PLF CHALLENGES A “CHILLING” ESA LISTING
Polar bears AREN’T threatened—but jobs, the economy, and energy development ARE  Representing an alliance of ranchers, landowners, employers and consumers, PLF attorneys filed a lawsuit last week challenging the federal government’s listing of the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act.
See our Website for full details on our legal arguments. Why have we taken this action? Because of the good news that the polar bear isn’t endangered. And the bad news that jobs and the economy are endangered—by the polar bear listing! We repeat: The polar bear is NOT endangered. The alarming claims about possible extinction that have gotten so much press attention do not square with the most credible studies. In fact, the government’s own best scientific model says the opposite: polar bear populations are alive and well, and will continue that way! The State of Alaska, led by Gov. Palin, has launched its own legal challenge to the polar bear listing. PLF’s entry into the legal battle ensures that the court hears our unique legal expertise. Also, we’re making sure that the perspective of businesses, landowners and consumers—the people who, like you, will be the real victims if the polar bear listing cripples the economy—is front and center. Good news: Polar bears numbers are up sharply Polar bear numbers have been rising dramatically over the decades. And the government’s own best studies say polar bear populations will continue to be plentiful and robust into the future. Even under the government’s lowest population estimates, there will be at least 20,000 polar bears in the Arctic over the next four to five decades. In contrast, there were only 8,000 polar bears 50 years ago. So under the lowest projections offered by the government’s scientific model, there will be more than double the number of polar bears half a century from now compared to half a century ago. As always with excessive and unnecessary environmental regulation, the real threat from the polar bear listing is to people—all of us whose livelihoods, families and future depend on a healthy productive economy. Because the polar bear listing is based on speculative projections about climate change, it promises to spark a tsunami of environmentalist lawsuits designed to shut down business and industrial activity that emits carbon dioxide. Threat from environmental extremists 
M. Reed Hopper
PLF Principal Attorney |
“Radical, litigious environmental groups are poised to exploit this listing to push for regulations that could cripple basic American industries,” said PLF Principal Attorney Reed Hopper. “Hundreds of thousands of jobs are at stake if global warming restrictions are imposed on the automobile industry, agriculture, homebuilding, and—perhaps most important—energy development.”
“In fact, if you like high gas prices, you’ll applaud this listing, because it could stifle oil and gas development in Alaska.” Because PLF is the nation’s leading legal watchdog for a balanced approach to environmental regulation, it was essential that we step forward to challenge this far-reaching, dangerous—and entirely unnecessary—federal action. THANKS to PLF supporters for helping us “rescue liberty” by fighting for a common sense approach to government regulation! |