It’s okay to kill California condors. As long as you are running a wind farm. Or building luxury homes. In the middle of condor habitat.

And as long as you didn’t really mean to off them.

(Cross-post from my other blog, Outrun Change.)

The Los Angeles Times reports Companies won’t face charges in condor deaths.

The federal Fish and Wildlife Service told the operators of Terra-Gen Power’s wind farm in the heart of condor habitat they

…will not be prosecuted if their turbines accidentally kill a condor during the expected 30-year life span of the project.

It’s a federal felony to harass or kill a condor. But since this is a wind-mill farm, it’s okay to do so. Oh, and luxury houses are an acceptable reason to off a few condors too.

Fish and Wildlife also made an exception for the 270,000-acre Tejon Ranch Co., saying that the government will not prosecute if construction of the company’s controversial 5,553-acre development of luxury homes, hotels and golf courses violates the harassment ban in the endangered species law. The exception will last for 50 years. The project is expected to consume 8% of the critical condor habitat in the Tehachapis, about 60 miles north of Los Angeles.

Thirty year free pass for the wind-farm offing condors and 50 year free pass for the luxury homes.

Can someone explain to me why this is moral?

Hat tip: Million Dollar Way. As Mr. Oksol says, you can’t make this up. Who would ever think of the feds giving official permission to kill condors?

Other posts on the slice-and-dice industry at this tag.