Bush Waives Environmental Rules to Finish Border Fence

It's about time:

The Bush administration plans to cut through the bureaucratic red tape and bypass environmental laws hindering the building of 670 miles of fence along the border with Mexico and finish the section authorized by Congress by the end of this year.

Federal officials said the administration will invoke two legal waivers sanctioned by Congress to overcome obstacles holding up construction in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, the Associated Press reported.

Officials have said the "virtual fence" along a 28-mile section of the border in Arizona has been delayed by technical problems, and opposition from landowners along the border has delayed plans for the 670 miles of fencing.

The department previously used its waiver authority to build smaller portions, two in Arizona and one in San Diego.

Federal officials say that 309 miles of fencing has been completed, as of March 17, with another 309 miles to go.

This could be a shrewd political move since it removes the uncompleted border fence as a campaign issue. Who cares if it ticks off the environuts.