The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has once again delayed its decision on whether to list the polar bear as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The original announcement on the polar bear's status was due on January 9th, 2008. In early January, however, the Service reported that it needed more time, stating that it expected to complete its review within a month. More then two months have passed, but no announcement has been forthcoming. In the meantime, 30 million acres of oil and gas leases were sold on February 6th in the Chukchi Sea off the northwest Alaska coast.

In response to the inactivity, three conservation groups (The Center for Biological Diversity, Greenpeace, and The Natural Resources Defense Council) have filed a lawsuit that would require the Service to make an immediate decision, stating that ice loss in the Arctic threatens the polar bear's survival.