Global warming threatens walrus

We've heard about the threat global warming poses for polar bears. Now a new study says it could also threaten the walrus.

In a new study funded by the National Science Foundation and the Office of Naval Research, scientists have reported an unprecedented number of unaccompanied and possibly abandoned walrus calves in the Arctic Ocean, where melting sea ice may be forcing mothers to abandon their pups as the mothers follow the rapidly retreating ice edge north.

Nine lone walrus calves were reported swimming in deep waters far from shore by researchers aboard the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Healy during a cruise in the Canada Basin in the summer of 2004. Unable to forage for themselves, the calves were likely to drown or starve, the scientists said.

Lone walrus calves far from shore have not been described before, the researchers report in the April issue of Aquatic Mammals. The sightings suggest that increased polar warming may lead to decreases in the walrus population.

Bush Admin. to use more politics, less science, in setting clean-air standards

The Bush administration is moving to use more politics and less science in the setting of national
clean air standards.

The current scientific process of setting standards – a process that has worked well for decades – would be replaced by a more political process. And this is specifically designed to prevent EPA career scientists from recommending tighter standards for ozone, or smog. (The agency is reviewing this standard under a court agreement; and recent science has found a strong link between breathing smog and dying early.)

The current process involves scientific interaction between EPA staff scientists and its outside science advisers. Draft staff paper reviewed by science advisers. Staff paper revision, another review by science advisers, etc.

Under the new process, EPA would deal with the issue like any other rulemaking – including early involvement by OMB. The outside science advisers would not be brought into the process until later in the game. As a result, the process will become more political, and less scientific. And EPA’s career scientists would not be able to frame the issues.

The Bush administration feels it was embarrassed because on the particle soot question, it was boxed in: both EPA career staff and the outside science advisers recommended something tougher than the White House wants. That has led to terrible pr. The Bush administration wants to make sure that never happens again.