Chamber Supports Sound Science in Polar Bear Decision
by Thomas Myers
The Department of Interior today listed the polar bear as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) while also clearly recognizing that the ESA was never meant to address climate change.
By also issuing a "special rule" the Department of Interior does not have to impose the consultation process on all carbon emitting acts in the lower 48 states.
The Chamber is very happy with this decision by Department of Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, which was the subject of a protracted legal battle, for several reasons:
- First, the polar bear population has more than doubled since the 1960s, currently between 20,000 and 25,000, up from 8,000 to 10,000.
- Second, it recognized that the listing was less about the polar bear and more about addressing climate change.
- Finally, without the special rule, listing the polar bear would have severe ramifications on American jobs and the economy because it would allow for endless bureaucratic delays grinding U.S. business to a virtual halt.
My boss Bill Kovacs, the U.S. Chamber’s Vice President of Environmental Affairs, had this to say about today's ruling:
"We must safeguard our environment while also protecting our economy. Today’s decision will protect the polar bear while also protecting American jobs and businesses.
Imposing the consultation process would have literally shut down federal activity in the lower 48 states until it was complete. This would put a stop to the government doing everything from building highways to approving new power plants."
Perhaps more importantly, Secretary Kempthorne also had the foresight to utilize sound science in reaching his decision to list the polar bear. Specifically, he notes that the U.S. Geological Survey reports that the best scientific data available does not demonstrate significant impacts from carbon emissions. As such, there is little direct evidence of a causal connection between business activities in the lower 48 states and melting Arctic Ice.
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