US proposes tighter mercury air toxics standards for power plants

WASHINGTON, April 5 (Reuters) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Wednesday it is proposing tighter standards for mercury and other toxic emissions from coal plants for the first time in a decade, putting pressure on the country’s dirtiest power plants to clean up. The proposal would lower the emissions limit for filterable particulate matter, which includes mercury and other toxic metals, by 67%. Plants that burn lower-grade lignite coal, which had previously been subject to less stringent standards, would need to cut mercury emissions by 70%, EPA said. “By leveraging proven, emissions-reduction measures available at reasonable costs and…