September 12, 2013

DOE and the Department of the Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) pursuant to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

In order to enhance collaboration in promoting the conservation of migratory bird populations, DOE and the Department of the Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) pursuant to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and Executive Order 13186, Responsibilities of Federal Agencies to Protect Migratory Birds.  The MBTA protects migratory birds by governing the taking, killing, possession, transportation, and importation of such birds, their eggs, parts, or nests.  The Executive Order requires agencies to avoid or minimize the adverse impact of their actions on migratory birds and to ensure that environmental analyses under NEPA evaluate the effects of proposed Federal actions on such species (66 FR 3853; January 17, 2001).