Bush Pens Wetlands Protection Bill

President Bush, hoping to burnish his environmental record, signed legislation Monday to continue a program aimed at preserving America's wetlands.

"The federal government will continue its partnership with land owners, conservation groups and states to save and improve millions of acres of wetlands," the president said in a White House ceremony.

The legislation extends for five years a program under which the federal government matches donations from sportsmen, state wildlife agencies, conservationists and landowners who pledge to protect wetlands.

Mr. Bush said the government has contributed $462 million since 1981 under the program. He said the program has already restored streams and rivers, re-established native plants and trees and acquired land that's home to more than a third of America's threatened species.

Every state has wetlands, reports CBS News Correspondent Peter Maer, but many of the fragile areas are endangered by pollution and land development. The White House notes the wetlands measure promotes non-regulatory conservation.

Monday's move was aimed at polishing Mr. Bush's environmental credentials amid continuing attacks from conservationists.

Last week, the administration proposed new forest rules that put less emphasis on wildlife preservation and other environmental concerns.

Environmental groups said Mr. Bush was undoing key safeguards. But administration officials said their intent was to improve forest management rules enacted under President Clinton two months before he left office.

A week before that, the administration rolled back clean air rules to allow utilities, refineries and manufacturers to avoid having to install expensive new anti-pollution equipment when they modernize their plants.

Critics called it a bonanza for hundreds of the nation's oldest and dirtiest power plants. The administration countered that the changes would encourage emission reductions by providing utilities and refinery operators new flexibility.