(CNN) The Environmental Protection Agency announced Friday that it was proposing new rules regarding the regulation of hazardous air pollutants, potentially making way for fewer restrictions on various pollutants in the future.

"After properly evaluating the cost to coal- and oil-fired power plants of complying with the MATS rule (costs that the Obama Administration estimated range from $7.4 to $9.6 billion annually) and the benefits attributable to regulating hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions from these power plants (benefits that range from $4 to $6 million annually) — as EPA was directed to do by the U.S. Supreme Court — the Agency proposes to determine that it is not 'appropriate and necessary' to regulate HAP emissions from power plants under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act," a news release from the EPA said on Friday.

The New York Times previously reported the proposed rule.

According to the Times reporting, the new proposed rule would change the way the EPA determines the benefits of limiting different types of emissions, potentially making it more difficult in the future for the agency to create new regulations. The new proposal does not look to repeal the rule.

Groups were quick to criticize the move, including the Environmental Law and Policy Center, as well as Democratic Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

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