US EditionHow Poisonous Mercury Can Get From Coal-Fired Power Plants Into Fish You Eat – EPA Just Weakened Rules Meant to Lower the Risk
The EPA rollback reverses 2024 mercury emission tightenings, with coal plants accounting for over 42% of U.S. mercury pollution, raising public health concerns.
- EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency reverted MATS to the 2012 standards at the Mill Creek Generating Station in Louisville on Feb. 20, 2026.
- Faced with declining coal output, the administration argued reverting to 2012 rules will forgo $670 million in costs while complementing Department of Energy orders for five coal plant units.
- The rollback loosens limits on mercury, cadmium, chromium, lead and nickel, drops continuous stack monitoring requirements, and exempts 71 coal plants while allowing utilities to request reprieves via email.
- Environmental and public-health groups Sierra Club and Earthjustice warned the rollback will increase health risks, while coal industry groups such as America’s Power praised the move; legal challenges are expected after the Feb. 20, 2026 announcement.
- Public-Health research warns coal plants emit more than 42% of U.S. mercury, which converts to toxic methylmercury and harms fetuses and young children’s brain development.
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11 Articles
Ticker: EPA eases limits on mercury emissions; Audit finds gap in FAA oversight
The Environmental Protection Agency weakened limits on mercury and other toxic emissions from coal-fired power plants, the latest effort to boost the fossil fuel industry. The EPA announced the repeal of the tightened Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rule, or MATS, Friday at a massive coal plant next to the Ohio River in Louisville, Kentucky. “EPA’s actions today rights the wrongs of the last administration’s rule and will return the industry to…
Oil City News
Cap City NewsWyoming impact uncertain as Trump slashes mercury emission standards for coal power plants
by Dustin Bleizeffer, WyoFile After axing a federal doctrine to regulate greenhouse gas emissions earlier this month, the Trump administration rolled back additional air quality standards Friday — this time for limiting mercury and other deadly toxins from coal smokestack emissions. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency’s repeal of Biden-era amendments that increased mercury and air toxics standards.…
The US has lowered the pollutant limits for coal-fired power plants, including emissions of mercury from the nerve poison. It has been clear for a long time how harmful the substance is to the environment and people.
Trump administration eases limits on coal plants
WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday weakened limits on mercury and other toxic emissions from coal-fired power plants, the Trump administration’s latest effort to boost the fossil fuel industry by paring back clean air and water rules.
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