The new measure appears inconsistent with Beijing's agreement, reached last November with Canada, the European Union and the U.S., to withdraw rules that severely restricted the activities of foreign news organizations.
The Obama Administration, is under a court imposed settlement to issue these standards, which they have violated; they have issued and then withdrawn draft rules for new power plants after strong pushback from the power sector; and EPA is about to get sued by environmental groups for violating the settlement.
Ms. Pingree, a Democrat, said Coast Guard officials told her they had withdrawn the rule making waters around Seal Island off limits.
Adani's former adviser on Carmichael, the Commonwealth Bank, as well as National Australia Bank are among those that have either withdrawn or ruled out involvement, reportedly in part because of the environmental controversy.
The new rules allow people to change the amounts they withdraw; the rules had required people to withdraw fixed amounts, even in years when their investments had lost value.
After a federal court ruled that the board had lacked a quorum when it issued them, the board formally withdrew those rules early this year.
At the urging of the White House, Ms. Sebelius recently withdrew the rules to allow for further consideration.
The administration must withdraw these rules, or the City Council must pass a law to restore access before this lockout of the public becomes permanent.
Janlori Goldman, director of the Health Privacy Project at Georgetown University, said, "The industry's proposals to weaken or withdraw the rules represent a hysterical reaction".
In April, the Labor Department abruptly withdrew the rules with a brief written statement expressing its commitment to respecting the role of parents and family members in passing down rural traditions.
