Actions taken
Proposed oil drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Opened most of northwest portion of the reserve to oil and gas development, including areas for wildlife.
Administration's position
Tapping the oil would reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign sources of oil. Limiting drilling to 2,000 acres in the refuge would protect wildlife.
What his critics say
A 2,000-acre limit is meaningless since the area can be spread across the entire coastal plain. Whatever oil is there will have little impact on oil prices and won't be produced for a decade. Conservation steps would save more oil than ever produced.";
BushEnviroRecord_040304[i++] = new Array("","Air pollution","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
BushEnviroRecord_040304[i-1].body = "
Before Bush
The Clinton administration sued 51 aging power plants and forced several to install pollution-control equipment.
Actions taken
Kept Clinton lawsuits, but changed rules used in lawsuits and moved to drop some investigations. New rules help industry expand without adding more pollution controls.
Administration's position
Old rules prevented plants from gaining efficiency. Congress should pass a new law to cut nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and mercury.
What his critics say
States suing said they should take over investigations. Bush’s changes would let companies pollute too much, for too long. Carbon dioxide should also be regulated.";
BushEnviroRecord_040304[i++] = new Array("","Brownfields","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
BushEnviroRecord_040304[i-1].body = "
Before Bush
Since 1978, landowners of properties contaminted with PCBs, a carcinogenic chemical, have had to remove them before any sales.
Actions taken
Allowed sales of land with PCBs before cleanups. Congress approved speeding cleanup of 450,000 sites and protecting cities and business from lawsuits.
Administration's position
Converting “brownfields” to new uses lets communities redevelop without being responsible for toxic waste. PCBs must be removed before redevelopment.
What his critics say
The changes will hide environmental problems instead of fix them, and undercut the public’ s ability to know where polluted soils are sent.";
BushEnviroRecord_040304[i++] = new Array("","Diesel pollution","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
BushEnviroRecord_040304[i-1].body = "
Before Bush
Clinton rules require heavy-duty trucks and buses to cut diesel pollution beginning in 2007. All new engines would be covered by 2010.
Actions taken
Upheld the Clinton rules, which also require cleaner diesel fuel starting in 2006.
Administration's position
The cuts in pollution will prevent thousands of premature deaths, heart attacks and respiratory ailments.
What his critics say
One of the biggest public health steps since lead was removed from gasoline. Industry and farmers say it will add to the price of new farm equipment and diesel fuel.";
BushEnviroRecord_040304[i++] = new Array("","Drinking water","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
BushEnviroRecord_040304[i-1].body = "
Before Bush
Clinton tightens arsenic in drinking water standard to 10 parts per billion by 2006. The standard was 50 ppb since 1942.
Actions taken
Rescinded the Clinton standard, then did an about-face and adopted it.
Administration's position
Cost a major concern, particularly for Western towns where arsenic is both a naturally occurring and an industrial byproduct.
What his critics say
Bush greatly underestimated the cancer risks of arsenic in drinking water. Even at 3 ppb there are risks, according to the National Academy of Sciences.";
BushEnviroRecord_040304[i++] = new Array("","Endangered species ","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
BushEnviroRecord_040304[i-1].body = "
Before Bush
Developers and federal agencies complained environmental groups use the Endangered Species Act to force the designation of \"critical habitats\" for species' recovery and to tie up projects.
Actions taken
The ability to get new species protected should be limited. Proposed adding more than 20 plants and animals to the endangered species list, many in response to lawsuits.
Administration's position
The ESA is \"broken\" because of excessive lawsuits, and the government lacks money to meet all its court orders to designate habitat.
What his critics say
Lawsuits make the government act, as with Florida manatees, listed as endangered since 1967. The Interior Department doesn’t value habitat enough, according to congressional investigators.";
BushEnviroRecord_040304[i++] = new Array("","Global warming","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
BushEnviroRecord_040304[i-1].body = "
Before Bush
Many scientists agree the Earth’s atmosphere is warming partly from human causes. Vice President Al Gore signs the Kyoto international climate treaty in 1997 to reduce greenhouse gases. Senate won't ratify it.
Actions taken
Reversed a 2000 campaign pledge to regulate industrial carbon dioxide and withdrew the U.S. from the Kyoto treaty. Proposed industry voluntarily slow the growth rate of CO2 emissions.
Administration's position
Limits on CO2 emissions would hurt the economy too much. Developing countries also must agree to limits. More research needed to firm up the science behind climate change.
What his critics say
Mandatory CO2 cuts are needed now. At Bush’ s request, the National Academy of Sciences advises that the problem is real and getting worse.";
BushEnviroRecord_040304[i++] = new Array("","Environmental Policy Act","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
BushEnviroRecord_040304[i-1].body = "
Before Bush
Known as NEPA, the 1970 law requires government to study its environmental impacts. Activists often use it to limit development and protect endangered species.
Actions taken
Recommends agencies create broad categories of projects for which they could exempt themselves from doing lengthy studies, and that a citizen’s guide to NEPA be written.
Administration's position
NEPA can cause bureaucratic gridlock. Opponents can still challenge an agency categorization. Acknowledges its changes would reduce reviews of projects.
What his critics say
Bush wants to circumvent the bedrock environmental law by supporting more projects going forward without full reviews.";
BushEnviroRecord_040304[i++] = new Array("","National forests","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
BushEnviroRecord_040304[i-1].body = "
Before Bush
Prohibitions on most road-building and commercial logging set under President Clinton on 58.5 million national forest acres.
Actions taken
Sped up forest-thinning projects on public woodlands, limited environmental reviews and public appeals.
Administration's position
Letting timber companies log in national forests in exchange for clearing smaller vegetation will create jobs and save money on wildfire prevention.
What his critics say
The new law is a giveaway to the timber industry in the name of wildfire prevention. ";
BushEnviroRecord_040304[i++] = new Array("","National parks","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
BushEnviroRecord_040304[i-1].body = "
Before Bush
The National Park Service estimated its backlog in maintenance and repairs at $4.9 billion in 1997.
Actions taken
Spent about $3 billion on the maintenance backlog, but it remains at $4 billion to $7 billion.
Administration's position
Clinton left the parks in poor condition. Made progress toward fullfilling 2000 campaign pledge to eliminate the maintenance backlog.
What his critics say
Hasn’t gotten rid of backlog as promised and is looking at privatizing some Park Service jobs. The Park Service can’t systematically track repair and maintenance needs, congressional investigators said.";
BushEnviroRecord_040304[i++] = new Array("","Nuclear waste","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
BushEnviroRecord_040304[i-1].body = "
Before Bush
Congress in 1987 declared Nevada’s Yucca Mountain as the only site to be studied further for permanent waste repository.
Actions taken
Selects Yucca, a ridge of volcanic rock 90 miles from Las Vegas, to entomb 77,000 tons of used reactor fuel from commercial power plants. Congress affirmed Bush’s decision.
Administration's position
The site’s geology and engineered barriers will keep radioactivity from leaking. Environmental studies would be subject to judicial review.
What his critics say
EPA’s radiation standard was inadequate because it only applies to the next 10,000 years. After that, engineered barriers may degrade.";
BushEnviroRecord_040304[i++] = new Array("","Superfund","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
BushEnviroRecord_040304[i-1].body = "
Before Bush
The Superfund program for cleaning the worst toxic waste sites began in 1980. Congress let expire a special tax to help pay for cleanups in 1995.
Actions taken
EPA has completed cleanups at about 890 sites. More than 1,200 remain on its to-do list. Congress pays for a third of them – the ones no one has been found responsible for. Completed cleanups declined since 2001. Money collected from companies found responsible for polluting sites ranged from $627 million to $1.7 billion.
Administration's position
Cleanups are getting bigger and more complex, slowing the rate of completions. Not enough money available to start every project.
What his critics say
Clinton averaged 76 completed cleanups per year. Bush should push Congress to reinstate the industry tax.";
BushEnviroRecord_040304[i++] = new Array("","Water pollution","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
BushEnviroRecord_040304[i-1].body = "
Before Bush
States must list of bodies of water that don’t meet minimum water quality standards and establish how much pollution will be allowed in them.
Actions taken
Put on hold a Clinton rule to have states plan how to reduce storm water and agriculture runoff pollution in polluted streams.
Administration's position
Improvements needed in listing and monitoring waterways. Scientists noted the Clinton program could not ensure the right bodies of water were targeted.
What his critics say
EPA’s monitoring of water pollution are inadequate.";
BushEnviroRecord_040304[i++] = new Array("","Wetlands development","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
BushEnviroRecord_040304[i-1].body = "
Before Bush
Developers who disturbed more than a half-acre of wetlands needed permits. The Supreme Court ruled isolated waters can’t be protected just as habitat for migratory birds.
Actions taken
Sped up developers’ ability to get permits, eased limits on building in flood plains and filling along streams. Projects no longer have to restore wetlands acre-for-acre if “no net loss” goal is met for each watershed. On hunters' advice, held off on rule that could have eroded some wetland protections.
Administration's position
New rules interpret what the court ruled, improve protections for aquatic ecosystems and simplify red tape.
What his critics say
New rules went beyond the court, adding endangered species and crop irrigation as insufficient grounds for protecting wetlands. Builders can put up homes in flood plains and reroute narrow streams. ";
// END editorial data