Two More Groups Say They'll Sue Over Oil Exploration in Polar Bear Habitat. By Dan Joling, AP, June 10, 2008. "The Center for Biological Diversity and Pacific Environment gave the federal government formal notice Monday that they will sue under the Endangered Species Act to protect [polar] bears [from petroleum exploration and drilling off Alaska's coast]... [The bears]... were listed as threatened last month by Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne... [who] said the best scientific judgments did not conclude that polar bears were threatened by oil and gas development. The conservation groups do not agree. Whit Sheard, of Pacific Environment, said Bush administration officials have been so keen to grant offshore leases, they have not given proper consideration to the potential harm to polar bears... The groups say the Bush administration has opened up virtually all of Alaska polar bear habitat to leasing [and that] they are not seeking to shut down offshore drilling... but... ensure that the government follows requirements of the Endangered Species Act... A 60-day notice of intent to sue is required before a lawsuit can be filed."
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