November 25, 1999

Under Sen. Bob Smith, environment committee moves to conservative control

By MELISSA B. ROBINSON
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sen. Bob Smith's rise to the Environment and Public Works Committee chairmanship has raised concern among environmentalists that he may steer a sharply different course than his moderate Republican predecessor, the late John Chafee of Rhode Island.

Smith took over after Chafee -- a hero to environmentalists -- died suddenly last month from congestive heart failure at age 77.

Overall, the conservative Smith -- a New Hampshire Republican who briefly bolted a party he thinks has grown too moderate and accommodating -- is more pro-business and anti-government than Chafee.

But Smith, 58, is also from New England, a region with little land to spare and industries such as fishing and tourism that are heavily dependent on a clean environment.

That tends to make even anti-government conservatives more open to environmental protection than they might be in regions where the right of private property owners to be free of government intervention is a hot issue.

Given that, Smith's colleagues, and some environmentalists, are reserving judgment on whether he'll differ dramatically from Chafee in substance and style.

"He's proud of his conservative credentials, but he worked under the tutelage of Senator Chafee and has tremendous respect for his views," said Sen. John Warner, R-Va., who was a close friend of Chafee's. "Let's give him time."

For his part, the blunt-spoken Smith says he likes clean air and fresh water as much as anyone.

But he also complains about excessive federal regulation and is more inclined than Chafee to allow businesses, state and local governments -- instead of Congress and the Environmental Protection Agency -- to play a greater role in environmental matters.

Chafee was instrumental in the passage of the Clean Air Act in 1990 as well as hazardous waste laws and legislation dealing with water and coastal issues. He helped bury legislation that the House passed in 1995 that environmentalists derided as a "dirty water bill."

"I'm not an environmental extremist, that's for darn sure," Smith told The Associated Press in a recent interview. "But I think there has to be a balance between the environment and reasonable growth and opportunity. I don't believe people should violate the pollution laws of our country."

The League of Conservation Voters has given Smith a lifetime voting rating of 36 percent, well below Chafee's score of 70 percent but higher than all other Republicans on the Environment Committee.

In many cases, Smith's pro-environment votes were votes for fiscal conservatism. He scored points, for instance, for backing limited assistance to small and medium livestock farms, and for voting against sugar and grazing subsidies.

Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., who was next in line for the chairmanship, had a lifetime score of 7 from the league.

"We don't put Senator Smith in that category," said Greg Wetstone, director of advocacy for the Natural Resources Defense Council, a Washington-based environmental group. Still, "We're going to be looking at this next year very cautiously."

Chafee's influence still will be felt through his son, Sen. Lincoln Chafee, R-R.I., who was appointed to fill the 14 months left in his father's term.

Chafee, who is expected to continue his late father's support for an aggressive federal role in environmental protection, has a seat on the committee. At Smith's invitation, he met privately with the new chairman shortly after coming to Washington.

That sort of accommodation, senators say, is typical of Smith. He's no centrist but is willing to entertain other points of view.

"He's very easy to work with," said Sen. Max Baucus of Montana, the committee's top Democrat. Also, senators often become more compromising when they're in leadership posts, he said.

Next year's committee agenda -- to be settled during the winter recess -- will depend largely on Smith's priorities.

If the past is any indicator, overhauling the 1980 Superfund law governing cleanup of the nation's worst toxic waste sites will be among Smith's top concerns. House leaders also have indicated the issue will be a high priority next year.

Smith is among the critics who say too much money -- both taxpayer dollars and funds collected from a now-expired tax on the oil and chemical industries -- has gone for litigation and noncleanup activities.

Others, including many Democrats, worry that expedited cleanup schemes would provide unfair breaks to those who should be held responsible for pollution, lower cleanup standards and give too much authority to states.

For years, Smith and the late Chafee worked together on proposals to rewrite the law, advancing one bill, this year, that died in committee. Colleagues note that Smith, at least, tried to forge an agreement.

"He must have put hundreds of hours into trying to negotiate a compromise," said Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., a committee member. "That's a hopeful sign."