Action Alert: Protect Bald Eagles Nest from Fracking

Extraction Oil and Gas has launched what is no less than an all out attack on a long-established Bald Eagle nest along Boulder Creek, just one mile east of Boulder County. The photo below shows only part of the scale of this massive pipeline project, and the work is potentially in violation of federal protections for these nesting eagles, and contrary to state guidelines as well. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has already warned Extraction that they should be working more than 1/2 mile from the nest, but Extraction has ignored these recommendations. Currently, U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFW) law enforcement needs to abide by their federal obligation to investigate this matter, and insist that Extraction vacate the area as they are may be violating federal protections. Please, USFW and Extraction need to hear that Colorado is as concerned about the protection of our precious wildlife as we are about human health around our homes and schools. ACTION: Please send first email and text to USFW and the 2nd email and text to Extraction. If you have the time, please consider using your own words, or if not, just cut, past, and send. Write to: USFW Steve Overholtzer (Steve_overholtzer@fws.gov) and Brian Smith (brian_w_smith@fws.gov) Dear USFW, I am writing to express my outrage regarding the massive construction project being conducted by Extraction Oil and Gas within close proximity to a bald eagle nest and it's associated roosting and feeding sites in western Weld County, Colorado near Boulder Creek. The Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife (CPW) guidelines specify that there should be no intrusions on nest site areas within ½ mile radius of active nests from October 15 through July 31, and also suggest restrictions on encroachment of roosting and hunting perches. The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA) also prohibits and imposes penalties on disturbance of eagles or engaging in acts that result in nest abandonment or activities that substantially interfere with normal breeding, feeding, or sheltering behavior." According to observational studies by the Front Range Nesting Bald Eagle Studies group (FRNBES), a portion of Extraction's current construction and pipeline activities are occurring less than .15 miles to .33 miles from the active nest site in that area and have resulted in the abandonment of of many critical feeding perches by the nesting eagles that were previously frequenting them. In fact, video footage taken by FRNBES staff on November 11, documents one of the nesting eagles being startled, and dropping food at the exact time a tracked backhoe passed about 500 feet from the perch.

It is critical that Extraction comply with the rules of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and avoid the type of behavior that FRNBES has documented, which may indicate a violation of protections under the BGEPA. It is also of paramount concern that state wildlife recommendations--spelling out ½ mile buffer zones around nesting areas--are also being ignored in this instance. Industrial operations cannot come at the expense of our wildlife populations. I urge you to look into this matter immediately and to ensure that appropriate buffer setbacks and timing restrictions and being adhered to.

Extraction Oil and Gas Brian Cain (BCain@extractionog.com) and Eric Jacobsen (Ejacobsen@extractionog.com)

Executives at Extraction:

I am writing due to express my outrage regarding the massive construction project being conducted by Extraction Oil and Gas within close proximity to a bald eagle nest and it's associated roosting and feeding sites in western Weld County, Colorado near Boulder Creek. The Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife (CPW) guidelines specify that there should be no intrusions on nest site areas within ½ mile radius of active nests from October 15 through July 31 and also suggest restrictions on encroachment of roosting and hunting perches. The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA) also prohibits and imposes penalties on disturbance of eagles or engaging in acts that result in nest abandonment or activities that substantially interfere with normal breeding, feeding, or sheltering behavior." According to observational studies by the Front Range Nesting Bald Eagle Studies group (FRNBES), a portion of Extraction's current construction and pipeline activities are occurring less than .15 miles to .33 miles from the active nest site in that area and have resulted in the abandonment of of many critical feeding perches by the nesting eagles that were previously frequenting them. In fact, video footage taken by FRNBES staff on November 11, documents one of the nesting eagles being startled, and dropping food at the exact time a tracked backhoe passed about 500 feet from the perch.

It is critical that Extraction avoid the type of behavior that FRNBES has documented, which may indicate a violation of protections under the BGEPA. It is also of paramount concern that state wildlife recommendations recommendations--spelling out ½ mile buffer zones around nesting areas— are also being ignored by Extraction at this nest site. Industrial operations cannot come at the expense of our wildlife populations. I urge your company to ensure that CPW’s 1/2 mile buffer setbacks and timing restrictions are adhered to, and that all work activity closer than 1/2 mile to the Boulder Creek nest ceases immediately.