White House seeks to relax federal rules

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- The Bush administration is making a last-minute push to enact U.S. federal regulations that would ease rules designed to protect the public, observers said.

Trying to ensure the regulations -- as many as 90 are being developed -- are enacted before President George Bush leaves office, White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten in May imposed a deadline of Saturday for finishing major new regulations, "except in extraordinary circumstances," the Washington Post reported Friday.

Included among the proposed changes are rules that would clear roadblocks to some commercial ocean-fishing activities, ease controls on emissions of pollutants that contribute to global warming, relax drinking water standards and lift a major restriction on mountaintop coal mining, the Post said.

"They want these rules to continue to have an impact long after they leave office," said Matthew Madia, a regulatory expert at OMB Watch, a non-profit group.

The Bush administration has tried to avoid rushing through regulations at the end of the term, White House spokesman Tony Fratto said.

"And yes, we'd prefer our regulations stand for a very long time -- they're well reasoned and are being considered with the best interests of the nation in mind," he added.