American Petroleum Institute Joins Alaska in Suing To Overturn Polar Bear Protection

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: Washington Post

CHICAGO -- The American Petroleum Institute and four other business groups filed suit Thursday against Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director H. Dale Hall, joining Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's administration in trying to reverse the listing of the polar bear as a threatened species.

On Aug. 4, the state of Alaska filed a lawsuit opposing the polar bear's listing, arguing that populations as a whole are stable and that melting sea ice does not pose an imminent threat to their survival. The suit says polar bears have survived warming periods in the past. The federal government has 60 days from the filing date to respond.

One of the plaintiff in Thursday's lawsuit, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), lauded the choice of Palin as the Republican vice presidential nominee for reasons including her advocacy of Alaskan oil and gas exploration, which many fear could be affected by the bear's protected status.

NAM and the petroleum institute were joined in the lawsuit by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Mining Association and the American Iron and Steel Institute. They object to what they call the "Alaska Gap" in relation to the special rule the federal government issued in May in conjunction with the polar bear's protected status. The rule, meant to prevent the polar bear's status from being used as a tool for imposing greenhouse gas limits, exempts projects in all states except Alaska from undergoing review in relation to emissions.

NAM Vice President Keith McCoy said the group sees the rule as unfairly subjecting Alaskan industry to greenhouse gas controls and also opening a back door for greenhouse gas regulation nationwide....

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/30/AR2008083001538.html?hpid=moreheadlines

[pattmarty]

1. Oh good, I hope this gets more traction in the MSM.

[snake in the grass]

6. And I hope...

I win the lottery this week.

This story will disappear as the MSM focuses on more important matters like Brangelina.

[pattmarty]

7. Unfortunately I think you're right.

[54anickel]

2. Oh yeah, that didn't take long. Follow the money for the answer everytime something seems

completely illogical. You have to admit, she'll be a great spokesperson for those monied interest wanting to rape Alaska and dismiss the notion of global warming Not to mention firing up the "anti-treehuggers" constituency. Gonna deliver the X-tian fundies and the Nugent crowd for the GOP.

[Joanne98]

3. Maybe Alaska would like all it's federal funding canceled!

[BrklynLiberal]

4. Gosh..what a f**kin surprise.

[whistle]

5. McCain/Palin ticket is shaping up as a "kill the polar bears, bring on the oil" platform

[trthnd4jstc]

8. The API's message to Polar Bears: Go F#ck Yourselves.

Gov. Palin and the API together to tell the Bears to die.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Try convincing my friend that Global Warming is a hoax.

London Daily Mail

[Chovexani]

10. Palin's parents/in-laws clearly need more stuffed polar bears

To decorate their house of horrors.