New U.S. Rules on Oil Development Raise Concerns for Polar Bear Cubs (opens in new tab)

The Trump administration's proposed regulations for Arctic oil-and-gas leasing in Alaska would allow energy companies to legally avoid prosecution if polar bears or Pacific walruses are killed during drilling operations in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The rule uses the legal term "incidental, unintentional take" to shield companies from the Endangered Species Act. The Southern Beaufort Sea polar bear subpopulation numbers fewer than 1,000 individuals and was listed as threatened in 20...