The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has released a draft estimate of the cost of designating critical polar bear habitat in Alaska. The agency estimates the cost at just $53,900 per year. The figure is low largely because the bears are already protected through other statues. The agency has proposed a critical habitat area of 187,166 square miles. A public comment period on the prposed designated habitat opened on May 5, 2010, for a 60-day period.