Feds must protect Alaskan habitat for polar bear
Actions to proctect arctic species could hamper oil drilling.
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA — Three conservation groups have reached a partial settlement with the federal government on polar bear habitat, which could restrict petroleum drilling off Alaska's coast.
The agreement filed Monday sets deadlines for the Interior Department secretary to designate "critical habitat" for polar bears.
Such a designation prohibits federal agencies from taking actions that may "adversely modify" critical habitat that could interfere with polar bear recovery.
Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne declared polar bears threatened on May 14 but did not designate critical habitat at the same time.
The agreement sets a deadline of June 30, 2010, for a final rule designating critical habitat for polar bears.
The Interior Department in May declared the species threatened with extincsion due to the effects of global warming, including shrinking ice sheets.
