Endangered species

Statement of Aaron Colangelo, NRDC Senior Attorney

SAN FRANCISCO May 23, 2008 – A federal court struck down a rule exempting oil and gas development projects from pollution-prevention requirements of the Clean Water Act. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the Environmental Protection Agency in a case brought by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

The decision will protect thousands of streams throughout the West from sediment contamination caused by energy exploration and development, according to NRDC.

Following is a statement by Aaron Colangelo, senior attorney at NRDC:    » read more »

Alaska Filing to Challenge Decision

May 21, 2008, Anchorage, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sarah Palin announced today the state of Alaska intends to file suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia challenging U.S. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne’s decision to list the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

Polar bear: Photo by Bruno D Rodrigues (CC)

“We appreciate the Secretary’s recognition that oil and gas activities are already regulated under the Marine Mammal Protection Act to prevent impacts to the polar bear and do not pose a threat to the polar bear,” Governor Palin said.    » read more »

Faced with Scientific Evidence on Global Warming, Court Order, and Public Pressure, Government Grants Polar Bear Endangered Species Act Listing Due to Global Warming

WASHINGTON (May 14, 2008) – Following a three-year legal battle to protect the polar bear from extinction due to global warming, three environmental groups won protection for the species with the announcement today that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is listing the polar bear as a federally “threatened” species.

Polar bear cub near Svalbard, Norway: Photo by Amanda Graham (CC)    » read more »

Interior Department Plan Will Allow Destructive Energy Development; Attacks Integrity of Endangered Species Act; Statement of Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope

May 14, 2008 -- “After months of delay, the Interior Department has finally recognized that polar bears are on the brink of extinction. But the administration’s decision is riddled with loopholes, caveats, and backhanded language that could actually undermine protections for the polar bear and other species.

“We can’t protect polar bears unless we combat global warming and keep oil drills out of their habitat. Yet, the administration is so keen to appease Big Oil they tout the continuation of drilling—in spite of the listing—in the headline of their press release.    » read more »

Alaska Governor Pledges to Work for Conservation

May 14, 2008, Anchorage, Alaska – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced its decision today to list the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne called Alaska Governor Sarah Palin this morning to inform her of the USFWS decision, and assured her that oil and gas developments are not to blame.

Polar bear, Alaska: Photo by AlaskaPodshow.com (CC)    » read more »

05/14/2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Senator John Kerry made the following statement today after Sec. of Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne announced that he would list the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Kerry sponsored legislation earlier this year to protect polar bear habitat from drilling in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, and he wrote a letter to Kempthorne earlier this week, asking that he adhere to a Federal court-ordered deadline by listing the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act.

Polar bear cub near Svalbard, Norway: Photo by Amanda Graham (CC)    » read more »

Governor dedicates $500,000 in strategic reserve fund dollars to help affected communities

April 10, 2008 -- (Salem) – Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski today declared a state of emergency for affected areas of the Oregon coast due to anticipated curtailment of the ocean salmon fishing season. Executive Order 08-10 directs state agencies to take immediate action to help mitigate the impact on Oregon’s communities and fishing related businesses on the coast.

Fish Peddler's Market, Newport, Oregon: Photo by biskuit (CC)    » read more »

April 1, 2008 -- Miami, FL – A U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today upheld an injunction protecting eight federally listed species and their habitats in the Florida Keys. The court denied an appeal by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) seeking to overturn the 2005 injunction, which prohibits FEMA from issuing flood insurance for new development in the sensitive habitats of the Florida Key deer and seven other threatened and endangered species.    » read more »

Conservation Groups Sue to Enforce Protections for Hine’s Emerald Dragonfly

Chicago, IL (March 10, 2008) – Environmental groups challenged the federal government’s decision to exclude all national forest land from a recent endangered species ruling in federal court today. The suit filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Center for Biological Diversity, Northwoods Wilderness Recovery, Michigan Nature Association, Door County Environmental Council (DCEC) and the Habitat Education Center, charges that the U.S.    » read more »

Faced with Overwhelming Scientific Evidence, Government Continues Delay on Endangered Species Act Listing Due to Global Warming

WASHINGTON (March 10, 2008) – Today the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Center for Biological Diversity and Greenpeace sued the Bush administration for missing the legal deadline to issue a final decision on whether to list the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act due to global warming.    » read more »

The brown pelican is known for its fishing displays, plunging headlong from the air into the water and rising with a mouthful of fish. In the same dramatic fashion, the pelican has pulled off an amazing recovery after a steep plunge toward extinction,” said Secretary Kempthorne at a press conference on Friday.

1/25/2008 San Francisco, Calif. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is assisting the California Department of Fish and Game and Santa Barbara County’s Fire Department address at least four releases of oil from Greka Energy facilities near Buellton, Calif.

Following Greka’s major Jan. 5th Oil spill at Zaca Creek, the EPA has been inspecting Greka’s Central California facilities. EPA discovered the most recent spills during one such inspection.    » read more »

December 21, 2007 -- Washington, DC -- U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) said they were encouraged by Japan’s decision to suspend its hunt of humpback whales at the request of the United States.

“I am pleased that Japan has responded to international pressure and suspended part of what its Fisheries Agency calls its largest whale hunt ever,” Boxer said. “While I am glad that the Japanese have called off their hunt of humpback whales, I remain concerned that they are still hunting over 1,000 whales, including the endangered fin whale.”    » read more »

Unprecedented Waiver Imperils Marine Mammals; White House Snubs California, Federal Courts and Congress

LOS ANGELES (January 16, 2008) – The Bush administration yesterday attempted to override a federal court order requiring the U.S. Navy to minimize harm to whales and dolphins during upcoming sonar exercises off Southern California.    » read more »

01/16/2008 -- WASHINGTON DC – Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) wrote a letter to Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne today, asking him to delay a 30 million-acre oil and gas lease sale in Alaska’s Chukchi Sea, planned for February 6th, 2008. Kerry was joined by ten other Senators in recommending that the lease sale be delayed until the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service announces its final decision regarding the listing of the polar bear as a threatened species. Polar bears are in increasing danger, due to the large-scale melting of the sea ice that makes up the polar bear habitat.    » read more »