Some developers complain that towns tend to be overzealous in their application of wetlands regulations to affordable housing proposals.

Part of the reason, she said, is because Texas, like most other states, has generally left wetlands regulation to the federal government.

Officials cite many reasons for the slow going, including insurance issues, wetlands regulations, permit backlogs and infrastructure problems.

"With or without today's revised guidance, our position on isolated wetlands regulation could not be more clear," said Gary Garczynski, the organization's president.

We have local wetlands regulations now.

Congressmen, besieged, introduced bills to undo the wetlands regulations.

Opponents say that with current wetlands regulations and an overbuilt office market, it seems unlikely either spot would be built on.

Michigan is the only state that has the authority to administer the national wetlands regulations.

But he found the construction so costly and the wetlands regulations so irritating, that he eventually decided to sell almost all his holdings.

However, this proved impossible due to a combination of wetlands regulation and lack of sufficient funding.