Comment on FR Doc # 2012-11111

Dear Sirs, I had recently read that the Fish and Wildlife Service was considering changing the permit regulations for wind farms pertaining to the killing of Bald and Golden Eagles. The current regulations provide for the inadvertent killing of these protected species for a period of up to 5 years. The extension of this permit period to 30 years allows for the indiscriminate killing of these magnificent creatures without any incentive for wind farms to solve the problem. If the full penalty of the law for killing eagles were enforced, I am sure that at the operators of these facilities would quickly determine a viable solution. Currently energy companies providing oil and gas are fully liable for the killing of any migratory birds that are encountered during their operations. Wind companies should not get a free pass just because they are a source of 'green' energy. How green is the energy if it leads to the direct killing of birds and bats including many endangered and threatened species. As an Eagle Scout and conservation minded citizen, I encourage you to not make the proposed change to Regulations Governing Eagle Permitting and to consider extending protections for wildlife killed by wind farm operations. Respectfully, Thomas R. Birch Jamestown, NC