WASHINGTON - Ten activists protesting Bush administration environmental policies were arrested at the headquarters of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency yesterday after chaining themselves to the building's entrance.
Among those arrested were John Passacantando, executive director of Greenpeace, and Randy Hayes, president of the Rainforest Action Network, the activist groups and the Federal Protective Services, the police for federal buildings, said.A spokeswoman for Greenpeace said the 10 arrested activists would likely be released by police later yesterday.
EPA officials declined to comment on the incident.
Greenpeace said the EPA protest was part of its pre-Earth Day campaign to highlight what it considered to be President George W. Bush's anti-environmental agenda.
"We want this toxic Texan (Bush) to know that trashing 30 years of environmental gains, then making a few token green announcements for Earth Day is an unacceptable environmental agenda," Passacantando said in a statement.
Yesterday, Bush announced in a White House ceremony that the United States would sign a global treaty aimed at curbing toxic chemicals.
The event followed a move earlier this week to uphold rules from the administration of former President Bill Clinton requiring thousands more businesses to disclose potentially toxic lead emissions.
Bush and EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman have been under pressure from activists who think the new Republican White House acts as a front for anti-green, pro-industry policies on the environment.
Greenpeace listed Bush's decision to reverse a campaign pledge to limit carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, and a plan to open Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration and drilling as two of his major mistakes.
"The environmental community is shocked at how much damage one president can propose in less than 100 days," Passacantando said.
Greenpeace protesters last Friday scaled a water tower in Crawford, Texas, near where Bush was visiting his ranch, and unfurled a banner telling the president not to "mess with the Earth."
Sunday marks the 31st Earth Day, an event started in 1970 to focus international attention on the fate of the planet.
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