Chief of Staff William Daley, who was brought in to help smooth relations with business, and Cass Sunstein, who heads the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, are said to have been sympathetic to the industry point of view that the rule was unnecessary and could impose too many costs in the midst of a struggling economy, according to people familiar with the matter.

WSJ: For Obama, Jobs Are a Focus for Regulations

Boris Bershteyn is the Acting Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.

WHITEHOUSE: The United States and Canada Announce Progress in Regulatory Cooperation | The White House

Cass Sunstein, now heading the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, is trying to reduce unnecessary regulations in our economy.

FORBES: Reviving America's Economy: 3 Issues We Need To Address Now

Second, agencies are to submit a Statement of Energy Effects to the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) whenever they present a significant energy action for OIRA review under E.

WHITEHOUSE: Memoranda 01-27 (Guidance for Implementing E.O. 13211)

Prior to that, Commissioner Sommers worked in the Government Affairs Office of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, where she was instrumental in overseeing regulatory and legislative affairs for the exchange.

WHITEHOUSE: THE WHITE HOUSE