But when Western Republicans raised a stink, Mr. Clinton backed off, to the howl of environmentalists.

The Democrats say one of their best issues in 1996 were efforts by a handful of Western Republicans to close down some national parks.

"Monument is a dirty word sometimes with Western Republicans."

Western Republicans were successful in winning a suspension of environmental reviews of private grazing operations on public lands.

But the logging industry and many Western Republicans were unshaking in their disdain for Mr. Clinton's proposal.

Out of power for decades, Western Republicans who now control the chief public land committees are in a rush to overturn years of conservation law.

Alas, the services and data donated by wildlife volunteers will soon be prohibited if a few Western Republicans have their way.

The Bush administration and Western Republicans like that idea, especially the logging part.

A bipartisan majority appears to favor the measure, but Western Republicans have indicated that they may try to derail it on property-rights grounds.

Last summer, Western Republicans derided the wolf reintroduction program and managed to cut its budget by $200,000, or a third.