Hundreds of square miles of sensitive coastal wetlands have been poisoned, perhaps forever.

The program will reroute hiking trails away from sensitive wetlands.

That effort envisioned a mega-mall built on some 500 acres of environmentally sensitive wetlands near the current Xanadu site.

The construction of the northern segment has been delayed because it cuts through environmentally sensitive wetlands and waterways.

The highway faces additional criticism from environmental groups due to its proposed routing through sensitive wetlands.

The changes would require full environmental studies for much development in sensitive wetlands, especially those located in floodplains.

Environmentalists say the project is inappropriate for an area with steep slopes and sensitive wetlands.

The group would not touch the ecologically sensitive wetlands and swamp areas, he said, because it, too, was concerned about the environment on the island.

There are also environmental issues, with conservationists saying that more than one-third of the proposed site is covered by sensitive wetlands.

Almost 5% of its extensive coastline consists of ecologically sensitive wetlands.