EPA Regulations. In response to an executive order requiring agencies to reexamine burdensome regulations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requested public comments regarding which regulations might be applicable. Instead of the expected laundry list of industry requests, EPA got an earful from nearly 100,000 commenters, many urging the agency not to remove regulations. Commenters from manufacturing and mining communities to urban areas shared stories of dirty air and water. Rise Stronger partnered with several groups to assist in preparing comments defending the environment, and many Rise Stronger members submitted their own comments to EPA.

Transportation joins the anti-climate game. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) published a rulemaking at the end of the Obama administration, requiring state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations to measure and set targets for highway reliability, freight movement, congestion, greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), and non-GHG emissions. Since the rule was final but not effective before the end of the Obama administration, the Trump administration was able to review the rule before it became effective. On Thursday, DOT announced its decision to make the rulemaking effective except for the GHG component, indefinitely delaying the effective date for the GHG and starting a new rulemaking process to take comments on a "possible" revision or elimination.

Paris fight continues. The Administration's position on the Paris Agreement has remained an area of contention. This week, republican governors Phil Scott (VT) and Charlie Baker (MA) reportedly urged Energy Secretary Rick Perry to stay in the agreement. Perry has previously advocated for "renegotiating" Paris. The Administration is expected to announce their decision after the G7 meeting, May 26–27.

Disastrous Bills. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved for a full Senate vote five bills that would force agencies hands on regulations: the "Regulatory Accountability Act," "Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act," the "Midnight Rules Relief Act," the "Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act" and the "Early Participation in Regulations Act." The "Regulatory Accountability Act," (RAA) S. 951, would direct agencies to design the most "cost-effective" rule possible, including for consumer protection issues. The REINS Act would allow Congress to approve final major regulations before they take effect with a simple majority, grossly unsettling the careful balance of power between the Executive and Legislative branches. In a Republican-held Congress, this kind of overreach would likely spell disaster for any environmental regulations.

Pence's love affair with coal. The Vice President visited a Montana coal mine on Friday and later declared that the "war on coal is over." Pence and Interior Secretary Zinke met with coal miners and the Crow Indian Tribe, many of whom are employed at the mine, to discuss the future of environmental regulations and their impact on the coal industry.

DOE's love affair with coal. In April, Secretary Perry sent a memo to his chief of staff ordering DOE to complete an internal study on whether government support for renewable energy resources has threatened the reliability of the nation's power grid. The study -- which is soon to be released publicly -- has drawn criticism from both sides of the aisle, from environmental groups to republican senators in renewable-intensive states. Environmental advocates argue the study is based on a "faulty premise" that renewables are responsible for coal and nuclear power plant retirement.

What you can do!

• Monumental comment period. The comment period is now open for monument designations made under the Antiquities Act of 1906. Of note, comments for Bear Ears National Monument must be submitted before May 26, 2017. All other comments are due before July 10, 2017.
• Call your Congressmen to shut down attempted consolidation of power and oppose the Regulatory Accountability Act and Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act!