Secretary Kempthorne Announces Decision to Protect Polar Bears under Endangered Species Act
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior
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.”
+ Final Rule (PDF; 2.7 MB)
+ Interim Final 4 (d) Rule (PDF; 409 KB)
+ Secretary Kempthorne’s Remarks
+ Sea Ice Images Sea Ice Images
+ U.S. - Canada MOU (PDF; 114 KB)
+ Guidance from USGS Director Mark Myers (PDF; 20 KB)
+ Guidance from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dale Hall (PDF; 1.7 KB)
+ Fact Sheet (PDF; 89 KB)
