Exxon Mobil pays fine in case tied to bird deaths

By BRETT CLANTON, HOUSTON CHRONICLE

Aug. 13, 2009, 1:54PM

Exxon Mobil Corp. has agreed to pay $600,000 in fines and community service payments under a deal with the federal government concerning violations of a federal migratory bird law in five states including Texas, the Justice Department said today.

On Wednesday, the Irving-based oil giant pleaded guilty in a federal district court in Denver to five misdemeanor charges of breaking the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Exxon Mobil was accused of killing about 85 birds including water fowl and hawks in Colorado, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas.

The birds died after exposure to hydrocarbons in open natural gas well pits and wastewater storage facilities at company sites in each state, said John Cruden, acting assistant U.S. attorney general, in a conference call this morning.

Image: ANNETTE MESSAGER, "Le repos des pensionnaires"
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