Another eagle death reported at Nev. turbine farm 

Source: By Henry Brean, Las Vegas Review-Journal • Posted: Wednesday, February 25, 2015

A golden eagle was found dead Feb. 9 near a wind turbine at the Spring Valley Wind Energy facility 260 miles northeast of Las Vegas, prompting new calls for regulatory action.

The wind farm’s operators, San Francisco-based Pattern Energy, reported the death to the Fish and Wildlife Service, as required under federal law, and collected the carcass of the juvenile bird so it could be examined.

“Our folks in the regional office are aware of it, and they are consulting with the Bureau of Land Management and waiting for information from them,” said Dan Balduini, spokesman for the Fish & Wildlife Service in Nevada. “As it stands right now, we’re not taking any action until we get information that’s necessary to move forward.”

The wind facility last saw a golden eagle death two years ago but was not penalized even though it lacked an “incidental take” permit allowing for the occasional death of protected birds.

“It is unfortunate when any eagle is lost, and we will continue our efforts to reduce the project’s impact,” said Rene Braud, Pattern’s director of environmental compliance and policy. “We also believe that other energy facilities and industries result in far more bird fatalities than wind projects.”

Rob Mrowka, senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity, said federal officials need to deliver a more forceful response this time.

“There is no incidental take allowed after the first eagle,” Mrowka said. “After the first eagle, they have to face consequences, theoretically”