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US Won't Use Polar Bear to Battle Emissions

Law barring connection between carbon and habitat stands

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted May 8, 2009 1:18 PM CDT

(Newser) – The Obama administration will not use the plight of polar bears and their melting habitat to regulate greenhouse gases, the Anchorage Daily News reports. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced today that a Bush-era law barring government scientists from considering emissions as they attempt to save the endangered species will stand. But, he added, “this administration is fully committed to the protection and recovery of the polar bear.”

The Endangered Species Act “is not the appropriate tool for us to deal with what is a global issue,” Salazar continued. Environmental groups said they would sue the government while the energy industry applauded the move, the Chicago Tribune adds. Salazar said it was impossible to explicitly tie emissions to the plight of the polar bear.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.   (AP Photo)
A polar bear mother stands with her two cubs.
A polar bear mother stands with her two cubs.   (AP Photo)
A polar bear in Alaska.
A polar bear in Alaska.   (AP Photo)
A protester in a polar bear suit waves a sign outside of the building where Interior Secretary Ken Salazar held a meeting.
A protester in a polar bear suit waves a sign outside of the building where Interior Secretary Ken Salazar held a meeting.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
riffran
May 11, 2009 1:37 AM CDT
plus the fact that polar bear population is greater than it has been in 30 years......Hopium puffers...lol...thats a good one
prowlerzee
May 9, 2009 2:10 AM CDT
Oh, and anyone who gives my comment on how duped the Hopium Huffers have been a thumbs-down must be a Hopium Huffer who doesn't like recognizing that Brand Zero duped them totally. How do you huffers like Brand Zero's bigger-than-Bush's military budget on fighting the terrists? Look at it this way...Zero so far is giving a thumbs UP to companies spying on Americans, a thumbs up for those who approved torture, and a BIG THUMBS DOWN to polar bears! Remember allllllllllllllllllllllllll the screeching and whining you Hopium Huffers did over Palin, practically blaming her for every wolf and polar bear's death? Well, man up and admit it....your Brand Zero just gave the polar bears the sammmmmme thumbs down that Bush and Palin ever did. Don't blame me for rubbing your faces in it. Just admit it.
prowlerzee
May 9, 2009 2:02 AM CDT
Hahaha...where are all the Hopium Huffers now? Brand Zero, same as Brand Bush!

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