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To: lorne who wrote (68271)	4/25/2001 10:59:49 AM
From: Rarebird	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 116764

Environmentalists still blast Bush WASHINGTON, Apr 20, 2001 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- In a Friday news conference highly critical of the Bush administration's burgeoning environmental record, League of Conservation Voters president Deb Callahan and Wilderness Society president William Meadows stepped up the pace of a growing rhetorical war between environmentalists and the White House. "I have news for the Bush Administration," Callahan told the group of journalists in Washington. "If they intend to keep rolling back environmental regulations, the environmental community is very used to fighting on multiple fronts." Meadows added, "We are hopeful the White House will not be identified as the greatest threat to our public lands." Hopeful but skeptical, he indicated, even in light of the administration's latest moves to shore up support among members of the environmental movement. "This is really a theme week for this administration," Meadows said. "The theme this week is the environment." Meadows told reporters he sees a distinct lack of initiative on the part of the Bush administration to implement strong conservation policies as an alternative to fuel-source development such as drilling for oil in the Alaskan wilderness. Meadows said such initiatives aren't necessary because fuel reserves in wilderness areas are insignificant. "Our studies show that in our wildest, roadless places, only about six-tenths of 1 percent of the national oil supply and four-tenths of 1 percent of the nation's natural gas supply might be found," Meadows said. Deb Callahan said environmental laws that have been taken for granted too long by the American people are now shaping up to become tide-turning electoral issues. "We are seeing a midterm election issue shape up that in 2002 will decide many states," she said. "Who is concerned about the environment? That key voting block -- suburban voters who live on the edge of development and are looking for a good quality of life." Meadows recited a list of protected locations his organization believes the Bush administration has targeted for oil drilling and coal mining -- the Grand Tetons and Red Desert in Wyoming; the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument in Utah; the Arctic National Wildlife Region in Alaska. Meadows also nixed nuclear power as what he called a completely unacceptable option to fuel exploration. On environmental cleanup and the long-awaited Superfund overhaul, Callahan conceded Bush and EPA administrator Christine Whitman have shown pro-activity on the remediation of so-called Brownfield sites -- lightly contaminated, abandoned plots of land -- but both leaders chided Bush for doing little else. "Bush wants environmental volunteerism," Callahan said. "Just like he instituted in Texas. It didn't work there, and it won't work here." Bush has also reduced funding for nuclear waste cleanup overseas, and failed to address the Superfund at all, Callahan said. "Bush rescinded a regulation requiring mining companies to clean up their sites," Meadows added. "That's the only signal he's sent to me on the issue of environmental cleanup." Callahan and Meadows are not without friends among Republicans, however. "Nancy Johnson has been a huge champion for us on the Arctic Wildlife Refuge," Meadows said. Johnson is a Republican representative from Connecticut. "And I have to recognize Senator Bob Smith from New Hampshire -- he's been amazing after not having a strong environmental voting record," Callahan continued. Rhode Island Republican "Senator Lin Chafee has shown incredible strength on these issues," Meadows added. As for Bush's predecessor, Callahan and Meadows expressed support for efforts that, in the end, had little effect. "Clinton did not do certain things and we were disappointed," Meadows said. "When he did try to act, Congress was not very supportive." And where is Bush's former opponent on issues he based his political identity on? "Al Gore has indicated interest in forming an environmental political action committee," Callahan reported. "But if you were in his position, what would you do? I think as a politician who just lost the closest race in recent history, he's being smart and stepping back. But there will be a time when personal passion triumphs over public politics for Al Gore." Deb Callahan parted with challenging words for the present occupant of the White House. "We will fight the Bush administration every step backward but support the Bush administration every step forward." By MIKE MARTIN, UPI Science Correspondent Copyright 2001 by United Press International. News provided by COMTEX comtexnews.com