The Fish and Wildlife Service doesn't appear to be living up to its name in the eyes of environmentalists, as the agency is coming under heat from green groups over actions they see as putting commerce before the law.

This week the FWS said it will be removing the Preble's meadow jumping mouse from the Endangered Species list in Wyoming next month. Scientists say that the government's reasons are flawed ("It seems illogical that the threats to the subspecies would change substantially at the state line"), and locals are challenging that mice happen to live on valuable real estate that cannot be easily developed as long as they are listed. Such allegations are reminiscent of now deposed FWS political appointee Julia MacDonald, who used her power to interfere with listing species -- including the jumping mouse.

Further north, the FWS is being sued for allowing "incidental takings" of polar bears by oil companies in Alaska's Chukchi and Beaufort seas. Polar bears were listed as threatened back in March, but were not granted protection from incidental takes (harass/stress but not kill) because DOI said that they were granted enough protection under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The enviros are challenging the taking rulings under both the MMPA and ESA because they say the bears are stressed enough, what with the ice melting and interfering with their ability to eat. They aren't attempting to halt the drilling, but rather ensure that the agency is enforcing the law.

Last week an Alaskan Judge threw out a lawsuit challenging the issuing of the takings permit because, "the public interest in energy development favors upholding the permits." We think the public interest would be served by renewable energy development, but we're no Alaskan Judge.