Mats Mercury Emission Limits

The mats rule establishes numeric emission limits for mercury hg particulate matter pm and hydrochloric acid hcl for existing source under the national emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants neshap and sets numeric emission limits for pm sulfur dioxide so2 and nitrogen oxide nox for new sources under the new source performance standards nsps provisions of the clean.

Mats mercury emission limits.

And will not significantly change costs or public health benefits of the rule. The mats rule has been in effect for years and the power sector has largely complied with its limits on mercury emissions and other harmful pollutants. Epa published the mercury and air toxics standards mats. The environmental protection agency epa finalized new standards for emission limits on new power plants known as the mercury and air toxics standard mats.

Recent actions july 17 2020 epa finalized minor revisions to the electronic reporting requirements for mats. The rule in question known as the mercury and air toxics standards mats targets a powerful neurotoxin that can affect the iq and motor skills of children even in utero. In issuing the mats in 2012 the epa estimated that the rule would produce annual benefits of between 37 billion to 90 billion at an annual compliance. Signed by epa administrator lisa jackson in december 2011 mats required coal and oil fired power plants to reduce their emissions of mercury and a range of heavy metals and acid gases.

March 28 2013 epa updated emission limits for new power plants under the mercury and air toxics standards mats. Under section 112 the epa reviews the risks of hap emissions from categories of sources that emit haps and if it finds that it is a n sets emissions limits for those haps for each category. This includes emission limits for mercury particulate matter sulfur dioxide acid gases and certain individual metals. As part of the rule epa reinstated the 2000 appropriate and necessary finding.

The mercury and air toxics standards reduces mercury and other toxic air pollutants from coal and oil fired power plants. The updates only apply to future power plants. The regulations are promulgated by agencies such as the environmental protection agency epa and food and drug administration fda as well as a variety of state and local authorities.