EPA Closes Mercury Emission Loophole, Enforcing Stricter Limits on Power Plants Nationwide, Targeting Major Polluters.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has closed a loophole allowing some power plants to emit highly toxic airborne mercury from their low-grade form of coal, lignite, in its new air toxics regulation. The rule changes eliminate this loophole and require plants to meet a much stricter mercury emission limit already in place for other coal-burning power facilities. The largest source of airborne mercury in the power sector was Texas’ Oak Grove plant, which pumped out almost 300 pounds of mercury last year, and North Dakota’s Coal Creek Station, which sent about 285 pounds into the atmosphere. Both facilities will now face stricter limits.