The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially finalized a rule on Friday to repeal the 2024 amendments to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), a move that rolls back several stricter requirements placed on coal- and oil-fired power plants.
Speaking from the Mill Creek Power Plant in Kentucky, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that the agency will return to the regulatory framework established in 2012 and reaffirmed in 2020. The decision effectively eliminates the most recent federal requirements for filterable particulate matter (fPM) and mercury standards specifically for lignite-fired plants.
It also removes the mandate for all facilities to install Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS).
The move is a central piece of the current administration’s “Powering the Great American Comeback” initiative.
Agency officials stated that the 2024 standards, introduced under the previous administration, created unnecessary “red tape” and logistical hurdles for the energy sector. According to the EPA, the repeal is projected to save approximately $670 million in compliance costs, which the agency suggests will translate into lower utility bills and living expenses for American households.
The 2012 MATS rule originally sought to curb emissions of heavy metals like mercury, arsenic, and lead, as well as acid gases. EPA data indicates that since those standards were first implemented, mercury emissions from coal plants have dropped by 90%, while acid gas emissions have fallen by 96%.
Current EPA leadership argued that these existing benchmarks already provide an “ample margin of safety” for public health, making the more stringent 2024 additions redundant and economically burdensome.
The announcement was met with strong support from several Republican lawmakers and state officials. Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) noted that the 2024 rules had placed significant strain on coal-producing states like West Virginia.
Similarly, House Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY) described the repeal as a necessary step to prevent power plants from going offline, which he argued would have threatened the reliability of the national electric grid.
Opponents of the deregulation, however, have previously expressed concerns that easing these standards could stall progress in air quality improvement. When the 2024 amendments were first introduced, proponents argued they utilized the latest available technology to further reduce toxic pollutants that contribute to respiratory and neurological issues.
The EPA’s final action concludes a process that began in March 2025. The agency stated that the 2024 rules had created “regulatory uncertainty” for plants across several states, including Texas, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. With the repeal finalized, the energy industry will now revert to the 2012 compliance standards.
READ: Billion-Dollar Pivot: EPA Opens The Door To Gas And Biofuels In Massive School Bus Shakeup
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
