The Department of the Interior (DOI) moved to repeal a Biden-era regulation on coal mining on Thursday.
The 2024 rule enacted under former President Joe Biden added additional regulations on the coal industry and gave the federal government more power to conduct reviews on states for potential rule violations. Biden cracked down on the coal industry by enforcing stringent regulations on coal-fired power plants and blocking new federal leases on coal mining, though President Donald Trump has moved to boost the coal industry, arguing that the power source is vital for the grid and national security.
“This is common sense,” said Adam Suess, acting assistant secretary for land and minerals management. “We’re cutting red tape, restoring clarity and respecting states’ right to lead. Federal oversight doesn’t mean federal interference.” (RELATED: ‘Long-Awaited Victory’: Trump Admin Greenlights Massive Coal Mining Plan)
The DOI argues that the Biden-era rule creates additional layers of government bureaucracy, and that returning to the 2020 version of the rule grants more authority to the states and streamlines the federal process for coal mining oversight. The proposal is in line with Trump’s executive order calling for deregulation to enable economic prosperity.
Coal plants have been closing for years due to a strict regulatory climate, energy policy experts have told the Daily Caller News Foundation previously. Under Biden’s tenure, he moved to replace coal plants with green energy initiatives, stating that “we’re going to be shutting these plants down all across America.”
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum argued that mining will minimize the nation’s reliance on foreign supply chains.
For 30 days, the DOI will allow the public to comment on the proposed rollback of the 2024 rule once it is published in the Federal Register.
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