Many of the rules would ease environmental regulations, according to sources familiar with the administration's internal deliberations.
A rule put forward by the National Marine Fisheries Service and now under final review by the OMB would lift a requirement that environmental impact statements be prepared for certain fisheries-management decisions and would give review authority to regional councils dominated by commercial and recreational fishing interests.
An Alaska commercial fishing industry source, granted anonymity so he could speak candidly about private conversations, said senior administration officials promised to "get the rule done by the end of this month" and that the outcome would be a big improvement over existing regulations.
Two other rules nearing completion would ease limits on pollution from power plants, a major energy industry goal for the last eight years that is strenuously opposed by Democratic lawmakers and environmental groups.
A third rule would allow increased emissions from oil refineries, chemical factories and other plants with complex manufacturing operations.
