"The Arctic is melting and polar bears are feeling the heat,"
said Earthjustice attorney Clayton Jernigan. "We need a time out
on further oil activity in the Polar Bear Seas until we all
understand what measures are necessary to protect the polar
bears, other wildlife, and people that live in this rapidly
transforming ecosystem." Among other steps, the Fish and
Wildlife Service must now designate critical habitat for the
bears and create a recovery plan. Other federal agencies are now
required to work together with Fish and Wildlife Service to
closely scrutinize oil and gas activities that could harm polar
bears or their habitat. "It remains to be seen how much this
belated listing decision will improve protections for polar
bears and their rapidly shrinking habitat," explained Jernigan.
"There is reason for concern, as this listing comes amid the
lame-duck administration's rush to sell off pristine Arctic
Ocean waters off northern Alaska to the oil industry and approve
seismic blasting and drilling in those