Committee on TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE U.S. House of Representatives	Democratic  News
Room 2163 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC  20515 Telephone 202-225-4472	Rep. James L. Oberstar, Ranking Democratic Member

 

For Immediate Release                                                                                                      Contact:  Jim Berard

Thursday, April 22, 2004                                                                                                              (202) 225-4472

 

 

Oberstar: Bush Earth Day Gesture Lacking

White House announces plan to preserve 3 million acres of wetlands

while leaving 20 million unprotected

 

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WASHINGTON—The Senior Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee questioned the sincerity of today’s announcement by the White House of a plan to protect wetlands.

 

President Bush announced a new initiative to restore or improve 2 million acres of wetlands, and protect another 1 million acres.

 

“I am glad the President was thinking about wetlands on Earth Day,” said Rep. James Oberstar of Minnesota,  “but if he were really serious about wetlands, he would work with us to reverse the SWANCC decision.”

 

In January 2001, the Supreme Court ruled in the case of Solid Waste Agency of Cook County v. Corps of Engineers (SWANCC) that 20 million acres of wetlands fell outside the federal government ‘s protection.  Oberstar has since introduced the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act of 2003 (H.R. 962) to effectively reverse the decision. 

 

“The White House is says it wants to protect wetlands, but, since the SWANCC decision, EPA and the Corps of Engineers have been directed not to protect certain wetlands, streams, ponds and other waters without direct permission from headquarters.  This has left many millions of acres of these ecologically fragile areas vulnerable to development, drainage or pollution.”

 

H.R. 962 has 120 cosponsors in the House.

 

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