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Exxon Admits Killing Birds, Will Pay $600K

Company fined $600K over deaths of protected birds

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 14, 2009 8:03 AM CDT

(Newser) – Exxon has pleaded guilty in federal court and agreed to pay $600,000 in fines over the deaths of dozens of birds at its drilling and production facilities, the Los Angeles Times reports. The 85 birds, including owls, waterfowl, and hawks, died after being exposed to hydrocarbons at Exxon's natural gas pits and waste ponds in five Western states.

"We are all responsible for protecting our wildlife, even the largest of corporations," said Colorado's US attorney. The company agreed to figure out ways to minimize bird deaths, and said it has already spent millions to prevent them from landing at its facilities and being exposed to toxic chemicals. Exxon's fines will help protect wetlands and waterfowl.

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Owls were among the 85 protected birds found to have died at Exxon's facilities in the last 5 years. (Shutter Stock)

Exxon's $600,000 in fines will be put towards efforts to protect wetlands and waterfowl. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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There are thousands of such wells across the West and thousands more since the Bush administration opened it all up. How many dead birds go undetected?
- Kert Davies, research director
for Greenpeace USA

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 6 comments

OWLWOMANXXXX

Aug 17, 2009 1:20 AM CDT

and some want to build more oil wells?

Ucantusethatname

Aug 14, 2009 4:57 AM CDT

Exxon will pay $7,059 per bird. Too stiff a fine in my a pinion.

schmidtkoff

Aug 14, 2009 1:50 AM CDT

with billion in earnings for the 1st qtr. of '09, $600,00. in fines and fees seems a mere pittance. and big biz want to go into alaska and offshore? when hurricane floyd hit the NC 10's of millions of hog feces and urine leaked from lagoons and 350 miles of ocean were considered a dead zone. and scientist tracking the overflow that that area was not capable of supporting marine life. worse than exxon valdez. 20 years for hog lagoon waste to filter down into ground water and another 20 years for it to clean itself. 2 generations folks. and now this.

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Los Angeles Times (Source Grid »)

US • Crime & Courts

Exxon • birds • hydrocarbon • US Fish and Wildlife Service • wildlife • environmental offenses • Exxon Mobil

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Exxon Admits Killing Birds, Will Pay $600K