Alaska Coalition of Washington,

FYI.  A new study by the USGS has concluded that all of the polar bears
in Alaska will likely be gone within 50 years if current trends continue,
including global warming which is causing melting of the sea ice. As a
result of the new information, the period for public comment on whether
the polar bear should be listed as endangered has been extended until
October 22nd.  

Below are links with information about where and how to submit public
comments on the proposed listing of the polar bear as endangered under
the Endangered Species Act.  A few points that you could mention:
Tell the US Fish and Wildlife Service that polar bears should be listed
as endangered and their habitat protected. 
Only 20,000-25,000 polar bears remain in the world.  According to the
newly released US Geological Survey report, melting sea ice could
eliminate two-thirds of the world's polar bears and all of those in
Alaska within the next 50 years. 
Polar bears are declining in health and numbers with increased instances
observed of starvation, cannibalism and drowning. 
Global warming is destroying the sea ice that the polar bear needs for
hunting and denning. 
Polar bears will be further placed at risk by the impacts of drilling and
potential oil spills in their critical habitat. 
The Minerals Management Service should not proceed with Offshore Oil and
Gas Leasing in the "Polar Bear Seas", the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas.  The
MMS plans to sell leases to drill for oil and gas in 73 million acres in
these seas under the new 5 Year Plan which took effect July 1 should be
postponed until there is more information on the impacts to critical
polar bear habitat and marine mammals, and there is scientific
information about the ecosystems and wildlife that depend on the Beaufort
and Chukchi Seas. 
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/oct2007/2007-10-02-091.asp

You may email comments to
[log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>

or mail written comments to the Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Marine Mammals Management Office, 1011 East Tudor Road,
Anchorage, Alaska 99503.

Peggy Willis
CoChair, ACW

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to:
[log in to unmask]

Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information:
http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp

To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see:
 http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp