Markey: Bush Admin. Misses Polar Bear Deadline…Yet Again
Contact: Select Committee, 202-225-4081
Markey: Bush Admin. Misses Polar Bear Deadline…Yet Again
Interior Department Misses Statutory, and Now Self-imposed Decision Timeline for Imperiled Bear
WASHINGTON (February 8, 2008) – Today marks the second time the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has missed a deadline to reach a decision on the fate of the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act. However, the department kept true to the scheduled sale of oil drilling rights in polar bear habitat that happened earlier this week.On January 7, 2008, the agency delayed the decision to list the polar bear as threatened by global warming under the Endangered Species Act, and placed a self-imposed new timeline for the decision of 30 additional days from the January 9, 2008 statutory deadline. That placed the new decision deadline date as today, which the Fish and Wildlife Service said it would again miss.
By moving ahead with the oil rights sale before the polar bear decision, the Interior Dept. has opened up the U.S. Government to unnecessary legal and financial vulnerabilities by signing and sealing contracts with oil companies that may need alterations after the polar bear decision is finally reached. If the contracts have to later be altered or amended due to polar bear protection requirements, oil companies could sue, or the government could have to buy back oil leases--with potential damages or compensation for oil companies --both creating legal and monetary headaches paid for by the American taxpayer.
Below is the statement of Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Chairman of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming:
“When it comes to the survival of the polar bear, the Bush administration is putting the ‘dead’ back into ‘deadline.’ In the span of a month, they have twice missed their chance to save the polar bear, and save face, by making the clear scientific and moral choice to list the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
“Now that the Bush administration has taken care of its clear first priority—taking care of their friends in the oil industry—perhaps they can finally give the polar bear, and the global warming that is causing the bear’s demise, the attention it is due.”
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PLEASE NOTE: The House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming was created to explore American clean energy solutions that end our reliance on foreign oil and reduce carbon pollution.
The Select Committee was active during the 110th and 111th Congresses. This is an archived version of the website, to ensure that the public has ongoing access to the Select Committee record. This website, including external links, will not be updated after Jan. 3rd, 2010.
The Select Committee was active during the 110th and 111th Congresses. This is an archived version of the website, to ensure that the public has ongoing access to the Select Committee record. This website, including external links, will not be updated after Jan. 3rd, 2010.
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