Trump signs repeal of Obama-era coal mining 'stream protection rule'

President Donald Trump has signed his second repeal of Obama-era regulation, this time concerning coal mining near waterways. Republicans voted to overturn the "stream protection rule" earlier this month.

The resolution undoing the US Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining's Stream Protection Rule, a regulation finalized in December to guard waterways from coal mining waste, was authorized by the Congressional Review Act, a 1996 law seldom used until recently, which allows Congress to end administrative restrictions placed by executive agencies.

The Thursday signing marks the second administrative rule repeal this week, as on Tuesday, Trump repealed a regulation requiring extraction companies to report payments to foreign governments over production activities.

Trump described the stream protection rule as "another terrible job killing rule." 

"This is a major threat to your jobs and we’re going to get rid of this threat," he said. "We’re going to fight for you."

After Trump's remarks, an aide reminded the jubilant president that there was still the matter of actually signing the bill to attend to. "Sign the bill here," the aide said, extending his hand toward the document.

House Joint Resolution 38 was passed in the House by a 228 to 194 vote on February 1, then the next day, the Senate voted 54 to 45, sending the resolution to Trump's desk.