Climate/Endangered Species:

WWF's Margaret Williams discusses upcoming Interior Dept. decision on polar bear

The Interior Department is expected to make a decision on the polar bear's status under the Endangered Species Act in the coming days. With a planned oil and gas exploration lease sale set for the Chukchi Sea this week, many members of Congress and environmentalists have urged Interior to make its decision prior to the sale. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne has said such timing on the decision would be unlikely. During today's OnPoint, Margaret Williams, managing director of the Bering Sea program at the World Wildlife Fund gives the latest on this developing story. She explains why she believes protecting the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act is necessary. Williams comments on concerns that the ESA decision could be misused in the future to regulate carbon dioxide emitting industries. She also responds to criticism that blocking oil and gas exploration may have economic ramifications.