SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 13A

LENGTH: 1615 words

HEADLINE: Environmental canyon lies between nominees Advocacy groups, business leaders say a lot is at stake

BYLINE: Tom Kenworthy

BODY:
In a presidential election that offers clear choices on a whole
range of issues, few are as stark as the environment.


From their general philosophical approaches to how they would
address specific problems ranging from global climate change to
pesticide regulation to saving endangered animals, Republican
George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore differ sharply.


"Prosperity will mean little if we leave to future generations
a world of polluted air, toxic lakes and rivers, and vanished
fields and forests," Bush said in an environmental address last
spring. But he also has lambasted the "old system of mandate,
regulate and litigate."


He promised that under a Bush presidential administration, there
would be fewer dictates from Washington on environmental policy
and more cooperation with state and local governments, business
and private citizens.
Gore, whose book Earth in the Balance is a battle cry for
tougher environmental protections, wears proudly the mantle of
environmentalist. "We have to do what's right for our Earth because
it is the moral thing to do," he said in a speech in June.


Groups representing business and environmental interests say the
stakes are enormous because critical choices are looming on meeting
clean air and clean water standards, global climate change, public
lands conservation and a host of other issues.


As public lands are increasingly managed to enhance recreation
and protect wildlife, rural communities throughout the West are
undergoing an economic transformation. Even staunch advocates
of that change, such as the Idaho Conservation League's John McCarthy,
say that in many places, the "short term future is pretty grim."


"All three branches of government -- the White House, Congress
and the Supreme Court -- are up for grabs in 2000," says Daniel
Weiss, political director for the Sierra Club, which expects to
spend $ 2 million supporting Gore this year. "These institutions
will determine environmental protection for the next decade and
beyond."


Citing the government's role in developing regulations on clean
air, water quality and fuels, and the impact of those regulations
on local communities' ability to develop economically, U.S. Chamber
of Commerce Vice President Bill Kovacs says, "The critical infrastructure
of the U.S. is at stake."


For advocates on both sides, there is little middle ground.


Environmentalists charge that when it comes to pollution, Bush
nearly always sides with industry and that Texas and its large
cities are among the nation's worst in toxic emissions, smog and
water quality problems. Bush prefers to point out the progress
his state has made in cutting air pollution, reducing toxic releases,
cleaning up hazardous waste sites and improving drinking water
quality.


Business sees Gore as a classic "command and control" environmentalist
whose policies would stifle economic developmentand trample on
private-property rights.





Analyzing key issues


This is the last in a series of articles analyzing key issues
facing the next president.


Today: Preserving the environment.


Previously published: Americans without health insurance
(Sept. 22); education plans (Sept. 26), the military's search
for a mission (Oct. 3); saving Social Security (Oct. 17); spending
the surplus (Oct. 25) and paying for prescription drugs (Wednesday).


Election controls environmental direction


For much of the last six years, the Clinton-Gore administration
and the Republican-led Congress have been at odds over environmental
issues: global climate change, managing public lands, and overhauling
laws, such as those governing the Superfund and endangered-species
programs. With control of Congress and the White House at stake,
this election could break that deadlock.


Toxic pollution by U.S. manufacturers


Industries must report to federal and state governments when they
release, as part of normal production, any of nearly 650 toxic
chemicals. Industries that release the most toxics into the environment
include chemical, primary metals and paper manufacturers.
 
(in billions of pounds)
'883.9'952.5'972.5'98*2.4

Water quality in the USA


Runoff from city streets and agricultural fields -- so-called
non-point source pollution -- is the source of about 60% of the
USA's water pollution. But that runoff is not strictly regulated
under the Clean Water Act. Water-quality ratings under the EPA's
inventory in 1998:
 
Rivers842,426 miles
Good55%
Good, but threatened10%
Polluted35%
Lakes17.4 million acres
Good46%
Good, but threatened 9%
Polluted45%
Estuaries28,687 square miles
Good47%
Good, but threatened10%
Polluted44%


Trends in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions


The primary greenhouse gas emitted into the atmosphere is carbon
dioxide; most of it comes from the combustion of fossil fuels.
A greenhouse gas is an emission linked to global warming. From
1990 through 1997, carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion
rose.


Greenhouse gas emissions


(in billions of tons):
 
'901.8'972.0

Logging in U.S. National Forests


The nation's 191 million acres of national forest are a far less
important source of timber than they used to be. But the timber
industry is still important economic force in many Western communities,
and production from national forests has been a volatile issue
as the Clinton-Gore administration has shifted forest management
more toward wildlife and recreation.


Timber harvested


(in trillion board feet**)
 
'8812.6'99 2.9

* -- 1998 figure does not include releases from seven industrial
sectors added that year.


** -- A board foot is lumber measuring one-foot by one-foot by
one-inch.


Comparing the candidates' policies and proposals

Republican George W. Bush

Public lands

Recently unveiled a plan to eliminate a $ 4.9 billion maintenance
backlog at national parks. Criticized Clinton plan to protect
43 million acres of roadless forest and designate large tracts
of western land as national monuments. Says "land management
decisions are best made at the local level." Supports full funding
for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which is used to buy
and protect land.


Endangered Species Act

Criticized the "heavy-handed approach" of federal agencies that
implement the act and says the act should be revised to provide
incentives for landowners to protect species. Economic and social
costs should be considered before listing species, he says, and
the act must protect the rights of private property owners.


Climate change

Once a skeptic on whether the Earth is warming, Bush now says
"the science proves there's global warming." He opposes the
Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions, largely caused by the burning of fossil fuels and
believed to cause global warming.


Sprawl

Says "the challenges of urban growth are best handled by local
and state governments," though some federal policy changes, such
as eliminating the estate tax, can play a role.


Air and water pollution

Supports the Clinton administration's Tier II emission standards,
which from 2004 to 2009 would require cleaner burning gasoline
and lower emissions of nitrogen oxide and sulfur by cars, light
trucks and sport utility vehicles. He has not proposed a detailed
agenda for further reducing air and water pollution.


Pesticides

Supports the Food Quality Protection Act passed in 1996 that mandates
closer scrutiny of the health effects of pesticides, particularly
on children. But says it should not be implemented in a way that
disrupts access to "safe crop protection products."


Toxic wastes

One of his main environmental proposals deals with cleaning up
toxic waste "brownfields." It involves more flexible federal
standards for cleanup, protecting redevelopers of polluted sites
from legal liability, and extending tax incentives for such cleanups.


Democrat Al Gore

Public lands

Has advocated strict protections for roadless areas and supports
the increased designation of monuments and wilderness areas. Supports
full funding for the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.


Endangered Species Act

Supports the act and says he believes it should be strengthened
to include "comprehensive ecosystem protection for habitat"
needed by threatened and endangered species.


Climate change

Has sought to raise awareness of global warming since his earliest
days in Congress. He favors ratification of the Kyoto Protocol
and is a strong advocate of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.


Sprawl

Believes in a strong federal role in helping local communities
manage growth. Announced a "livability" agenda that would direct
federal agencies to help communities, including $ 1 billion to
protect farmland and open space, ease traffic and work on "smart
growth" strategies.


Air and water pollution

Supports the administration's new soot and smog standards and
argues for phasing out older power plants that cannot meet clean
air standards. Has supported new requirements for polluted water
runoff on states and believes the Clean Water Act must be strengthened
to enforce those requirements.


Pesticides

Fully backs the law and supports "tough standards to eliminate
any unacceptable risks that pesticides may present to human health."


Toxic wastes

Has been a staunch defender of the Superfund cleanup program and
opposed congressional efforts to lower cleanup standards and weaken
provisions requiring polluters to pay for cleanups.


Source: USA TODAY research





GRAPHIC: GRAPHIC, b/w, Frank Pompa, USA TODAY, Sources:EPA Toxic Release Inventory, 1998 EPA National Water Quality Inventory Report to Congress in 1998, U.S. Forest Service(Bar graph, Line graph)

LOAD-DATE: November 03, 2000