Ted Stevens Worried About Polar Bears - They Might Interfere With Natural Gas Pipeline

[hatrack]

FAIRBANKS -- U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens said listing polar bears as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act could block development of an Alaska natural gas pipeline. Stevens, R-Alaska, said a listing would affect oil and gas leasing on Alaska's North Slope and possibly offshore and even block the proposed pipeline, a mega-project many Alaskans hope will be the state's next big boom.

"If the polar bear is listed, its habitat will be subject to new criteria as far as any development, and the major development being considered today in the polar bear habitat is the Alaska gas pipeline," Stevens said. Stevens described the listing as unnecessary and backed largely by environmentalists bent on blocking development projects.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this week announced it would miss a deadline Wednesday for a decision on listing the polar bear as threatened. Director Dale Hall said he hoped the agency would be able to forward a recommendation to the Interior Department secretary within weeks so a decision can be made within a month.

EDIT

Stevens made his comments during and after a meeting of the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce natural resources committee.

EDIT

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/261434.html

[Atman]

1. Well, if anyone knows about GAS, it's Ted Stevens.

What a fucking slimewad of a human.

.

[asthmaticeog]

2. Eh, I got $5 says he doesn't know the pipeline is a series of tubes.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. I'd be in favor of polar bears interfering with Ted Stevens.

[Triana]

4. Absolutely. Let's feed him to the bears! I'd rather have them than him or his pipeline (n/t)

[losthills]

5. What? Ted Stevens is not in prisin yet?

[malakai2]

6. Drop dead, Ted

The Act was passed to force us to consider the impacts of development on a trust resource that would be irretrievable if lost. The decision to list or not list is to be decided on the merits of science, not economics, says so right in the Act. You want to prevent the listing based on factors other than science, go convene the Endangered Species Committee (the God Squad-several Department Secretaries and a representative from the impacted states) and force them to publicly override the science in favor of corporate profits. Mobilize a new generation of environmental advocates. I dare you.

[The2ndWheel]

7. Hardly a unique position to hold

The world as we know it wouldn't be the world as we know if this wasn't the dominant view of the world.

[Javaman]

8. why hasn't that scumbag burst into flames, yet? nt