A federal judge has ruled that the U.S. Department of the Interior must issue a final decision on whether to list the polar bear as a threatened or endangered species by May 15th, 2008. The judge found that the Bush administration had violated the Endangered Species Act by missing the deadline for a listing decision by nearly four months. The judge also ruled that the decision should take effect immediately, without the traditional 30-day waiting period.

In making her ruling, the Honorable Claudia Wilken referred to a pending proposal to permit oil industry operations in the Chukchi Sea, stating that, "Defendants fail to show that the 30-day waiting period will not pose a threat to the polar bear."

The final listing decision was due on January 9th, 2008. In early January, however, the government reported that it needed more time, stating that it expected to issue a decision within a month. After two more months passed with no announcement forthcoming, three conservation groups sued to require the Interior Department to make an immediate ruling.

“The polar bear needs protection now, which is why we asked a federal judge to end this delay," says Kassie Siegel of the Center for Biological Diversity, lead author of the petition to protect the polar bear. "By May 15th, the polar bear should receive the protection it deserves under the Endangered Species Act, which is the first step towards saving the polar bear and the entire Arctic ecosystem from global warming."

For an update on the final decision, visit our Web site at www.polarbearsinternational.org.