EPA proposes new rule targeting coal plants
Breanne Deppisch
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The EPA proposed a new rule Wednesday to tighten regulations on coal-fired power plants and mercury pollution, building on the Biden administration‘s effort to crack down on pollution from industry, power generation, and other sectors.
EPA, which described its proposed rulemaking as the most significant update to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) since its introduction in 2012, is seeking a further 67% emissions reduction limit for “filterable particulate matter” in existing coal-fired power plants.
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It also calls for a 70% reduction in mercury emissions from lignite-fired power sources.
“By leveraging proven, emissions-reduction measures available at reasonable costs and encouraging new, advanced control technologies, we can reduce hazardous pollution from coal-fired power plants, protecting our planet and improving public health for all,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement.
Lignite-fired power plants — which are known to produce more pollution and greenhouse gas emissions than other types of coal-powered plants — represent about 30% of the mercury emissions generated by the U.S. power sector.
EPA officials said Wednesday that the proposed rule would bring the emissions limit for lignite-fired power plants “into alignment” with the emissions limit already required by other coal-fired power plants in the U.S.
Lignite-fired plants are located predominantly in North Dakota and Texas, with one plant in Mississippi. Prolonged exposure to high levels of mercury has been shown to cause harm to the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and immune systems.
The proposed rule would reduce non-mercury pollutants such as nickel, arsenic, and lead — which are linked to significant health hazards, including heart attacks, cancer, and developmental delays in children. It also proposes a new monitoring system for coal-fired power plants to ensure they are in compliance with the emissions limits.
EPA officials told reporters Wednesday that the proposed rule would add between $2.4 billion to $3 billion in benefits over the 10-year period beginning in 2028, including up to $1.9 billion in health benefits and $1.4 billion in climate benefits.
It comes less than two months after the Biden administration reinstated the scientific, economic, and safety underpinnings of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rules limiting pollutants released by power plants.
That decision reverses the undoing of the foundation for the rules by the administration of former President Donald Trump, clearing the way for it to set stricter controls on emissions of mercury, gas, and other pollutants.
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“Today’s proposal will support and strengthen EPA’s Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, which have delivered a 90% reduction in mercury emissions from power plants over pre-standard levels, ensuring historic protections for communities across the nation, especially for our children and our vulnerable populations,” Regan said.