As A News Cafe recently reported, Millville Plains residents opposed to building a gun range in the middle of their rural residential district are suing the project’s owner, Shasta County District 4 supervisor Patrick “Chair” Jones, the board and the county, demanding a halt to all work on the gun range until a full Environmental Impact Report is conducted.
At least nine special status bird species are known to live in the immediate project area, including the bald eagle and golden eagle, but are not addressed in the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration even though Jones’ own follow-up report found eagles flying near the site.
Bald eagles aren’t just flying near the proposed High Plains Shooting Sports Center. One Millville Plains resident snapped a photo of a bald eagle perched on a post of what will be the gun range’s main entrance if it’s built. The photo was taken Monday, Dec. 18.
“The recovery of the bald eagle is one of the most well-known conservation success stories of all time,” according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. “We continue to work with our partners in state and federal agencies, tribes, nongovernment organizations and private landowners to ensure that our nation’s symbol flourishes.”
“Even though bald eagles were delisted from the Endangered Species Act in August 2007, because their populations recovered sufficiently, bald eagles are still protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Both laws prohibit killing, selling, or otherwise harming eagles, their nests or eggs.”
In their lawsuit, the Millville Plains residents note that the Pacific Flyway cross right over the proposed gun range. It remains to be seen whether Chair Jones will be required to conduct an Environmental Impact Report for the project.
