Clean Air: Mercury Emissions

Clean Air: New Cap Proposed by EPA for Mercury Emissions

March 29, 2011 - Nearly half of existing coal- and oil-fired powerplants may need pollution-control upgrades under a newly proposed Environmental Protection Agency rule that sets the first national standard for mercury, arsenic, nickel and other pollutants.

The proposed rule was released on March 16 in response to a court-ordered deadline that was set following a case brought by several environmental groups. A final rule is required by November.

EPA estimates that coal-fired plants produce 99% of mercury emissions and that existing technology could prevent 91% of mercury in coal from being released. EPA expects the rule, when final, to encourage the 44% of coal-fired plants that lack sufficient pollution controls to adopt solutions. {continued}