New Land Program Gets Final Approval

Congress approved an $18.8 billion measure that willfinance the Interior Department for fiscal 2001. Included in the bill isan immediate $1.2 billion down payment for purchasing fragile lands,maintaining parks and other initiatives as part of a $12 billion,six-year program. The measures passage marks a triumph for PresidentClinton in his designation of land preservation as a top priority, as itmore than doubles last year's federal conservation spending. Provisionsincluded in the measure represent a few setbacks for environmentalists,however, as one in particular could slow Environmental Protection Agencyplans to take action against urban air pollution.

Thanks to California 2000 Project