Hit with strong criticism from all camps, the Bush administration has abandoned its plans to finalize a rule to revise the so-called FLAG guidelines.  This arcane set of internal guidelines has given federal land managers a virtual veto over a whole range of energy-related activities in the West.�The Roundtable -- which had been sharply critical of the details of the proposed revision -- applauded the Departments' decision.

The Roundtable has had FLAG as among its top priorities since shortly after the 2001 Guidelines emerged. We have spent tremendous energy and resources over the past seven years educating policymakers on the issue, working closely with Members of Congress, Administration officials and Western governors to encourage much-needed reforms.�Our staff, and interested Roundtable members, spent much of the summer evaluating the proposed rule. Unfortunately, the consensus position that emerged from that process is that the proposed FLAG revisions, though making a few technical improvements, have overall added even more confusion to an already cumbersome and fundamentally flawed process. We were compelled to oppose the Administration's product.

Roundtable members may access more details on this issue and related information by logging onto the Roundtable Air Quality Committee Online Headquarters, through the "Members" tab of the home page

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