Department of Interior allowing drilling in critical polar bear habitat

February 24th, 2011

Despite Federal protection, the Department of Interior is allowing dangerous and destructive off-shore drilling in critical polar bear habitat in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. While 187,000 square miles of habitat were recently set aside as Critical Habitat, the Obama Administration is continuing the Bush Administration’s tradition of watering down the Endangered Species Act. There is no effective way to clean up an oil spill in these remote, icy waters. Seismic testing, ship and air traffic, and increased human/industrial presence all pose serious threats to polar bears and other arctic wildlife. Meanwhile, the State of Alaska is suing over the polar bear’s threatened status as well as the critical habitat designation. Alaska’s polar bears are likely the population most threatened by climate change.

The Center for Biological Diversity has just filed intent to sue the Department of the Interior over these proposed drill sites. Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2011/01/13/1647134/group-plans-suit-to-shield-polar.html

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