The Trump administration signaled Monday it is intent on removing some Obama-era environmental rules by signing a proposal that would soften regulations on coal-burning power plants.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler signed the document that is already facing pushback from environmental groups.

If the new rules go into effect, the regulation of power plants' emissions would largely fall on states rather than federal government rules that industry officials have said raise their costs.

"The entire Obama administration plan was centered around doing away with coal," Wheeler told the Journal, referencing the Obama administration's Clean Power Plan.

President Donald Trump's White House supports the continued use of coal to create energy and has even tried to create more jobs in the industry — an effort that has not been all that fruitful.

The administration's proposal is called the Affordable Clean Energy rule and, according to the Journal, is designed to help revive the coal industry.

Former EPA administrator Gina McCarthy, who served under former President Barack Obama, told the Journal the proposal gives coal power plants "a free pass."

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