So...

if ($ENV{REMOTE_ADDR} eq '180.76.6.175') {

works as

if ($ENV{REMOTE_ADDR} =~  /^180\.0?76\.0{0,2}6\.\d{1,3}$/) {

what would a wild card for :

if ($ENV{REMOTE_ADDR} eq '180.76.6.') {

and 

if ($ENV{REMOTE_ADDR} eq '180.76.') {

look like ?
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Sorry if the question sounds so noobish, but the use of wildcards for this particular circumstance is beating up my brain. Technically all I am trying to do is put some code in to my program to keep out various IPs that are able to run my progs in the cgi-bin directory EVEN though their IP is totally banned in the .htaccess file. God only knows why the cgi-bin directory does not benefit from the same protection as all other directories under the .htaccess file as it leaves the progs open to abusive bandwidth consumption.