Conservation group says it will sue to force feds to act on walrus petition
Published Wednesday, May 28, 2008
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Stumble It!ANCHORAGE -- A conservation group gave notice Tuesday that it will sue to force federal action on a petition to list the Pacific walrus as a threatened species because of threats from global warming and offshore petroleum development.
The deadline was May 8 for an initial 90-day review of the petition by the U.S. Department of the Interior, according to Center for Biological Diversity attorney Brendan Cummings.
The group filed the petition in February.
Shaye Wolf, a biologist and lead author of the petition, said Arctic sea ice is disappearing faster than the best predictions of climate models.
"As the sea ice recedes, so does the future of the Pacific walrus," she said.
The conservation group was one of three that successfully petitioned to have polar bears listed as threatened because of sea ice loss caused by global warming, a decision announced May 14 by Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne. That listing also followed court action to force deadline decisions.
Bruce Woods, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesman in Anchorage, said the agency is close to finishing a walrus survey.
"We do have a population count from the 2006 survey that should be finalized soon," he said. "That will give us a better basis for evaluating the petition."
The law calls for a 90-day review to determine whether listing petitions contain "substantial information." If a petition passes that first hurdle, the agency has nine months more to perform a status review on walruses and determine whether a listing may be warranted.
If a species is proposed for listing, the agency has one more year to collect additional scientific research and public testimony.
Arctic sea ice last summer dwindled to 1.65 million square miles, the lowest level since satellite measurements began in 1979, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center at the University of Colorado. In September, that sea ice was 39 percent below the long-term average from 1979 to 2000.
Sea ice in the Chukchi Sea between Alaska's northwest coast and the Russian Far East receded beyond the shallow outer continental shelf where walruses traditionally dive to reach their prey, clams and other creatures on the ocean floor.
As many as 6,000 walruses late last summer and fall abandoned the remaining ice, which covered deep water, and congregated on Alaska's northwest shore.
Herds were larger on the Russian side, where one group included as many as 40,000 animals, according to Russian observers. They estimated 3,000 to 4,000 mostly young walruses died in stampedes when herds rushed into the water at the sight of polar bears, hunters or low-flying aircraft.
Aside from stampedes, biologists worry that if current ice trends continue, and walruses are based on coastlines every summer, they will put tremendous pressure on nearby foraging areas rather than rich offshore feeding areas they historically have reached by living on the edge of the ice pack.
Females and their young traditionally use ice as a diving platform, riding it north in spring and summer like a conveyor belt over offshore foraging areas, first in the northern Bering Sea, then into the Chukchi Sea.
Besides receding ice, conservation groups see threats from offshore petroleum development. The federal Minerals Management Service in February leased more than 2.7 million acres of sea floor in the Chukchi Sea and seismic surveys are planned this summer.
A walrus listing would not affect subsistence harvest by Alaska Natives, according to the environmental group.
Listing a species as "threatened" means it is likely to become endangered. "Endangered" is more dire and means a species is in danger of extinction throughout all or much of its range.
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Oh for heaven's sakes...can we take our country back, please? These environmental groups are ruining this country. It's the proverbial tail wagging the dog.
I agree with you oldakcuss.
These people will stop at nothing.
They sell fear.
I just had to spend thousands of dollars for PERMISSION to cut down my own tree. Arborist reports, biological and ecological reports,
and a raptor study. The most expensive one was for BATS!
That is what the future holds for the rest of you if you let people from California make your rules.
I want them stopped NOW! The Walrus will be just fine; but I may not make it through next winter!
Today, a leading environmental study has concluded that possibly as many as 5000 snipes have recently failed to exist. Many Americans are indifferent to the suffering of snipes, mostly because of ignorance. Leading scientists conjecture that at the present rate, snipes will be eradicated as a species in 3 weeks. While they are not certain of the cause, a leading theory blames global warming as distressing the habitat of snipes.
The prestigious law firm of Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe has agreed to represent the interests of the snipe advocacy group known as Alaskan Snipe Supporters Having Official Legal Experiences with Snipes. This group has been in existence for decades, under a variety of other names, including Friends of the Earth, PETA, NAEC, and of course, the Democratic Party.
While nobody really knows what is going on, Attorney Howe expressed his most sensitive wishes that they might raise some money.
It has been theorized that either hot weather, or cold weather, causes distress to snipe environment, and to snipes themselves. Although no one has ever encountered a snipe, that just proves their frailty as a species, and the danger that they face as an endangered species that our children, and grandchildren, might never know of, except as a fond remembrance of their selfish elders.
Wont you please help?
You can contact this wacko at (831) 459-4581 or wolf@biology.ucsc.edu
The problem is that we allowed people like you 2cold4me and oldakcuss to run around rampantly destroying the environment and blindly burning fossil fuels that took hundreds of millions of years to form so that now we are all faced with an environmental state of emergency. That is the reality. The fact that we are facing a state of emergency is agreed upon by a huge majority of scientists as well as American citizens that you disparage as environmental groups you say are "ruining this country". Too bad you have to deal with controlled destruction now - Not. Too bad we let you do whatever the heck you pleased to OUR environment for so long.
Wow
This should be exciting
OH My Goodness! Not the Snipes! I have been hunting Snipes for a really long time, and I di not know what I will hunt if I cannot hunt them any longer!
Really, there is quite a difference between conservationism and environmentalism. I am all for conserving so that our grandchildren are able to enjoy the world as we have. I think sometimes we go entirely too far, and there absolutely has to be a middle line!
yup.... they've gone too far. time is NOW to stop the envirotyrants.
Akjak raises an excellent point, one borne out by many of the comments such as polarmark's and others. It's the old "we wanna kill, drill, and spill whatever we want" crowd doing business as usual. They screwed up the Lower '48 and now the only place they have left to ruin is Alaska. Well, by gum, if they don't feel it's their god-given right to turn the place into another New Jersey. After that, they'll all run off to....hmmm. Looks like this is the end of the line, now, doesn't it? Either we finally stop all this redneck idiocy about doing what we want without regard to the consequences or maybe...just maybe...we take a moment to figure out what the effects are going to be of what we plan on doing. I know that's a terrible thing to suggest to the rape'n'ruin crowd so well represented in this discussion but like I say, after seeing the mess you've made of the rest of the states it's time to call a halt and do right by Alaska.
Of course, after they've killed the last walrus, drilled the last well, spill the last spill and polar bears are just a distant memory along with other species, they'll be the first ones to jump up amongst the waste and ruin and start whining about how someone should have seen this was going to happen and do something about it back when we could. What's that old saying, "you never miss the milk till the cow is gone"?
Where do these lunatics come from???? Do they actually not have jobs and just sit around enveloped in false fears paying lawyers to waste American tax dollars? I guarantee you 95% of these lunacy impending doom on Alaska crisis' are created by people who dont even live in this state. Man....what a sad state of affairs our country is in!
Gas is $4 a gallon and you want me to worry about what animal now? We better start building that big deep freezer for the polar bears and walrus...
The only thing those darn environmentalists have done is make sure the federal government abides by the laws it had made. This is a nation of laws, and the government, not just the citizens, is supposed to abide by them. I'm glad the environmental groups are acting as watchdogs over government actions (and in this case, inaction). The Bush administration has been one of the worst for ignoring our nation's laws (environmental and otherwise)--it has lost most of the environmental lawsuits that have been brought against it over the last 8 years.
If the Bush administration has lost the lawsuits then how can YOU blame the president? Seem that the Congress is more at fault here.
No, congress was not at fault. The EPA, BLM and other agencies are not part of Congress, they are part of the Executive branch of government. The policies of those agencies are, in part, dictated by the mandates of the President via Executive Orders, and also by the philosophy of the people who were chosen to fill political appointments. You can't pin that on Congress. The Bush administration lost the lawsuits because it was demonstrated that the actions of the executive branch agencies were in violation of existing laws.
New bumper sticker "Save the Walrus, Kill the babies" That way there wont be any humans around to cause all this mess.??? Then will the conservationalists and enviromentalists be happy??? When humans are on the verge of extinction whose gonna sue on our behalf???? Who are they going to sue? The walrus? Just a thought...
What do you call someone who owns a nice house next to an empty lot?
A conservationist.
You see, these people from California love to wield their influence and keep there own employed.
They have money, they have jobs.
They have nice homes.......
They think you alaskans rape and pilidge the enviroment for fun.
They would like to see you and your children living in a carbon free cardboard box, while they sip Kool aid in thier beach front homes.
Turn alaska into new jersey?
Are you insane?
Where on earth do you live or get your info?
Conservationists and environmentalists won't be the cause of human extinction. That will be caused by all of the people who refuse to believe a problem exists because they don't want to have to change how they live their lives. Once more, I point to the demise of the Polynesians on Easter Island as an example of what can happen to a civilization that fails to live within the constraints of the natural world.
Polar bears and walruses are the canaries in the arctic coal mine. Humanity can likely get along without them, but the underlying causes for their demise should be a cause for concern.
Here's another example. I just read an article on CNN.com that discusses concerns of the potential of acidic ocean water along the west coast of the U.S.(caused by elevated carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere), dissolving the shells of shellfish, which comprise 40% of the diet of the Pacific king salmon. Can anyone connect the dots in this example, or will you discount the issue because the story (AP) was picked up by CNN? Here's the link to the story: http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/05/...
they estimate 3000 to 4000 died in stampedes caused by polar bears, hunters and low flying aircraft. Thats roughly 10% of the animals they counted. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't we just go through a "save the polar bear" thing? So how do they count walrus? With low flying aircraft I presume. So scientists and biologists can thank themselves for killing 2/3s of the walrus? BUT! They worry about what MIGHT happen to the ice. Good job guys! Keep it up and the oil companies won't have to worry about any of these animals, and you'll have to find new animals to "save"
The redneck ignorance in this blog never ceases to amaze me! The walruses were killed by stampede because they weren't in their normal habitat, floating along on the sea ice. They were stranded onshore in huge masses because of the lack of sea ice.
The idea that circumpolar populations should make all of the decisions regulating what goes on in their arctic environment demonstrates a clear lack of thought and understanding. It is like saying that the people at the headwaters of a river should decide what kinds of sewage they dump in the river, regardless of how it affects the people who are downstream.
Ecosystems are connected and we are all affected by the pollution and destruction of every ecosystem on this planet, which is why the global population has a right to be involved in the decisions that affect those ecosystems. Yes, a RIGHT. By the way, I have been north of the Arctic circle many times. And, I live in Alaska - for almost 20 years now.
Excuse me, everyone...
Koo-Kooo-Kachu, ... I am the Walrus! And I say, I'm doing just fine.
I think that the Enviromentalists are giving too much credit to man-kind for global warming. One major eruption from a volcanoe does more harm to global warming than man in 100 years when it comes to co2. All the enviromentalists want to do is blame fossil fuel for the problem. God had a plan and man is only following the plan of burning fuel that God provided. The enviromentalist that lie to the people to get money from nieve people like California (arm pit of America)need to be put in prison if they ever burn fuel for vehicles, houses or use any by products made from fuel, including the computer that they are responding on as we speak about this discussion. They are hurting this country and I assume want to destroy it and so far they have done a good job at it. Some day the people will wake up and rebel against them and maybe lock them up for all the hardships that they put on hard working Americans with their lies. "Happiness is some day making an Enviromentalist into fossil fuel".
"God had a plan and man is only following the plan of burning fuel that God provided."
What a cop out to simply go ahead and keep doing what you're doing, with no personal accountability. And when humans degrade the world to the point that we can no longer live here, you will say it was God's will too.
Believe it or not, environmentalists are doing more to protect human civilzation than all of you naysayers. If it were up to the likes of you, we would have long ago had unbreathable air, undrinkable water, and polluted food.
Seroiusly, is there a shortage of Walrus?
fear factiod: in 1979 ALL the scientists agreed that we were headed for
GLOBAL COOLING! It was a cold time.
Also, in the 1950's the polar ice cap was just inches thick in vast areas.
Is it possible that the earth has fluctuations in temperature?
How on earth do the walrus survive in california without sea ice?
2cold4me,
You would benefit from a good walrus distribution map. They aren't found anywhere near California.
I believe he is thinking about seals, ... but what difference does it make? His points are valid, the earth fluctuates from one decade to the next, ....
...oh, wait. Now that I said that, dobieman will be right around the corner expounding preposterous evidence that it is all our faults.
Seriously, ... what is it you want?
These delays aren't just politicians interfering with science, they are ILLEGAL. The schedules for doing these things is codified in law, and by failing to meet them these organizations are in violation.
As for one's land, yes that is property, but the environment is NOT and everyone has a voice in what happens to it (which is expressible at the ballot box). The fact that this occurs at the federal level is simply an acknowledgement that the environment is not contained within borders or property lines.
Correction: in 1979 ONE (1) journal article came out claiming to show 'global cooling'; it was quickly discredited, but people with an agenda still like to harp on that old albatross, and fail to mention the thousands of papers since that have repudiated it. Way to cherry-pick your info! That is basically lying by omission.
Don't like the price of gas etc.?? Stop whining for government to do something, and do something YOURSELF for a change. Personally I laugh out loud at drivers who go all red-in-the-face and hot-under-the-collar about how filling up their 10mpg titan costs 100 bucks. Don't like it? Then don't drive it. If you insist on it, then suck it up and pay for it.
And volcanos tend to COOL the globe, not heat it. This was graphically demonstrated by the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, but is one of the all-out fallacies repeated by 'Deniers'.
Oh, and by the way, think the EPA, Fish & Wildlife, etc. are 'tough' now? You ain't seen nuthin' yet.... Wait 'til next January, if the current political winds continue through the November elections. If that happens I suspect the Federal govt is about to switch from extreme right to extreme left, and that's going to make a whole lot of writers' undies spontaneously bunch up.
Everyone has their own opinion but people also have the right to say NO to development. These multi-million dollar corporations will stop at nothing to get a profit that only helps their pocket books, regardless of who is in their way. I say keep up the fight and protect your habitat and environment! I prefer a simple life with natures beauty in my back door. Good luck to your people who want the same. Quyana
I am sooo tired of all the people who say they want to save the planet making all their noise up here.
I am starting to feel like they really don't care they just want to be able to say "We saved the wolves in Alaska!" "We saved ANWR in Alaska!" ect.. They are not going to be satisfied till the whole darn state is a big zoo they can all come visit and say "Isn't it wonderful we saved Alaska from all the PEOPLE who used to live there!!!
Meanwhile What are they doing about the trashing of the National parks down in the States eh?? Here is some interesting info for you all...
http://www.desertinvasion.us/index.html
Taken from the web site above:
Our fragile and precious border parks are being destroyed because of Government inaction, while the media and so-called "ENVIRONMENTAL" organizations stand mute.
The United States is being invaded across our southern border. Ranches, border towns and public lands are being overrun as danger escalates. Millions of illegal aliens and drug runners have entered into our nation because, while protecting the borders of countries half way around the world, the most powerful nation on earth lacks the political will to protect our own borders. Neither of the two major political parties care about the future of our country. Republican constituents profit from the cheap labor that illegal immigration brings. Democrats seek to bolster their party with votes from the immigrant bloc. Even though poll after poll shows the vast majority of Americans want their borders protected, Congress refuses to adequately address the illegal immigration invasion and to adequately fund measures to protect our border.
Our fragile National Monuments, National Wildlife Refuges, National Parks, and National Forests along the U.S. southern border are being annihilated - not by natural forces or by unwitting tourists, but instead by an overwhelming number of illegal aliens (up to 300,000 in Organ Pipe National Monument alone in recent years) who rampage through and destroy these supposedly protected areas. Our beautiful and pristine areas, set aside by Congress to preserve for future generations, are quickly being turned into National Sacrifice Areas!
Speak out. You can make a difference by taking action today! Tell a friend about this website. Knowledge is power. Send an email to one or more friends and activists, asking them to review the information presented on this website.
The enviro-nuts will NOT be HAPPY until the state of Alaska is ONE BIG NATIONAL PARK.
I could have sworn I saw a walrus.
Maybe it was evolving.
Maybe that was an usik sticking out instead of a tusk?
property vs enviornment? What kind of crap arguement is that? That sounds like some enviro terrorist propoganda argueing the definition of the word 'the'. You could not consider any place an enviornment without describing where it is, equaling land, equaling property. If this is our property, which the state is, then the enviornment in and around it is also ours. These groups are attempting to stranglehold the state piggy backing on the recent win against polar bear hunts. They have watched Jacque Cousteau, they know how to act like a shark and circle the water when they smell blood and that is exactly what they are doing.
JB - property is only a portion of what the environment is. The environment is also air and water among other things. Air and water do not remain on a single piece of property, which means if you pollute the air and water on "your property", you pollute everyone else's. That is illegal, as it should be. The problem has been for hundreds of years that most Americans are very tunnel-visioned and too short-sighted to see the connections. When governments drew borders they, too, believed that they should be able to do whatever they wanted within their borders and they did so. Unfortunately for all of us, we now have to live with a biosphere that may not survive us. And guess what, it isn't going to be fun living in an environment that is collapsing, I guarantee it.
Here is my issue with where this ends up.
I bought 10 acres, with a hundred trees or so on it, to a tune of hundreds of thousands.
The lot had an approved by the county building site.
The biological, arborist, archeological, and geological reports had all been done two years earlier for the subdivision. Then when I submitted my plans I was informed that I had to have all the studies done again. Plus I was fined $1200 for cutting down a tree without asking for permission.
These enviromentalists run the government and use thier agenda to employ thier own. They use it as a way to make money.
No idiot out there wants to harm and rape the Earth.
We love this planet also.
If you allow the enviromentalists to run the government in alaska like they do down here, you will be sorry bigtime.
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