    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
    [April 24, 2004]
    [Pages 665-667]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    April 24, 2004

        Good morning. This week I celebrated Earth Day by traveling to Maine
    and Florida to visit some of this Nation's vital wetlands. From the Gulf
    of Maine to the Gulf of Mexico, Americans are blessed to live amid many
    incredible wonders of nature.
        We no longer take those wonders for granted. We understand our
    responsibilities to the natural world to conserve and make better what
    we have been given. Wetlands are among our most important natural
    resources. They provide a habitat for wildlife, trap pollution, reduce
    the impact of floods, and provide recreational opportunities.
        For many years, our Nation has sought to slow the loss of our
    wetlands. We've made tremendous progress. And on Earth Day, I was proud
    to announce a new goal: Instead of just limiting our losses, we will
    expand the wetlands of America.
        To accomplish this objective, my administration will work to
    restore, improve, and protect at least 3 million acres of wetlands over
    the next 5 years. This new wetlands

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    policy reflects an enduring national commitment, carried forward by both
    parties, to protecting the environment.
        We're taking action to ensure cleaner air. Since Congress passed the
    Clean Air Act of 1970, major air pollutants have been reduced by nearly
    50 percent. My administration is building on that progress by
    implementing smarter ways to raise standards and improve air quality.
        The clean air interstate rule, based on the Clear Skies legislation
    I sent to Congress last year, will reduce the major causes of ozone and
    fine particles by 70 percent. This rule employs a market-based approach
    called ``cap and trade'' to reduce air pollution that crosses State
    borders.
        We're also completing an important new rule to remove sulfur from
    diesel fuels. Just as regulations to remove lead from gasoline have
    helped cut pollution in the 1970s, our new diesel rule will reduce
    harmful emissions from generators, tractors, and other diesel vehicles.
        Finally, we are regulating mercury emissions from powerplants for
    the first time ever. Under our new proposal, mercury emissions will be
    cut by approximately 70 percent.
        All these rules are based on sound science and good economics, and
    they will help every American breathe cleaner air.
        We also have a responsibility to be good stewards of the land. Two
    years ago, I signed legislation to clean up more of the abandoned and
    polluted industrial sites known as brownfields. Between 2001 and 2003,
    we restored over 1,000 brownfields to usable condition, more than were
    restored in the previous 7 years. Our efforts have opened usable land
    for small businesses and residents in hundreds of communities across the
    country and created more than 25,000 jobs in cleanup and redevelopment.
        Another critical environmental priority is the health of our
    Nation's forests. In recent years, millions of acres of forests,
    rangeland, and communities have been destroyed by wildfires. So last
    December, I signed the Healthy Forest Restoration Act to reduce the risk
    of fire, save lives and property, and improve the health of our forests.
    The law opens millions of acres of forest land to vital thinning
    projects. And by expediting the environmental review process and
    directing courts to consider long-term threats to forest health, the law
    allows us to protect more of our Nation's precious forests.
        In the past three decades, America has made great strides in
    honoring the ideal of conservation and living by high standards of
    stewardship. My administration's environmental efforts uphold that
    legacy. In the past 4 years, America's air, land, and water have all
    gotten cleaner. Our new proposals build on that progress and help us
    advance toward our national goal of a cleaner, safer, healthier
    environment.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 4:35 p.m. on April 22 in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on April 24. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    April 23 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office
    of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of
    this address.

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