The opposition, Mr. Sherman says, is focused on several concerns, ranging from wetlands preservation to traffic congestion.

He added, "Brookhaven looks particularly at open land and recreational opportunities such as wetlands preservation and golf courses."

For 30 minutes, the students grilled him about issues relevant to New Jersey, like beach restoration, cranberry farming and wetlands preservation.

Such environmental concerns as wetlands preservation, pesticides usage and water pollution commonly trigger protests against developers.

"This would be a keystone of the wetlands preservation."

And the carrot of the subsidies is used to get farmers to conform to wetlands preservation and soil conservation rules, whether they like them or not.

The wrangling continues as President Clinton has made wetlands preservation his top environmental priority.

There will also be displays about environmental issues, including wetlands preservation, the relationship of vegetation and wildlife and environmental management.

And after an outcry by advocates of wetlands preservation, the council's action is now being reconsidered.

"No net loss" is the United States government's overall policy goal regrading wetlands preservation.