Energy and Environmental Regulations Under Attack—by Congress

"Both are recent rules not passed by Congress, but by the executive branch under the Obama administration," states Nathan Rott for National Public Radio (transcript and audio available). "Which is important, that's why they're vulnerable now." 

"The Stream Protection Rule covers waterways near surface coal mining operations like mountaintop removal mines," writes Paul Rauber for Sierra.

When the tops of mountains are blown up to get at the coal below, the resultant rubble is dumped into valleys, often leading to pollution of rivers and streams with dangerous heavy metals like selenium, mercury, and arsenic.

Some form of the rule has been around since 1983, but in late December 2016, President Obama finalized a strengthened version of the rule. It says that coal mines must not damage the “hydrologic balance” outside their permit area, and established a 100-foot buffer around streams to preserve native species. The rule also called for restoration of streams that had been damaged.

Congress will be using the Congressional Review Act to overturn this rule. Under this act, "Congress can overturn regulations issued within the last 60 legislative days with simple majority votes in both chambers," according to Countable.us. "'t would need to be signed into law by the president to take effect."

"The other [environmental regulation] limits methane flaring on public land," adds Rott. 

That's when companies just burn off methane during oil and gas extraction instead of trying to capture and contain it. Industry says this is an expensive burden that hurts companies. Environmental groups say methane is one of the most powerful greenhouse gases so it needs to be curbed.