"Ignoring calls from environmentalists to revisit the status of the polar bear, the Obama administration outlined yesterday its legal reasoning for why it should be listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

The Fish and Wildlife Service was responding to a court order requiring it to further explain why polar bears should be considered threatened rather than endangered, which is a higher threat level.

Environmentalists argue that the bear should be listed as endangered, while industry groups say it shouldn't be listed at all."

Lawrence Hurley reports for Greenwire December 23, 2010. [2]