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'ION . Wisconsin State Journal, Saturday, August 3.199-, �s redefines ` etiands' U '- By Charles Campbell wildlife habitat and protection from densome. Associated Press flood damage. "The current regulatory pro- WASHINGTON — After months The new criteria have been de- gram is far too stiff and inflexible," of interagency squabbling, the Bushi bated between the EPA and of fi- said Robert Szabo, the coalition's administration has agreed on ne.s. cials from several other agencies executive director. "We advocate rules defining "wetlands"5 tha for months,with the dispute eventu- changes that would refocus the pro- would drop millions of dispute ally referred to Quayle's Council on gram away from just stopping acres from federal protection, ofli- Competitiveness. things." cials said Friday. Linda Winter, a wetlands expert ,;Proposals 'gathdEbrslit)portvinr Vice President Dan Quayle at the National Wildlife Federation, Congress would eliminate the worked out the compromise with accused the Bush administration of EPA's role in federal wetlands pro- William Reilly, the Environmental sacrificing environmental protec- tection and establish three catego- Protection Agency administrator, tion under political pressure. ries of wetlands, with weaker pro- who had wanted less-extensive "I think it's outrageous. Clearly, tection for those properties consid- changes in the current guidelines, people who don't know anything ered less environmentally valuable. one administration official said, about the science of how to define EPA officials said Reilly was speaking on condition of anonymity. wetlands are making these deci- pushing for limited changes in the The new criteria were described sions for political reasons," she wetlands definition process, partly as "strict and fair" in a memoran- said. "They're bowing to pressure in hopes of taking the steam out of dum drawn up by Quayle's staff and , from special interest groups, like the more sweeping changes pro- dated Wednesday. It said they will . the oil and gas industry, real estate posed in Congress. "prevent non-wetlands from falling agents and the farm bureau." Szabo, Winter and EPA officials into the regulatory net." The National Wetlands Coalition, all said it was difficult to judge how Wetlands refers to swamps, which represents developers, oil many acres would be affected by bogs, marshes, prairie potholes and companies, municipalities and the administration's new rules; the like, land once considered other landowners affected by the which are expected to be published worthless unless drained for farm- rules, said the administration "is for public comment later.: this ing or development. Environmen- moving in the direction we would month- talists say wetlands are now recog- advocate"but urged more action to "Nobody knows what the num- nized as vital for water quality, make wetlands regulation less bur- bers are, nobody," Szabo said.