Among the new federal regulations expected to be issued today is one which is being challenged on the basis of the way the social cost of the carbon rule was calculated for it.

The Landmark Legal Foundation, a conservative legal advocacy group, has requested a review by the Department of Energy (DOE) of a rule on efficiency standards for microwave ovens, because the final rule used a different Social Cost of Carbon (SCC) than the figure used in the supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking.

The SCC is used to determine the monetary costs of carbon pollution. If a process for calculating the SCC makes it seem higher than previous estimates, it can provide additional support for regulations that limit carbon pollution.

The foundation wants the DOE to reconsider because because the carbon cost “should have been subject to a prior opportunity for public comment.”

Another regulation that is expected to be issued today is an update by the Coast Guard of its list of hazardous materials and chemicals that are approved to be transferred in bulk by ships. 

The Coast Guard says the rule “provides new information about approved substances and their categorizations, but would not make any changes in which substances are approved or how each substance is categorized.”

And, rules for pipeline safety are being updated by the Department of Transportation. The changes incorporate all new and updated measures from voluntary consensus standards.