Although Congress passed legislation preventing the Environmental Protection Agency from imposing new pollution controls to clean up thousands of waterways, the Clinton administration continues to consider putting the rule through.
Democrats are concerned about a political backlash.
The new rules would create costly new requirements for farmers, businesses, industrial plants and utilities in areas surrounding 40 percent of the nation's lakes and streams because they do not meet federal standards. An administration source said EPA administrator Carol Browner participated in tense talks at the White House last week and urged the administration to go ahead with the rule.