By Jamie Martin
A coalition of environmental and health organizations has taken legal action against the repeal of pollution control rules for coal-fired power plants. The rules, called Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), were designed to limit dangerous pollutants like mercury and arsenic.
Since 2015, these standards have significantly reduced mercury emissions and improved air quality. Experts say they have also helped reduce serious health problems, including breathing issues and heart disease.
The lawsuit claims that removing these protections breaks environmental laws and ignores scientific findings. It also criticizes the removal of continuous emissions monitoring systems, which provided real-time data about pollution levels. Without this data, communities may not know the level of harmful substances in the air.
Wisconsin highlights the risks clearly. Many lakes and rivers have fish consumption advisories because of mercury contamination. As a result, people who regularly eat local fish may face higher health risks.
“The EPA has officially crossed the line between negligently ignoring its duties under federal law and actively pursuing policies that harm human health. No previous administration has even questioned the need to reduce hazardous, toxic chemicals in our air to the greatest extent possible, much less taken steps to increase them,” said Clean Wisconsin General Counsel Katie Nekola.
“These are chemicals that cause cancer, neurological damage, and birth defects, among many other harms. There is absolutely no justification for this unprecedented and illegal action on the part of EPA,” said Nekola.
Data shows that after easing regulations, pollution levels increased. Sulfur dioxide emissions rose by 18%, while mercury emissions increased by 9%. These changes raise concerns about the long-term effects on ecosystems and human health.
The coalition believes that weakening these rules allows more toxic substances into the environment while reducing transparency. They argue that strong monitoring and strict limits are necessary to protect both people and natural resources.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit by Air Alliance Houston, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Lung Association, American Public Health Association, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future, Clean Air Council, Clean Air Task Force, Clean Wisconsin, Conservation Law Foundation, Dakota Resource Council, Downwinders at Risk, Earthjustice, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Law and Policy Center, Kentucky Resources Council, Montana Environmental Information Center, Natural Resources Council of Maine, NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), Physicians for Social Responsibility, Sierra Club, and Southern Environmental Law Center.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-tlillico
Categories: National