Overnight Regulation: Republicans attack new coal rules

Welcome to OVERNIGHT REGULATION, your daily rundown of news from Capitol Hill and beyond. It’s Thursday evening here in Washington. Here’s the latest.

 

THE BIG STORY

Republicans are airing fresh concerns about the Obama administration’s “war on coal.” 

The Interior Department’s Office of Surface Mining (OSM) unveiled new coal mining rules Thursday intended to protect streams and the ecosystem. The proposed rules would prohibit mining activities and waste from mountaintop removal from getting near streams. They would update decades-old standards.

The Obama administration defended the rules as a way to protect groundwater from mining pollution. But Republicans say this is the latest administration salvo in the “war on coal.” http://bit.ly/1OhGrLr

 

The Hill’s Tim Cama has the full story:

The rule is part of a years-long battle the Obama administration has fought against mountaintop removal, in which miners blast away large parts of mountains and often put the waste in valleys.

In addition to avoiding streams, mining companies would have to improve their standards for testing streams for possible pollution, and the rule would require them to restore streams that get mined over.

“Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah), chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, immediately criticized the rule and said the Interior Department did not fulfill its responsibilities to consult with states.

“The Obama administration has proven to be the bully regulation machine once again,” he said in a statement.

“Nine out of ten states have rejected the dog and pony show of inclusion OSM has put forward,” he said. “I am afraid that their concerns with the impacts of the rule on Americans will be cast aside.”

Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) compared the rule to the Environmental Protection Agency’s mercury and air toxics rules, which the Supreme Court said last month were not properly written.

“It’s outrageous that less than a month after being rebuked by the U.S. Supreme Court for ignoring the costs of its regulations, the administration is doing it again with this job-crushing, anti-coal rule,” he said in a statement.

“It’s no secret that this overreaching rule is designed to help put coal country out of business. Less coal production means more Americans will be out of work and families will be forced to pay more just to keep the lights on.” 

 

ON TAP FOR FRIDAY

The Energy Department will hold a meeting to discuss amending energy conservation standards for fluorescent lamps. http://1.usa.gov/1RCawL6

 

TOMORROW’S REGS TODAY

The Obama administration will publish 253 new regulations, proposed rules, notices, and other administrative actions in Friday’s edition of the Federal Register.

Here’s what to watch for:

–The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) will loosen the testing requirements for children’s toys.

Manufacturers will not be required to test unfinished and untreated wood found in toys for heavy elements. 

The direct final rule goes into effect in 60 days. http://bit.ly/1JkK1QJ

–The Department of Energy (DOE) will issue new energy conservation standards for certain air conditioners, heat pumps, and water heaters.

The Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is issuing the new efficiency rules that apply to “small three-phase commercial air-cooled air conditioners and heat pumps less than 65,000 Btu/h; water-source heat pumps; and commercial oil-fired storage water heaters.”

The changes go into effect in 60 days. http://bit.ly/1J2UpRl

–The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will uphold rules that block hunters from importing African elephant trophies taken in Zimbabwe.

The agency said it was unable “to determine that the killing of the animal whose trophy is intended for import into the United States would enhance the survival of the species in the wild.” http://bit.ly/1Ld7Lfo

–The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will issue a draft guidance for measuring the “testicular toxicity” of drugs.

The draft guidance will help drug manufacturers “identify nonclinical signals of testicular toxicity and to evaluate the potential for such toxicity in humans,” the agency wrote. 

The public has 90 days to comment. http://bit.ly/1J2UlkC

 

NEWS RIGHT NOW

Dope: Lawmakers in the House want to do away with doping in thoroughbred horse racing. http://bit.ly/1MwPffc

Cameras: Advocates for greater transparency and accountability at the U.S. Supreme Court are hoping the results of the federal judiciary’s four-year cameras-in-the-court pilot program will pave the way for cameras in the high court. http://bit.ly/1SpK7ew

Agency funding: The Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday advanced a bill that would fund the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the next fiscal year. http://bit.ly/1SpYXSe

NRA: Gun control advocates are calling on the Federal Election Commission to investigate the National Rifle Association for what they claim are millions of dollars in political expenditures that it failed to report over the last several election cycles. http://bit.ly/1K9LbkK

School lunch: The Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday adopted a GOP amendment that would provide schools flexibility in meeting Department of Agriculture (USDA) rules for serving whole-grain products and reducing sodium levels. http://bit.ly/1CGcFPf

Chamber: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce targeted low- and middle-income countries in lobbying against anti-smoking regulations, according to a report health and safety groups unveiled Thursday. http://bit.ly/1MdxggV

Walker: The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ended a probe into Scott Walker’s 2012 recall election campaign, NPR reports. http://n.pr/1K9Ln3r

Prison: President Obama visited the medium-security El Reno Federal Correctional Institution near Oklahoma City Thursday to press his case that the nation needs to reconsider the way crime is controlled and prisoners are rehabilitated, AP reports. http://bit.ly/1I5wIZz

 

BY THE NUMBERS

400,000: The number of people employed in the horse racing industry.

$25 billion: How much the horse racing industry contributes to the national economy.

 

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“The NRA is going to have to do better than, ‘The dog ate my homework,’ ” –Josh Horwitz, executive director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, on allegations that the gun lobby violated campaign finance laws.

 

We’ll work to stay on top of these and other stories throughout the week, so check The Hill’s Regulation page (http://digital-staging.thehill.com/regulation) early and often for the latest. And send any comments, complaints or regulatory news tips our way, tdevaney@digital-staging.thehill.com or lwheeler@digital-staging.thehill.com. And follow us at @timdevaney and@wheelerlydia.

Click here to sign up for the newsletter: http://bit.ly/1pc6tau