Thursday 7 February 2008

The Minerals Management Service (MMS) of the US government announced its intention to sell oil and gas leases in this area in January this year and the bidding for the licenses began this week

"The technology to effectively contain and clean up oil spills does not currently exist and this oil lease is a disaster waiting to happen," said James Leaton, Oil and Gas Policy Advisor at WWF-UK.

"It's also unacceptable that oil companies and the US government are effectively seeking to make a profit from the potential demise of a species," he added.

All wildlife at risk
The Chukchi Sea is a critical habitat for polar bears, walrus, whales, seals, and migratory birds and it is experiencing some of the most rapid loss of sea ice in the world due to climate change.

The highest bid received for the sale was US$105,304,581 submitted by Shell. Other bidding companies included ConocoPhillips, StatoilHydro, NACRA, Repsol, ENI and Iona Energy.

US Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne has ignored repeated requests from the American public, Arctic communities and conservation groups to delay or withdraw the lease sale, claiming that there needs to be a better understanding of the potential impact on Arctic wildlife and habitats from the leasing of land.

An expected listing of polar bears as threatened under the Endangered Species Act has been delayed. This listing, which would have had an impact upon the release of the leases, would have recognized the grave threat to polar bears from loss of sea ice and habitats due to global warming.

"Selling off our natural heritage to the highest bidder is a sad spectacle and represents a step backwards in our efforts to save the Arctic and polar bears for future generations," said Carter Roberts, President and CEO of World Wildlife Fund in the US.