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Risks to Polar Bear Denning Habitat 



Research has shown that polar bears are especially vulnerable during denning. 

 Because of their low reproductive rate, successful denning is crucial to the well-being of 

 polar bear populations. Human disturbance can cause female bears to abandon their 

 dens, an action likely to result in the death of their cubs. There are a number of 

 documented instances of polar bears emerging prematurely from their dens after being 

 disturbed. In fact, one such disturbance occurred in the Arctic Refuge in 1985. 16 In 

 that case, vehicles supporting an exploratory oil well were the source of the disturbance. 

 Oil company helicopters, ships, road construction and traffic, seismic surveys, drilling and 

 oil transport activities are all potential sources of denning disturbance. 



Risks to Polar Bear Feeding and Migration Routes 



In addition to the harm caused by disrupting denning activities, oil and gas 

 exploration activity may also disturb polar bear feeding and migration patterns. Polar 

 bears may be harassed by aircraft, ships and other vehicles. Bears may be forced to 

 avoid favored feeding areas and migration routes, or, alternatively, be attracted by the 

 sights and smells of human activity, thus increasing the possibility of dangerous human- 

 bear encounters. In addition, polar bear habitat can be also be damaged or destroyed by 

 dumping, dredging, drilling, and construction of platforms, pipelines, roads, and support 

 facilities. 



Oil Spills 



The polar bear, its food, and its habitat could be severely impacted by acute and 

 chronic oil-spills. According to the FWS, "Bears which have been fouled by oil may 

 suffer thermo-regulatory problems, ingest oil, and may exhibit other detrimental effects 

 such as inflammation of the nasal passages or central nervous system. Bears that contact 

 oil are likely to die." 17 Although the FWS may believe that the probability of a major 

 spill is low, the agency has admitted that the impact of such a spill on polar bears and 

 their Arctic ecosystem would be substantial. 18 Furthermore, the capability of oil 

 companies cleaning up a major spill in the - Arctic is highly questionable. Not only could 

 extreme weather conditions make it difficult to get to the spill site, but oil trapped in ice 

 would be very hard to recover." 



16 The Arctic Dispatch (March 14, 1985). 



17 58 Fed. Reg. 60407 (1993). 



18 58 Fed. Reg. 60406 (1993). 



" For additional background on the risks of oil spills in Arctic waters, see generally Greenpeace. Oil in 

 Arctic Waters: The Untold Story of Offshore Drilling in Alaska (1993). 



