Interior Slow on Bears, Not on Oil

"The chair of the Senate Environment Committee on Wednesday slammed Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne for failing to appear before her panel to explain why the Bush administration has delayed a decision on whether to protect polar bears under the Endangered Species Act." (Associated Press)

"Boxer said she was especially troubled because the administration did not hesitate to open a major bear habitat to oil leases."

""There's a rush to drill, and no rush to list" polar bears as threatened, Boxer said."

"...the oil and gas leases opened up in February do not pose a threat to the bear... If the bear is listed as threatened, any oil and gas exploration would be subject to the Endangered Species Act, regardless of when the leases are sold, Kempthorne said."