Midwest Energy Emissions Corp, also known as ME2C Environmental, has commented on a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announcement proposing to reaffirm the scientific, economic, and legal underpinnings of the 2012 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for power plants, which require significant reductions of mercury, acid gases, and other harmful pollutants.
The proposal would leave the current emissions standards unchanged but would ensure the continuation of public health protections provided by these requirements, while seeking information from the public on opportunities for additional pollution reductions.
In a statement commenting on the EPA proposal, Richard MacPherson, CEO of ME2C Environmental, said: “We believe that the EPA’s reaffirmation of the MATS rule as appropriate and necessary is a key step in paving the way for the potential strengthening of both the air and water regulations.”
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He noted that the EPA ruling reinforces the stability and growth of the US coal-fired power sector.
“Our core business in mercury emissions capture and patented Sorbent Enhancement Additive (SEA) technology will continue to play a vital role in enabling our customers to meet or exceed their mercury mitigation requirements,” MacPherson said. “Widespread industry adoption and recognition of the value of our technology is accelerating, with additional new supply business announced in the first month of 2022 with major utility customers.”
In 2012, the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) were established under the Clean Air Act. The standard affected new and existing commercial coal and oil-fired power plants. It set standards designed to dramatically reduce releases of mercury and other hazardous air pollutants into the atmosphere.
The EPA has estimated that by 2017 power plant emissions of hazardous mercury pollution into the air and water were reduced by 86%. In May 2020, the previous US administration reversed the EPA’s prior finding, undermining the legal basis for MATS.
In an announcement issued on January 31, 2022, the EPA proposes to find that the 2020 action was based on a flawed interpretation of the Clean Air Act.
In addition to the recent announcement to reaffirm the MATS rule, the EPA is reviewing and plans to propose stricter air-quality standards in 2022 for mercury and other toxic pollutants, and new restrictions on wastewater generated by coal-fired power plants.
“The prospect of new EPA restrictions aimed at further reducing mercury contamination in power plant wastewater supports our focused effort to provide a reliable remediation system to address mercury,” MacPherson said.
He added: “With more than 1,100 coal ash ponds across the US, mercury is a primary concern for power plant wastewater and typically requires costly treatment prior to discharge to ensure environmental and public health. We are looking forward to working with our customers to deploy new technologies, in addition to our core business, that will support any challenges they may face with meeting more stringent compliance requirements.”
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