Deal to require U.S. to designate polar bear habitat

October 07 06:05:02 AM, LA Times

Under an agreement reached with 3 conservation groups that could restrict drilling off Alaska's coast, the Interior Department has until 2010 to designate critical habitat for the threatened species. 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.

ANCHORAGE -- 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 extinction due to the effects of global warming, including shrinking ice sheets.





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