The EPA announced on March 16 the first nationwide standards for the reduction of toxic air pollutants from power plants. The standards would apply to new and existing coal- and oil-fired electric utility steam-generating units (EGUs). The EPA estimates that the standards could affect 1,350 units at 525 plants. The standards would lead to power plants upgrading and installing controls to reduce harmful emissions. For all existing and new coal-fired EGUs, the proposed standards would establish numerical emission limits for mercury, particulate matter as a surrogate for toxic non-mercury metals, and hydrogen chloride (HC1) as a surrogate for toxic acid gases. For all existing and new oil-fired EGUs, the standards would establish limits for total metals, HC1, and hydrogen fluoride. The EPA estimated that many coal-fired plants are already in compliance with a portion of the standards but that 44% lack advanced pollution-control equipment. The rule would allow facilities up to four years to adhere to the standards. The EPA will issue the final rule in November.

Source: EPA