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Province swoops down on oil well to protect nest of threatened hawks

The Alberta government has swooped down on an oil company to protect a nest of threatened hawks.The province says it has ordered Calgary-based Crew Energy Inc.

SUFFIELD — The Alberta government has swooped down on an oil company to protect a nest of threatened hawks.

The province says it has ordered Calgary-based Crew Energy Inc. (TSX:CR) to stop operating an oil well near Suffield in southern Alberta.

The government says the well is too close to a nest of ferruginous hawks, which are protected under the federal Species At Risk Act.

The province says it has also cancelled the company’s mineral surface lease at the site.

Alberta law prohibits high-risk developments within 1,000 metres of active nests to protect the birds.