State of <st1:State w:st="on">Alaska</st1:State> Submits Polar Bear Comments to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place> Fish & Wildlife<o:p></o:p>

Governor Palin Writes Letter to Secretary Kempthorne<o:p></o:p>

April 10, 2007, Juneau, Alaska �?Governor Sarah Palin wrote a second letter to Secretary Dirk Kempthorne opposing the listing of polar bears as “threatened,�?while the State of Alaska submitted comments on deadline, compiled into four reports, to U.S. Fish & Wildlife expressing the same concerns.<o:p></o:p>

The State’s opposition criticizes the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s analysis in four areas: 1) predictions of sea ice retreat related to climate change models; 2) existing regulatory mechanisms for conservation of polar bears; 3) criteria for listing, status, and trends of polar bears and their prey; and 4) unsubstantiated assumptions to support their petition and status assessment. The State’s formal comments to the Service were conveyed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in a detailed letter accompanied by considerable corroborating evidence. <o:p></o:p>

Governor Palin wrote a second letter to Secretary Kempthorne to re-emphasize <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Alaska</st1:State></st1:place>’s opposition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposed listing of the polar bear as “threatened�?under the Endangered Species Act.<o:p></o:p>

“I am concerned that the determination made by the Service is based on incomplete information,�?Governor Palin said. “I want Secretary Kempthorne to have all the facts at his disposal before he makes a final decision. The consequences of listing the polar bear will have widespread social and economic impacts without providing any more protection for the bears.�?lt;o:p></o:p>

In a phone conversation with Secretary Kempthorne last December, Governor Palin discussed the possibility of launching a joint effort by federal, state, local, and Native governments to collaborate on research and planning for polar bear conservation throughout the circumpolar north. Both concluded such an effort will be important to address the polar bear challenge in a realistic, proactive, and productive fashion. Governor Palin offered Secretary Kempthorne her personal commitment to fully engage the State of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Alaska</st1:State></st1:place> in this joint effort, and to work to ensure its success.<o:p></o:p>

“He assured me of his abiding commitment to work with the state to take actions to conserve polar bears, protect their habitat, and manage sustainable uses,�?Governor Palin said. �?lt;st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Alaska</st1:State></st1:place> is home to a healthy population of polar bears. We intend to keep it that way.�?lt;o:p></o:p>

What do you all think? Should polar bears be on the endanger list? I live in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Alaska</st1:State></st1:place> I have talked to a photographer that takes pictures of polar bears. He said that he sees polar bears with 2 to 3 cubs. That he sees at lease 45 bears each time he goes of to take their picture. But think for a moment. The snow melts up here every summer for a short time. The bears swim miles out in the ocean without drowning. Check the temperature it is too cold for melting. In fifty years it will still be to cold for melting. Remember in the eighty's they told us we would all die from acid rain. Well we are still here. I believe this is just another way to get into our pockets and for Al Gore to get rich by scaring people.<o:p></o:p>

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