in recent years, with another incident involving Ørsted Onshore North America resulting in fines for two bald eagle kills.
One of the most obvious aspects of this story is the way the Department of the Interior’s violation notice frames the incident as a matter of “accountability” and “safeguarding” bald eagles, while the university’s response is to “review” the notice.
