Scientist who saw drowned polar bears reprimanded

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - An Alaska scientist whose observations of drowned polar bears helped galvanize the global warming movement has been reprimanded for improper release of government documents.

An Interior Department official said emails released by Charles Monnett were cited by a federal appeals court in decisions to vacate approval by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) of an oil and gas company's Arctic exploration plan.

The official, Walter Cruickshank, deputy director of BOEM, said in a memo that an inspector general's investigation contained findings that Mr Monnett had improperly disclosed internal government documents, which he said were later used against the agency in court.

He also said the investigation made other findings in regards to Mr Monnett's conduct, but he wasn't taking action on those. He would not specify those findings.