The Department of Energy issued a direct final rule Thursday adding “sunset” provisions to more than 20 rules on everything from nuclear power to greenhouse gas reporting guidelines.
The plan, the result of an executive order last year from President Donald Trump, aims to streamline regulations that the administration says are holding back innovation and raising costs. Critics charged the move bypasses the public comment process and hinders public safety.
The rule sets a conditional date for each listed regulation, after which it would expire. DOE could extend the sunset date up to five years, according to a Federal Register notice.
“If DOE does not extend a particular regulation before its conditional sunset date, that regulation will … cease to be enforceable and will be removed from the Code of Federal Regulations,” the rule said.
