Carmakers' Brave New World

The net loss of 'mudholes'The editorial, "Guard the Wetlands" Aug. 19, appropriately reminds President Bush of his acknowledgment that wetlands are a public good deserving protection. While the Bush administration stated that every "mudhole" cannot be protected, it neglected to mention that without many of these "mudholes," valuable habitats would be destroyed and water contamination increased. The administration's narrow definition of wetlands could mean the loss of protection for half of the nation's remaining wetlands. President Bush cannot define away another broken campaign promise. The self-proclaimed "environment president" should stand by his promise that there would be "no ne t loss" of wetlands instead of playing with definitions to please developers and deceive the American public. Robert A. Roberts, McLean, Va.

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