Locke Criticizes Bush on Water Rules
By CHRISTOPHER NEWTON, Associated Press Writer
March 31, 2001

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush is leading a strategic assault on theenvironment after he announced plans to rescind a Clinton-era regulationlimiting the amount of arsenic allowed in drinking water, a Democratic governorsaid Saturday.

Washington Gov. Gary Locke said Bush is in the pocket of big businessand is taking his cues from the energy industry.

``It is the wealthy donors and the special interests that helped puthim in the White House who want to loosen environmental controls,'' Lockesaid in the Democrats' weekly radio address. ``As a result, their problemsare his problems, and the environmental regulations that are in their way,are in his way too.''

The comments were in reaction to Bush's announcement this week that hewill pursue a reduction in the amount of arsenic allowed in drinking water,but not before more scientific studies indicate where the level should beset.

The current standard, set in 1942, allows a maximum of 50 parts per billion.Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency (news - web sites) recommendedreducing that to 5 parts per billion as demanded by many environmentalists,but President Clinton directed that the standard be set at 10 parts perbillion.

The Bush administration says it will withdraw the Clinton standard, whichwould have taken effect later this year.

Health and environmental groups have been campaigning since 1996 to reducethe standard. The EPA acted as part of a court settlement after the NationalAcademy of Sciences found in 1999 that arsenic in drinking water can causebladder, lung and skin cancer, and might cause liver and kidney cancer.

Locke said Bush's action is just the latest in his ``anti-environmentalinitiatives.''

``On the campaign trail, then-Governor Bush promised that he would placelimits on the level of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere,''Locke said. ``Right after he got into the White House, though, that pledgewent out the window.''

``Two days later, the president announced that he thought our nationalparks, such as Yellowstone and Yosemite, have great potential for oil drilling,''the governor said. ``We urge the president in the strongest terms to protectour environment.''