BROAD BACKLASH PROMPTS BUSH REVERSAL ON MISGUIDED WATER RULE

"One year ago, the Bush administration made a gross miscalculation by
proposing a rule change to remove Clean Water Act protections from 20
million acres of wetlands and a majority of the nation's streams. A strong
and growing backlash from states, sportsmen, and even a strongly bipartisan
majority of Congressmen left the Bush administration with little choice but
to rescind its misguided proposal, as it quietly did with an announcement
today at 5:00PM EST.

"Today's reversal is a telling reminder of how listening only to special
corporate interests leaves the Bush administration wildly out of touch with
a broad range of public opinion, not to mention sound science.

"Continuing to protect small streams and wetlands is essential to filter
pollution from our drinking water sources, maintain water quality in our
lakes and rivers, and provide habitat to fish, waterfowl and other
wildlife. The Bush administration's efforts to remove protection from
small streams and wetlands would have reversed thirty years of progress in
cleaning up our lakes, rivers and coastal waters.

"Mining companies, developers and oil companies sought this change in clean
water rules because it would have been easier for them to dispose of their
waste and fill in wetlands if there were no government oversight. But
polluting these small streams and wetlands would have inevitably meant
dirtier water downstream, more flooding, and fewer recreational
opportunities for hunters, anglers and others who depend upon clean water.
Once again the Bush administration was on track to allow polluters to
benefit at our expense.

"In addition to reversing its proposed rule change on wetlands, the Sierra
Club also calls on the Bush administration to remove its guidance
discouraging enforcement of clean water protections for wetlands and small
streams. On January 15 of this year, the Bush administration instructed
Army Corps of Engineers and EPA staff not to enforce rules governing small
wetlands and streams without first obtaining permission from headquarters.
Putting the environmental cop back on the beat is especially critical given
broader concerns about environmental enforcement, which, according to a
recent Knight Ridder analysis, has 'plummeted' under the current
administration. Today's EPA press release did not indicate whether the
guidance would be rescinded."