Federal move on whales a slap to Palin

Source: Agencies  |   2008-10-19  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

THE beluga whales of Alaska's Cook Inlet are endangered and need additional protection to survive, the United States government has declared, contradicting Governor Sarah Palin who has questioned whether the white whales are declining.

It was the Republican vice-presidential candidate's second environmental slap from Washington this year. She has asked federal courts to overturn an Interior Department decision declaring polar bears threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

The government on Friday put a portion of the whales on the endangered list, rejecting Palin's argument that it lacked scientific evidence to do so.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said that a decade-long recovery program had failed to ensure the whales' survival.

"In spite of protections already in place, Cook Inlet beluga whales are not recovering," said James Balsiger, an NOAA administrator.

The decision means that before federal agencies can issue commercial permits, they must first consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service to determine if there are potential harmful effects on the whales.

That has the potential to affect major Alaska projects including an expansion of the Port of Anchorage, additional offshore oil and gas drilling, a proposed US$600 million bridge connecting Anchorage to Palin's hometown of Wasilla and a massive coal mine 72.4 kilometers south of Anchorage.

The state has been concerned about the low population for many years, Palin said. "However, we believe that this endangered listing is premature," she added.

Palin in April successfully lobbied for a six-month delay in a listing decision so the whales could be counted but it showed no increase in numbers.