EPA: Go Further to Protect Us from Toxic Air Pollution

Mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants has been linked to asthma, cancer, neurological issues, developmental problems in children, and other issues. Science has shown us that there is no safe amount of mercury pollution, which is why EPA must strengthen its proposed standard to protect our communities.

Submit your letter directly to EPA now.

I’m writing regarding Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2018-0794-5545, the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) Risk and Technology Review (RTR) proposal.

Since 2012, the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards have dramatically reduced toxic air pollutants linked to cancer, asthma, heart disease, neurodevelopmental delays, and more, directly improving the lives of American families—especially children, Indigenous communities, low-income communities, and people of color. However, coal plants continue to be the leading contributor of poisonous air pollution, and EPA must strengthen its new proposal to further protect Americans.

I’m grateful that EPA is proposing lower limits for non-mercury heavy metals like nickel, arsenic, and chromium at all coal plants, however, that standard should be set at a more stringent 0.006 lbs/MMBtu and not at 0.010 lbs/MMBtu. This would improve the public health for Americans near the 91 percent of coal plants that already meet the 0.010 standard.

I’m glad to see that the proposed rule also improves the mercury standard for coal plants that burn lignite coal so that it is in line with the standard for non-lignite coal plants.

Now, EPA must strengthen this proposal so that it lowers mercury limits for all power plants. According to the EPA’s own analysis, the rule as proposed would only decrease toxic mercury pollution by one percent, but scientists tell us that no amount of mercury pollution is safe. To fulfill its obligation to protect public health, EPA must finalize a stronger standard that substantially reduces mercury pollution at all coal plants, not just those that burn lignite.

Many coal-fired power plants are already achieving lower emissions levels than this proposal requires, which shows that additional technological improvements are cost-effective and available.

We all deserve clean air, regardless of income or race. Please finalize a rule that protects as many Americans as possible from deadly toxic air pollutants.

Thank you.

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