Industry Groups Sue Over Polar Bear Rule

Suit Claims Interior Dept.'s Rule On Bears Unfairly Singles Out Businesses In Alaska

(AP)  Five industry groups have sued the Interior Department over a rule to protect the polar bear that they say unfairly singles out business operations in Alaska for their contribution to global warming.

Groups representing the oil and gas, mining, and manufacturing industries asked a federal judge Wednesday to ensure that laws designed to protect the bear, which was recently designated a threatened species, are not used to block projects that release heat-trapping gases in the state.

The American Petroleum Institute was joined by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Mining Association, the National Association of Manufacturers and the American Iron and Steel Institute in the lawsuit, which explicitly challenges three words - except in Alaska - that appear in a 62-page rule issued in May.

That's when the polar bear became the first species with a population that the government has classified as threatened by global warming. The bear depends on sea ice, which is expected to melt as temperatures climb, for survival.

The Bush administration made clear that it did not want the polar bear's status to become a tool of environmentalists seeking to regulate the gases blamed for global warming.

On the day it announced the polar bear as a threatened species, which bars harm to the bear or its habitat, the administration also issued a special rule limiting the types of projects that could be evaluated.

To further block attempts to use endangered species law to control greenhouse gas emissions, it exempted projects in all states but Alaska from undergoing reviews.

The groups say the three words - which they refer to as The Alaska Gap - are unlawful and run counter to the administration's belief that it is impossible to link emissions from a single project to the increasing temperatures that threaten the polar bear.

"Anchorage has no more effect on climate change or polar ice than does an emission in Ankara," the suit reads.

The lawsuit filed Thursday is the latest to target the polar bear. Environmentalists and the state of Alaska have also sued the Interior Department over the polar bear's protection.

In the meantime, energy companies have paid billions for the right to explore for oil and natural gas in polar bear habitat.

The Interior Department would not comment on the lawsuit.

Brendan Cummings, the oceans program director for the Center for Biological Diversity, which is challenging the rule in court on the grounds that it is illegal, said Thursday that the lawsuit brought by industry is another attempt to "make the polar bear's protections more meaningless than they already are."

[timfitz42]

Before I even make this comment (because I know I''ll get hassled over it) let me first say I am an environmentally conscious person.

Polar bears are not optimally suited for survival on a long term basis, their extinction is inevitable even without human interference. Within 300 years or so they would no longer be around due to natural warmings and coolings of the planet. We''re just accelerating it to 50 years.

However, human beings are unique in that we can manipulate our environment (badly for the most part). We''ve saved species on the brink of extinction before. What I''m getting at is that we may not be able to save them, but shame on us if we fast-track their demise or don''t at least try to save them.

[aerhed]

Hey, can you hear that low frequency hum in the earth? No, it''s not a drilling rig (good one though) IT''S FREAKIN TEDDY ROOSEVELT SPINNING IN HIS GRAVE!
Lets make cbsfan king. What the hey, he gotta do better "those two guys" (draft dodgers).

[noboundary]

The solution is simple - give Polar Bears the right to vote. Let them decide the election in November!

[armydog2]

It is amazing how greed of the neocons and their big oil buddies hold such little concern for God''s beautiful creatures. Have you ever been to Alaska? It is breathtaking country, truly our final frontier why would anyone want to destroy it, the love of money is that strong, this is truly a disgrace!

[lovesamerica]

I don''t care about that either,but when I saw Alaska after her name it made my blood curdle..environmentaly. Have a good holiday.bye

[cbsfan73]

lovesamerica wrote:
"I am a woman and I know about PMS, heaven help us and keep her away from the red button!!!!!!lol seriously though, it is a bad thing for the environment,in my humble opinion."

I have nothing against women in politics. But I believe that one should not vote simply because of race or gender.

[lovesamerica]

I am a woman and I know about PMS, heaven help us and keep her away from the red button!!!!!!lol seriously though, it is a bad thing for the environment,in my humble opinion.

[cbsfan73]

lovesamerica wrote:
"Just saw Mcain''''s running mate. Drilling in Alaska would start about 30seconds after the inaugeration."

This is a political strategy designed to capture Hillary votes. I guess he assumes that women are dumb and will throw their vote towards a candidate embellishing a woman rather than throw it towards logic.

[cbsfan73]

nrgmizer wrote:
"This administration has played a crucial role in global warming and has shown that as long as Corporate policy overrules practical politics, another step toward extinction is taken."

Well, it''s a lot like drilling a tiny hole in your boat every day.

[cbsfan73]

nrgmizer wrote:
"The earth, polar bears and us are in danger and you guys are wondering why the polar bear doesn''''t evolve."

The national parks are trying very hard to induce evolution on bears by creating cowardly bears that will accommodate humans. This is not natural.