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 The move to deem the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS)
"appropriate and necessary" would pave the way for the EPA to update
the power plant regulation. Power plants are the largest source of
those toxic pollutants.
Former President Donald Trump's EPA had reversed that legal finding
in 2020, citing flaws in the Obama EPA's cost-benefit analysis of
the rule. That reversal effectively weakened the MATS rule https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-epa-coal-mercury/trump-administration-expected-to-weaken-mercury-rule-for-coal-plants-idUSKCN21Y1IW
because it opened the door to lawsuits by companies opposed to it.
“EPA is committed to aggressively reducing pollution from the power
sector so that all people, regardless of zip code or amount of money
in their pocket, can breathe clean air and live healthy and
productive lives,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan.
The new proposal would leave the current MATS unchanged but would
begin the process to gather public health information and public
input it needs to strengthen the regulation.
The Obama EPA had concluded in 2012 that controlling mercury, acid
gases, and other harmful pollutants could reduce heart attacks and
cancer risks and avoid neurodevelopmental delays in children
justified the costs of compliance.
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 The calculations used at the time, however,
accounted for how pollution-control equipment at
coal plants would reduce emissions of
particulate matter and other harmful substances
that come out of smokestacks, in addition to
mercury.
Trump’s EPA said it believed it was
inappropriate to have included the benefits of
reducing emissions other than mercury.
"The previous administration ignored science as
it attempted to turn back the clock on these
protections," said Democratic Senator Tom
Carper.
The MATS rule has helped drive sharp reductions
in air pollutants, according to the EPA. The
agency estimates that by 2017, mercury emissions
from power plants were reduced by 86%; acid gas
emissions were reduced by 96%, and non-mercury
metal emissions were reduced by 81% percent
compared with pre-MATS levels in 2010.
(Reporting by Valerie VolcoviciEditing by
Marguerita Choy)
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