WASHINGTON, Sun Nov 2,(bdnews24.com/Reuters) - The Bush administration is rushing to implement environmental policy changes before leaving office, including removing wolves from the Endangered Species List, allowing power plants near national parks, easing regulations on factory farm waste, and facilitating mountaintop coal-mining operations. These proposals have faced criticism from environmental groups, who are pushing for mandatory greenhouse gas emission reductions. It is unlikely that any comprehensive action on global warming will be taken by the current administration, but both presidential candidates have pledged to address the issue if elected. Some free-market organizations have also called for a halt to last-minute regulations proposed by government agencies. Eli Lehrer of the Competitive Enterprise Institute stated that the Bush administration, during its eight years in office, has implemented more regulations than any other administration in history. Lehrer and John Kostyack of the National Wildlife Federation are concerned about the potential harm of rushing through new regulations in the final days of the administration, especially in the current economic climate. Kostyack highlighted the lack of citizen involvement in the process, leading to changes in U.S. law that the public may oppose, such as weakening protections under the Endangered Species Act. The Bush team is pushing for these regulations to be finalized by Saturday so they can take effect before President George W. Bush leaves office on January 20. Matt Madia from OMB Watch, an organization that monitors the White House Office of Management and Budget, stated that if the proposed regulations are put into effect, it will be difficult for the next administration to reverse them. He also mentioned that this may not be a top priority for a new president. Madia described the administration's last-minute implementation of rules as a typical response to being close to the end of their term. He also pointed out that industries such as electricity, mining, and agriculture are likely to benefit from these regulations, as they will be able to pollute more without government restrictions, ultimately harming the public. The speed at which certain environmental measures are advancing through the process is unusual. For instance, a rule proposed by the Interior Department that would weaken protections for endangered species to benefit mining interests received over 300,000 public comments. Officials stated they planned to review these comments in just one week, a pace that was described as "pretty ludicrous" by Madia. The rush to finalize these rules is because they only become effective 30 to 60 days after being finalized, and if they are not in effect when the next president takes office, they can choose not to implement them. White House spokesman Tony Fratto denied that the Bush administration was rushing these regulations through hastily. Fratto dismissed claims that the administration is attempting to relax regulations in favor of business interests, stating that the aim is to prevent a rush of last-minute regulations from the previous administration. One positive proposal from the Bush administration is the plan to establish a large marine sanctuary in the Pacific Ocean, which conservation groups support. This could be implemented on January 20.