Sierra Club News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2001

For More Information Contact:
Joanie Clayburgh, (415) 977-5508

PRESIDENT BUSH DECIDES NOT TO BLOCK WETLANDS PROTECTIONS
President Makes Correct Decision After String of Environmental Attacks

Washington, DC -- The Sierra Club today voiced restrained support for the
Bush Administration's decision not to block an effort to protect America's
wetlands.  This action comes after President Bush rejected safety standards
to reduce arsenic in drinking water, broke his pledge to curb global
warming, indicated opposition to protecting unspoiled National Forests and
reversed an effort to make mining companies pay to clean up their
pollution.

"We support the Bush Administration's decision to not weaken wetlands
protections," said Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope. "Recent polls
show that Americans oppose President Bush's attacks on clean air and
drinking water.  Given that Earth Day is coming up, it's nice to see a
positive decision in a host of bad environmental news coming from the White
House."

President Bush let stand a decision by the Clinton Administration limiting
a loophole in the Clean Water Act allowing destruction of streams and
wetlands. Developers had used the loophole in the Act to destroy an
estimated 20,000 acres of wetlands and 150 miles of streams.

"Today President Bush simply chose not to stand in the way, but what
Americans want is real leadership to make our drinking water safe, protect
our beautiful landscapes and curb global warming," continued Pope. "We urge
President Bush to move forward and defend wetland protections in court as
well."

In the 1980s developers drained and destroyed wetlands by exploiting a
loophole in the Clean Water Act allowing them to bypass an environmental
review by using special equipment that did not redeposit material onto
wetlands. 1993, the EPA and US army Corps of Engineers closed this loophole
in the Clean Water Act with a new rule, commonly referred to as the Tulloch
Rule. In 1998 the DC Circuit Court ruled in favor of the National Mining
Association and developers overturning the Tulloch Rule. In January of
2001, the Clinton administration created a different rule requiring a
permit to show that a project won't discharge materials into water as
regulated by the Clean Water Act. The Bush administration had put a
moratorium on implementation of this rule until their decision today to let
it stand.

Wetlands provide flood protection, homes for a wide array of wildlife, and
hunting and fishing opportunities for millions of Americans. Wetlands also
filter streams and rivers protecting water quality.

The Sierra Club is also calling on Congress to fully close this loophole
and strengthen the Clean Water Act to better protect America's wetlands.
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