Tell the EPA to Strengthen the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards
- by: Earthjustice
The idea of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) is to get all the air toxics out of power plants, not just mercury.
Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has restored the nationwide Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) after attacks from former EPA Administrator to gut this rule. Unfortunately, the restored MATS doesn't go far enough.
Coal-fired power plants are the worst of the worst industrial polluters. Toxic air pollutants from power plants are linked to asthma, heart disease, cancer, and thousands of premature deaths each year.
That's why Earthjustice has fought for nationwide protections to clean up air emissions from power plants and we need your help to strengthen this rule.
Until the MATS rule came online, coal plants accounted for half of the total man-made emissions of mercury in America and more than half of all arsenic, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen fluoride, and selenium emissions. The MATS rule, which has been in place since 2012, has reduced mercury emissions by 86% from 2010 levels. Nonetheless, the Trump administration sought to jeopardize the MATS rule in 2020 by withdrawing the agency's original finding that controlling power plants' toxic emissions is "appropriate."
Since 2016 when every power plant came into compliance, the MATS rule has prevented between 4,200 and 11,000 premature deaths, 4,700 non-fatal heart attacks, 2,600 hospitalizations for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and 540,000 lost workdays every year.
Controlling pollution from power plants improves public health for people across the country by reducing fatal heart attacks, reducing cancer risks and avoiding neurodevelopmental delays in children. These public health improvements are also important for Indigenous communities, low–income communities, and people of color, whose neighborhoods have been disproportionately targeted as places where it's acceptable to place polluting facilities.
Restoring the finding paves the way for the EPA to strengthen MATS and ensure that all communities are fully protected from this dangerous pollution. The restored rule can be strengthened, and the EPA can do this by including cumulative exposures, neurocognitive health impacts, cardiovascular impacts, environmental justice, and ecological impacts to fully quantify the health benefits of the MATS rule.
More progress is needed, however, as power plants are still allowed to emit unlimited quantities of certain other harmful pollutants like benzene and dioxins. Plants should be required to further reduce their pollution through stronger pollution controls and more consistent monitoring and maintenance of their equipment.
We thank the EPA for restoring this commonsense rule, and are calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to strengthen this rule. Everyone, no matter their zip code, has the right to clean air and a healthy environment.
Tell the EPA to strengthen MATS today!
Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has restored the nationwide Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) after attacks from former EPA Administrator to gut this rule. Unfortunately, the restored MATS doesn't go far enough.
Coal-fired power plants are the worst of the worst industrial polluters. Toxic air pollutants from power plants are linked to asthma, heart disease, cancer, and thousands of premature deaths each year.
That's why Earthjustice has fought for nationwide protections to clean up air emissions from power plants and we need your help to strengthen this rule.
Until the MATS rule came online, coal plants accounted for half of the total man-made emissions of mercury in America and more than half of all arsenic, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen fluoride, and selenium emissions. The MATS rule, which has been in place since 2012, has reduced mercury emissions by 86% from 2010 levels. Nonetheless, the Trump administration sought to jeopardize the MATS rule in 2020 by withdrawing the agency's original finding that controlling power plants' toxic emissions is "appropriate."
Since 2016 when every power plant came into compliance, the MATS rule has prevented between 4,200 and 11,000 premature deaths, 4,700 non-fatal heart attacks, 2,600 hospitalizations for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and 540,000 lost workdays every year.
Controlling pollution from power plants improves public health for people across the country by reducing fatal heart attacks, reducing cancer risks and avoiding neurodevelopmental delays in children. These public health improvements are also important for Indigenous communities, low–income communities, and people of color, whose neighborhoods have been disproportionately targeted as places where it's acceptable to place polluting facilities.
Restoring the finding paves the way for the EPA to strengthen MATS and ensure that all communities are fully protected from this dangerous pollution. The restored rule can be strengthened, and the EPA can do this by including cumulative exposures, neurocognitive health impacts, cardiovascular impacts, environmental justice, and ecological impacts to fully quantify the health benefits of the MATS rule.
More progress is needed, however, as power plants are still allowed to emit unlimited quantities of certain other harmful pollutants like benzene and dioxins. Plants should be required to further reduce their pollution through stronger pollution controls and more consistent monitoring and maintenance of their equipment.
We thank the EPA for restoring this commonsense rule, and are calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to strengthen this rule. Everyone, no matter their zip code, has the right to clean air and a healthy environment.
Tell the EPA to strengthen MATS today!
Dear Secretary Michael Regan,
Thank you for restoring MATS, which is a step in the right direction. Since MATS was put in place in 2011, it drastically reduced mercury and other toxic air pollutants, which are linked to breathing illnesses, heart disease, and cancer, among other health impacts. It is estimated that MATS has saved as many as 11,000 lives each year.
Controlling pollution from power plants improves public health for people across the country by reducing fatal heart attacks, reducing cancer risks and avoiding neurodevelopmental delays in children. These public health improvements are also important for Indigenous communities, low–income communities, and people of color, whose neighborhoods have been disproportionately targeted as places where it's acceptable to place polluting facilities.
The restored MATS can be strengthened, as more should be done to ensure that all communities are protected from this dangerous pollution. More progress is needed because power plants are still allowed to emit unlimited quantities of certain harmful pollutants like benzene and dioxins. Plants should be required to further reduce their pollution through stronger pollution controls and more consistent monitoring and maintenance of their equipment. The EPA can do this by including cumulative exposures, neurocognitive health impacts, cardiovascular impacts, environmental justice, and ecological impacts to fully quantify the health benefits of the MATS rule.
Everyone, no matter their zip code, deserves access to clean air and a clean environment. Thank you for taking the first step in restoring MATS. Please strengthen the standards to further protect Americans from dangerous air pollutants.
Sincerely,
[Name]
Sign PetitionSign PetitionThank you for restoring MATS, which is a step in the right direction. Since MATS was put in place in 2011, it drastically reduced mercury and other toxic air pollutants, which are linked to breathing illnesses, heart disease, and cancer, among other health impacts. It is estimated that MATS has saved as many as 11,000 lives each year.
Controlling pollution from power plants improves public health for people across the country by reducing fatal heart attacks, reducing cancer risks and avoiding neurodevelopmental delays in children. These public health improvements are also important for Indigenous communities, low–income communities, and people of color, whose neighborhoods have been disproportionately targeted as places where it's acceptable to place polluting facilities.
The restored MATS can be strengthened, as more should be done to ensure that all communities are protected from this dangerous pollution. More progress is needed because power plants are still allowed to emit unlimited quantities of certain harmful pollutants like benzene and dioxins. Plants should be required to further reduce their pollution through stronger pollution controls and more consistent monitoring and maintenance of their equipment. The EPA can do this by including cumulative exposures, neurocognitive health impacts, cardiovascular impacts, environmental justice, and ecological impacts to fully quantify the health benefits of the MATS rule.
Everyone, no matter their zip code, deserves access to clean air and a clean environment. Thank you for taking the first step in restoring MATS. Please strengthen the standards to further protect Americans from dangerous air pollutants.
Sincerely,
[Name]
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