Markey Introduces Legislation to Protect Polar Bear, Accuses Bush Admin. of Regulatory Lunacy

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Contact: Select Committee, 202-225-4081

Markey Introduces Legislation to Protect Polar Bear, Accuses Bush Admin. of Regulatory Lunacy

Bush Admin. Officials Deny Chairman’s Request to Put Off Drilling Sale in Hearing Today, Prompting Congressional Action

WASHINGTON (January 17, 2008) – Chairman Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming introduced legislation today that would compel the Bush administration to protect the polar bear before it allows widespread oil drilling in Alaska. The two agency directors in charge of the listing of the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and oil drilling rights appeared before the Select Committee today, and refused to commit to deciding the fate of the polar bear under ESA before selling right to drill in a major polar bear habitat.

“Robert Frost wrote about two roads diverging in the wood, and here we have the Bush administration looking down two roads with regard to the polar bear,” said Chairman Markey. “Down one road lies the survival of the polar bear and the orderly consideration of oil drilling and global warming and common sense. Down the other road, too often traveled by this administration, lies regulatory lunacy and a blatant disregard for moral responsibility. I urge Secretary Kempthorne and his agency to choose the Bush administration’s road less traveled and protect the polar bear, and the rest of us, from global warming.”

Earlier this month, the Fish and Wildlife Service announced it would miss the statutory deadline to reach a decision on listing the polar bear as threatened under ESA as a result of global warming, saying it would take up to a month more to reach the decision. That could put the listing decision after the sale of oil drilling rights in Alaska’s Chukchi Sea, scheduled for February 6th. The Chukchi Sea is a sensitive polar bear habitat, and the oil drilling area up for sale overlaps with major parts of the polar bears essential habitat.

The legislation proposed by Chairman Markey would require that the Interior Department delay the oil drilling rights sale in the Chuckchi Sea until it had made a decision on the polar bear, and had performed it’s responsibility of establishing a “critical habitat” for the polar bear.

To read the legislation, please CLICK HERE.

In the most thorough study to date, an Interior Department scientist, who appeared before the Select Committee today, determined that under current trends, disappearing sea ice would result in a two-thirds drop in the world population of polar bears resulting in the disappearance of polar bears from Alaska by 2050. One of the population centers considered under the “greatest” threat is the Chuckchi Sea habitat, according to the study.

To see testimony, photos and video from the Polar Bear hearing, please CLICK HERE.

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