- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a repeal of the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), a move also reported by RTO Insider.
- This action allows coal- and oil-fired power plants to emit more harmful pollutants, a concern highlighted by Earthjustice.
- The repeal is expected to increase public health risks from substances like mercury, heavy metals, and soot, as noted by www.edf.org.
- Environmental and health organizations have strongly criticized the EPA's decision, with Common Dreams reporting that the Environmental Protect Network stated it "will allow hundreds of facilities across 45 states to avoid meeting critical safety standards".
- The repealed 2024 MATS updates had included more stringent standards for non-mercury emissions and continuous monitoring requirements for power plants, according to The New Lede.
- EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated the change is expected to save $670 million, while critics argue it ignores significant health benefits, TIME reported.
EPA Repeals Mercury Air Toxics Rule
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has controversially repealed the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, allowing coal and oil power plants to emit more harmful pollutants like mercury and soot. This decision, which critics warn will significantly increase public health risks by avoiding critical safety standards, is projected by the EPA to save $670 million, though opponents argue it disregards crucial health benefits.
Editorial Process: This article was drafted using AI-assisted research and thoroughly reviewed by human editors for accuracy, tone, and clarity. All content undergoes human editorial review to ensure accuracy and neutrality.
Reviewed by: Bridgette Jacobs
Report an issue with this article
Please sign in to report issues with this article.
Live discussion about this article
Comments
Comments are disabled for this article.
