WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior
Dirk Kempthorne today announced that he is accepting the recommendation
of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dale Hall to list the polar
bear as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
The listing is based on the best available science, which shows that
loss of sea ice threatens and will likely continue to threaten polar
bear habitat. This loss of habitat puts polar bears at risk of becoming
endangered in the foreseeable future, the standard established by the
ESA for designating a threatened species.
In making the announcement, Kempthorne said, “I am also
announcing that this listing decision will be accompanied by
administrative guidance and a rule that defines the scope of impact my
decision will have, in order to protect the polar bear while limiting
the unintended harm to the society and economy of the United States.”
Kempthorne further stated, “While the legal standards under the
ESA compel me to list the polar bear as threatened, I want to make
clear that this listing will not stop global climate change or prevent
any sea ice from melting. Any real solution requires action by all
major economies for it to be effective. That is why I am taking
administrative and regulatory action to make certain the ESA isn’t
abused to make global warming policies.”
In January 2007, the Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing
the polar bear as threatened throughout its range based on receding sea
ice. At that time, Secretary Kempthorne directed the Fish and Wildlife
Service and the USGS to aggressively work with the public and the
scientific community to broaden understanding of what is happening with
the species. In September 2007, the USGS delivered to the Fish and
Wildlife Service nine studies related to the future condition of the
polar bear and its habitat.
Declines in Sea Ice Documented
Kempthorne illustrated the listing decision with charts
depicting satellite images of the differences in sea ice from the fall
of 1979 to the fall of 2007. (Studies and models at http://www.doi.gov/issues/polar_bears.html).
Last year, Arctic sea ice fell to the lowest level ever recorded by
satellite, 39 percent below the long-term average from 1979 to 2000.
The amount of sea ice loss in years 2002-2007 exceeded all previous