WASHINGTON, DC, October 2, 2007 (ENS) - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced that it will give the public additional time to review and comment on nine new research papers analyzing polar bear population status and threats by extending its currently open public comment period until October 22.

This research, recently completed by the U.S. Geological Survey, will be used by the Service in conjunction with other scientific information gathered over the past year in reaching a final decision on whether to protect the polar bear as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The USGS studies can be found at: http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/special/polar_bears/.

The comment period was scheduled to close on October 5, but will now remain open until October 22.

The Service has limited this additional comment period because of statutory deadlines which require the agency to make a final listing determination within one year of the January 9, 2007 publication of the proposed rule to protect the polar bear as a threatened species.

The primary threat to polar bears is the sharp decrease of sea ice coverage occurring as a result of climate warming.

Although some females use snow dens on land for birthing cubs, polar bears are almost completely dependent upon sea ice for their sustenance. Any significant changes in the abundance, distribution, or existence of sea ice will have effects on the number and behavior of these animals and their prey, the Service says.

This proposed listing responds to a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity, dated February 16, 2005, to list the polar bear as threatened and to designate critical habitat for the species.

This proposal to list the polar bear follows a multi-year court battle by conservation groups to protect the bear from the impacts of global warming in the Arctic

The Service's comprehensive review of the status of the polar bear determined that "the best available scientific and commercial data indicates that protecting the species as threatened throughout its range is appropriate." The Service now seeks public review of our proposed rule.

The Service says it has made every effort possible to gather the latest and best scientific and technical data. During the original 90 day public comment period, which closed in April 2007, the Service held public hearings in Anchorage, Alaska; Barrow, Alaska; and Washington, DC. In June, the Service hosted a meeting to exchange scientific information with other countries in the polar bear's range.

In response, the public has sent in about 600,000 comments that the Service says contain volumes of information concerning habitat, distribution, population densities and trends and effects of sea-ice change on polar bears.

"The sense of urgency about the fate of the polar bears is like nothing we've ever seen in an endangered species listing," said Andrew Wetzler, director of the Endangered Species Project at the Natural Resources Defense Council. "The plight of these animals is critical, and so is the sense that the changes affecting them are eventually going to affect us. That's why there is such tremendous public support for getting this listing done."

"Just 10 more years of current global warming pollution trajectories will commit us to enough warming to melt the Arctic and doom the polar bear to extinction," said Kassie Siegel, director of the Center for Biological Diversity's Climate, Air, and Energy Program. "We urgently need to address global warming, not just for the sake of the polar bear but for the sake of people and wildlife around the world."

Comments provided during the original 90 day public comment period should not be resubmitted, and any new comments should be limited to the nine USGS reports. The Service is particularly interested in information regarding the new data and its relevance to the final determination on its proposal to list the polar bear as a threatened species.

Comments may be submitted by e-mail to: Polar_Bear_Finding@fws.gov. Information on other methods for submitting comments can be found on the Federal eRulemaking Portal at: http:www.regulations.gov. You may mail or hand-deliver written comments and information to the Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management Office, 1011 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99503.

Further information about polar bear management in Alaska, and on the proposed Endangered Species Act listing of polar bears worldwide, can be found at: http://alaska.fws.gov/fisheries/mmm/polarbear/issues.htm.

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2007. All rights reserved.