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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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8

Exxon Admits Killing Birds, Will Pay $600K

Company fined $600K over deaths of protected birds

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(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.

Owls were among the 85 protected birds found to have died at Exxon's facilities in the last 5 years.
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.
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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8 comments
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littleoopie
Aug 14, 09 8:39 AM CDT
I don't think $600,000 will mean enough to Exxon for them to change their production policies...but the attorney is right. God, I'm tired of crappy money hungry corporations. Reply
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+11
IN RESPONSE:
Reader64481089
Aug 14, 09 8:56 AM CDT
Considering the fact that Exxon earned $40.61 billion or nearly $1,300 per second in 2007 and exceeded that amount in 2008 with record windfalls..... it will not take very long at all even at 2007 rates to make up for payment for killing the animals....no, they will never notice and in fact pay the Attorneys more that that
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+7
bewilderbeast
Aug 14, 09 8:46 AM CDT
There is NOTHING corporate greed won't do. Their only regret will be having been caught. Can you imagine what they do on other continents, where they are not watched as closely? It is disgraceful. What they do to birds in the USA they do to people in Africa. Reply
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+4
Jojo
Aug 14, 09 8:50 AM CDT
So who exactly gets the 600k because of bird deaths? Are birds considered residents of a particular state and the money goes to that state, is it national? And I hate that animals die because of corporations but 600k for 85 birds? Really? Reply
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-3
schmidtkoff
Aug 14, 09 8:50 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. Reply
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+3

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