Health Groups Sue Over Rollback Of Mercury And Toxic Air Standards
A large group of environmental, public health, and community organizations has filed a lawsuit to challenge the repeal of key air pollution rules affecting coal-fired power plants. These rules, known as the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), were introduced in 2015 to reduce harmful emissions such as mercury, lead, and arsenic.
Since their introduction, these standards have helped cut mercury pollution by more than 90%. They also improved public health by lowering risks of cancer, heart disease, lung illness, and early deaths.
The lawsuit argues that removing these protections violates the Clean Air Act and ignores strong scientific evidence. It also challenges the removal of real-time emissions monitoring, which previously allowed communities to track pollution levels and ensure industries followed the rules.
“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.
In Wisconsin, mercury pollution is a serious concern. Most exposure comes from eating contaminated fish. Over 100 inland water bodies, along with the Great Lakes, have fish consumption advisories due to mercury. Nearly 40% of residents eat locally caught fish, making the issue especially important.
Reports show that after easing restrictions, sulfur dioxide emissions increased by 18% nationwide, while mercury emissions rose by 9%. These increases highlight concerns that weaker rules may harm both the environment and human health.
The coalition states that removing monitoring systems makes it harder to understand pollution levels and protect vulnerable communities living near power plants.
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.