A key protection from mercury, arsenic and other toxic emissions is under attack.
On Dec. 27, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its proposal to weaken the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), which protect the public by limiting emissions of mercury, arsenic and other toxic substances from coal- and oil-burning power plants. Mercury emitted from power plants settles in nearby lakes and rivers, rendering their fish unsafe to eat. While not repealing the MATS rule outright, the EPA’s proposal would chip away at its legal foundations and make it harder to regulate hazardous emissions.