WASHINGTON, June 5 (UPI) -- The directors of four of America's most influential groups in the area of environmental policy met this morning at the White House with Vice President Dick Cheney and top policy staff in the Bush administration. The 90-minute meeting focused on the energy policy being developed by the administration and the impacts any such policy will have on the environment.

Mr. Cheney attended about the first 20 minutes of the meeting and listened to several presentations.

The meeting grew out of remarks Cheney made two weeks ago, when he said that the administration's energy policy would contain 11 of the 12 points that the Sierra Club was pushing for. The groups then sought a meeting, saying they did not see the points in the energy plan the administration released three weeks ago.

The administration has been sharply criticized for not consulting environmental groups during the formulation of its energy plan. Today's meeting with the leaders of Sierra Club, Union of Concerned Scientists, National Resources Defense Council and U.S. Public Interest Research Group sought to address some of that criticism.

The main points raised today by the environmental groups dealt with increased efficiency, particularly in automobiles, more use of renewable energy and cleaner power plant operations.

After the meeting, administration spokespersons stressed the positive nature of the meeting and the many areas of agreement. At this point in time, however, whatever agreement there is appears to be conceptual. No specific targets for mileage standards or amount of renewable sources have been specified by the administration.

In the contentious area of carbon dioxide emissions, administration spokespersons emphasized that the cabinet-level climate study group is working hard on this issue, although no specific commitment has been made to reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

(Reported by Joe Grossman in Santa Cruz, California)

Copyright 2001 by United Press International.