Bush drops new wetland rules

[CO Liberal]

Bush drops new wetland rules

Wednesday, December 17, 2003 Posted: 11:09 AM EST (1609 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush is abandoning a plan that could have further reduced wetlands protections even though his administration has said their occasional use by farmers, migratory birds or endangered species isn't reason enough to stop developers from filling them in.

Mike Leavitt, the new administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, said Tuesday that Bush personally made the decision "not to issue a rule that could reduce" further wetlands protections under the Clean Water Act.

Leavitt said the administration wants to avoid "a contentious and lengthy rule-making debate" over disputed environmental benefits or losses by putting into force advisory guidelines issued in January.

The administration recognizes the ecological value of remaining wetlands that function as "nature's kidneys" by filtering pollutants, Leavitt said, explaining Bush's decision to drop a formal rule-making process since then.

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http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/12/17/bush.wetlands.ap/index.html

[seasat]

1. Expect them to pick this up after the election.

You can tell its getting closer to the election, because Shrub is starting to moderate some of his more radical policies. If reselected, he'll make this term look like FDR's in comparison. The EPA will probably be first on his chopping block.

[AlinPA]

3. I agree 100%

They can wait a year to kill the CWA. That is , if he is reselected. We can beat the idiot.

[Richardo]

2. Got their asses kicked on snowmobiles in Yellowstone, too...

Federal judge halted their repeal of the Clinton ban. Pretty blunt ruling too.

This is the last year snowmobiles will be allowed in the park, and only half of those who applied for permits this year will be allowed in (~450 instead of 900).

Relatively good day for the environment.

[dusty64]

4. I'm VERY suspicious.

They always do the opposite of what they say.

[Tansy_Gold]

5. Me, too, dusty

After all, this is the "We don't need no steeeeenking swamps" bunch.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

7. They've probably figured out a way to do it out of sight

They've made a lot of horrendous changes via Executive Orders, regulation interpretation, allocation of funds, etc.

[0007]

6. 'Tis a good day, indeed.

[pinniped]

8. Is this the same POS admin that lets polluters off the hook and...

doesn't give a shit about mercury in fish? Didn't this ASSHOLE also withdraw from the Kyoto Treaty right after stealing the office of the pres?

Why were these ASSHOLES even thinking about it?

As usual, these idiots got everything backwards.

The idea is to let wetlands thrive and replace them where they once stood, not take them away.

The idea is to reduce greenhouse gases not create more.

"The administration recognizes the ecological value of remaining wetlands that function as "nature's kidneys" by filtering pollutants, Leavitt said, explaining Bush's decision to drop a formal rule-making process since then."

Bullshit, these WH ASSHOLES don't recognize shit about the environment or give a shit about any living creature except their monkey friends.

Pollutants sure to be there since you assholes let polluters off the hook and don't give a shit about anything.

BUSH you're still an ASSHOLE.