Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 6, 1994 TAG: 9411070063
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Democratic Sen. Charles Robb's campaign lists 32 actions he has taken for the sake of environmental protection. Republican Oliver North and independent Marshall Coleman say the federal government should relax environmental regulations that put too much of a burden on industries.
``I want to make sure my kids and your kids have clean air to breathe and safe water to drink, but I don't want the government going overboard,'' North told a blue-collar worker in Richmond recently.
North does not mention the environment in his 54-point ``Agenda For Change.'' However, he has made it clear that he regards the Environmental Protection Agency as a bureaucratic bully.
In response to a Richmond Times-Dispatch questionnaire, North said the EPA's threat to block federal highway funds unless the state beefs up car emission inspections in central and Northern Virginia is ``another example of how, with federal aid, come federal controls.''
Coleman shared a similar view, saying, ``the EPA has overreached in its efforts and is being both bureaucratic and unnecessarily inflexible.''
Robb said the EPA allows states to develop their own emission-testing programs if they can show that the programs are as effective as a centralized program. He said he has encouraged the EPA to work with Virginia officials to develop such a program.
North and Coleman differ with Robb on how much power the EPA should have. Robb supports, and his opponents oppose, elevating the EPA to Cabinet status.
Coleman and North both say the federal government has gone too far in applying the Endangered Species Act. In a speech at a retirement home, North complained that a person can be denied the use of his property if the government finds the land is inhabited ``by some kind of rare snail.''
Robb said he supports the endangered-species law but believes landowners need more flexibility in meeting its requirements.
Despite the long list of environmental protection stands listed in ``The Robb Record,'' the regional staff director of Clean Water Action says the senator received only a ``C'' on the group's most recent report card.
However, Ellen Bundrick Hammer noted that Robb's grade ``is about the best we have to offer in Virginia. He comes out higher on environmental issues than we could be hopeful of under North or Coleman.''
Among the items on Robb's list of environmental stands is his sponsorship of a gasoline tax increase, which he said would encourage conservation and reduce pollution. North and Coleman have criticized Robb for taking that position. The tax increase was rejected.
Robb also claims to have introduced or supported legislation to toughen regulation of above-ground petroleum storage tanks, revitalize the Chesapeake Bay, encourage the use of alternative fuels and increase fuel economy requirements.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB