WASHINGTON (February 14, 2020) 鈥 Today the Commonwealth of Virginia declared that under state law in light of rollbacks to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act by the Trump Administration. The state also committed to take substantial and immediate steps to create nesting habitat to protect birds during construction of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel expansion project.
鈥淲e鈥檝e lost 3 billion birds since 1970 and two-thirds are at risk of extinction due to climate change. Governor Northam鈥檚 leadership comes at a critical time and is a huge victory for birds,鈥 said David O鈥橬eill, chief conservation officer, 探花精选. 鈥淲ith the Department of the Interior鈥檚 headquarters just across the Potomac from Virginia, the Governor鈥檚 actions paint a stark distinction where birds are safe and where they aren鈥檛. It鈥檚 inspiring to see this decisive action in Virginia at a time when the Trump Administration is turning its back on common sense bird conservation.鈥
Under the plan proposed today, Virginia will administer a permitting program for companies likely to impact bird populations. The program will establish and incentivize best management practices to avoid bird deaths. California is the only other state to take new legal steps to limit incidental take since the Trump Administration鈥檚 rollbacks, but there are signals that other states may quickly follow.
鈥淰irginia鈥檚 proposed permitting program is the kind of innovation we need to see coming from the federal government,鈥 said O鈥橬eill. 鈥淭his solution proves that you don鈥檛 have to choose between economic growth and conservation. We鈥檙e working with more states to follow California and Virginia鈥檚 lead.鈥
The controversy over how to address bird impacts resulting from the Hampton Roads project arose as a result of the Administration鈥檚 rollback. In January, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service introduced a draft rule which would cement its three-year-old policy not to enforce the incidental taking of birds under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This means that companies are no longer required to implement policies like covering oil pits and marking power lines. This reverses decades of policy by Republican and Democrat administrations under the 100-year-old law.
To respond to the specific concerns about the loss of seabirds from the Hampton Roads project, Virginia will be taking the important steps to prepare nesting area for seabirds at Ft. Wool for the upcoming season, take precautions to deter nesting on South Island during the construction process, and accelerate a feasibility study and invest in the creation of an island to provide long-term habitat, all measures that improve the outlook for Virginia鈥檚 seabirds.
鈥淭hese measures will minimize the impact of the upcoming construction on the terns, gulls and other nesting birds,鈥 said Walker Golder, director of 探花精选鈥檚 Atlantic Flyway Coast Initiative. 鈥淲e were always confident that there was a solution and these thoughtful actions show Virginia鈥檚 commitment to balance conservation and growth. 探花精选 stands ready to help make sure these plans are successful.鈥
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Media Contact: Matt Smelser, matt.smelser@audubon.org, 202.516.5593
The 探花精选 protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. 探花精选 works throughout the Americas using, science, advocacy, education and on-the-ground conservation. State programs, nature centers, chapters, and partners give 探花精选 an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. A nonprofit conservation organization since 1905, 探花精选 believes in a world in which people and wildlife thrive. Learn more how to help at www.audubon.org and follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @audubonsociety.