There was no denying that polar bears are in trouble, or soon to be. But I didn't like Kempthorne's wimpy responses on the interview on the NewsHour on PBS the other night. It seems like BushCo is still in denial about global warming and impacts of oil and gas development up there.
Plus I wouldn't put it past them to come up with something REALLY WEAK if they actually DO list the polar bear as threatened.
**** All this may be cover for several controversial moves the Fish and Wildlife Service has made in recent days elsewhere across the country. ****
Yes, it is "business" as usual as far as eliminating Endangered Species Act protections for at-risk species.
For example,
1.) Bushco wants to move the NORTHERN FLYING SQUIRREL from endangered to unlisted (
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/E6-21530.htm) - One of the MAJOR THREATS is coal-burning power plants, which impact the high elevation forests where they live.
2.) Bushco is talking about moving the INDIANA BAT off of the endangered species list. This species roosts in mature and OLD GROWTH forests - rare in the Eastern US. Populations are still staggeringly low.
3.) Bushco denied the petition to list the cerulean warbler as threatened (
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/E6-20530.htm). This warbler is facing one of the steepest declines of any warbler species. It's habitat is extensive Eastern forests with large, tall trees - often OLD GROWTH.
3.) Bushco wants to delist the gray wolf, and would allow wolves to be shot on sight in parts of Wyoming.
"Idaho Statesman
Idaho Statesman | Edition Date: 12/19/06
"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today it will propose delisting Rocky Mountain wolves as endangered in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming by the end of January.
Fish and wildlife director Dale Hall and Todd Willens, Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks met with Gov. Jim Risch early this afternoon to announce their decision.
It comes after federal wildlife officials reached an agreement with Wyoming leaders that would expand the area in that state where wolves would be protected.
But it still allows Wyoming wolves to be managed as predators outside that area, which means they can be shot on sight.
Idaho and Montana already had approved wolf management plans.
Under the proposal, wolves would be delisted in Idaho and Montana even if the Wyoming legislature and Fish and Wildlife commissions don’t approve the agreement there.
The public will have 60 days to comment after Fish and Wildlife makes its proposal to delist wolves.
Fish and Wildlife will then have a year to make its final decision.
Willens said the agreement was announced today because it has cleared the necessary people in the Interior Department — including its lawyers.
That’s important because the final decision will likely be challenged in court.
“We wanted to get it right, so it would hold up,” Willens said.
Risch said Idaho looks forward to managing wolves just as it has managed mountain lions and black bears.
He said he’s hopeful when a court challenge comes, a federal court will not issue an injunction stopping the decision to turn management of wolves back to the state.
“If that’s the case, we will have management in less than 12 months,” Rich said"