Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined a multi-state coalition in opposing the EPA’s proposal to repeal the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, arguing it would revert to outdated rules that harm public health, the environment, and violate federal law.
Per the news release distributer Tuesday, August 12: “Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, as part of a coalition of 17 state attorneys general, Chicago, New York City, and the California Air Resources Board, filed comments opposing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal to repeal the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) Rule and revert to outdated standards that would harm the environment and public health.
The MATS Rule implements nationwide standards that limit emissions of toxic air pollutants from coal- and oil-fired power plants, such as mercury and other toxic metals, acid gases such as hydrogen chloride, and formaldehyde. Given significant developments in pollution control technologies, the EPA updated standards for these hazardous air pollutants in 2024. The Trump administration is proposing to repeal those standards and revert to the 2012 version.
The coalition explained that mercury and other hazardous air pollutants disproportionately harm people who live near coal- and oil-fired power plants. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that poses serious risks to public health, especially for pregnant women and children. For example, a pregnant person’s consumption of mercury can expose their child to the toxin, causing lifelong developmental harms and neurological disorders such as seizures, vision and hearing loss, or delayed development. Mercury exposure also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and autoimmune dysfunction in adults.
Mercury emissions from power plants are a major contributor to mercury contamination in U.S. waterways. Such pollution harms commercial and recreational fishing economies, as well as tribal nations and indigenous peoples who rely on fishing for subsistence.
Attorney General Brown and the coalition also argue that the proposed repeal is unlawful because the EPA has failed to provide a reasoned basis for its decision and has not adequately considered advancements in practices, processes, and control technologies. They assert that repealing the current standards would violate the Administrative Procedure Act.
In submitting the comments, Attorney General Brown joins the attorneys general of Illinois, Minnesota, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, along with the City of Chicago, New York City, and the California Air Resources Board.”