EDMONTON — Environment Minister Peter Kent has again declined to issue an emergency order to protect woodland caribou -- but this time he's explaining why.

Kent tells The Canadian Press that because some herds are healthy, there's no imminent danger to the species.

Last July, a judge ordered Kent to revisit his decision not to issue an emergency order to protect caribou, which could soon be wiped out from large parts of their range, especially in Alberta's oilsands region.

The judge ordered Kent to explain why he wouldn't issue the order, saying the decision -- quote -- "came out of the blue" -- despite scientific and other evidence.

Kent's new decision surprised environmentalists, who this week filed a legal motion to force his hand.

Simon Dyer of the Pembina Institute says Kent's reasons sound similar to those used last summer by government lawyers --reasons that the judge rejected.

The fate of the legal motion wasn't immediately clear.