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The document details the implementation and legal battles over the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), which aim to reduce toxic air emissions from power plants. It highlights the significant public health benefits of the standards, including the prevention of thousands of premature deaths and heart attacks, and the reduction of mercury emissions by 75%. The text tracks the legal trajectory from the 2012 release of MATS through a 2015 U.S. Supreme Court remand and a subsequent 2015 U.S. Court of Appeals decision that upheld the standards against industry challenges.

The testimony by the Clean Air Task Force (CATF) urges the U.S. Senate to oppose the Clear Skies Act (CSA), claiming its emission caps for sulfur, nitrogen, and mercury are too weak and implemented too late to protect public health and the environment. CATF presents modeling showing that alternative proposals, such as the Clean Power Act, would result in significantly fewer deaths by 2020 with negligible increases in retail electricity prices. The document further argues that CSA fails to address carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and would effectively repeal critical Clean Air Act provisions, including New Source Review and visibility protections for National Parks. It concludes that the EPA already possesses the authority to achieve greater gains through existing rules like the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) and mercury MACT standards.

The document argues that home lighting efficiency is best achieved through a 'whole-system' approach rather than simple bulb replacement. It highlights the benefits of Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) and emerging LED technology, while strongly advising against the use of halogen torchieres due to fire risks and energy waste. The briefing also emphasizes the role of lighting controls, task lighting, and daylighting in reducing electricity consumption and improving well-being.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) documents a pattern of scientific misconduct within the Bush administration, citing cases where political objectives overrode scientific evidence. Key examples include the disregard of environmental impacts in mountaintop removal mining, the denial of over-the-counter access to emergency contraception despite expert advice, and the manipulation of endangered species data for salmon, Florida panthers, bull trout, and trumpeter swans. The report also details the use of political litmus tests for scientific advisory panel appointments and recommends reforms to protect government scientists and ensure the independence of advisory committees.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) reports a systemic pattern of scientific interference by the Bush administration across multiple federal agencies. The investigation details the suppression of climate change data at the EPA, the manipulation of mercury emission standards, and the censorship of research on airborne bacteria at the USDA. It further documents the appointment of underqualified or industry-linked individuals to scientific advisory panels and the use of political litmus tests for nominees. The report argues that these actions undermine public health, safety, and national security, and calls for executive and congressional action to restore scientific integrity in policymaking.

The document argues that coal-fired power plants are the largest unregulated source of mercury in the U.S., contributing significantly to the contamination of fish in the Midwest. It details how mercury bioaccumulates in aquatic food chains, posing severe risks to the central nervous system of fetuses and children, as well as harming wildlife like common loons and otters. The report highlights the economic threat to the regional fishing industry and advocates for stringent federal and state emission limits and better regulation of coal combustion waste.

The document details the environmental and health impacts of Alberta's coal-fired power plants, noting that in 2014, 68% of the province's electricity was generated from coal. It highlights that these plants are significant sources of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, fine particulate matter, mercury, and greenhouse gases, with 2011 emissions totaling 43 megatonnes of GHG. The authors propose a transition plan to reach 0% coal reliance by 2030, increasing renewable energy to 40% and reducing electricity demand through energy efficiency by 20%. The strategy discourages increased reliance on stand-alone natural gas due to production-related GHG emissions and suggests mechanisms for phase-out such as legislated closures, lifespan caps, or carbon pricing.

The document outlines the environmental and health risks associated with Alberta's reliance on coal-fired power plants, noting that in 2014, 68 per cent of the province's electricity was generated from coal. It highlights that these plants are major sources of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and mercury, leading to increased respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Using the Illness Cost of Air Pollution (ICAP) model for 2008, the document estimates that coal plant pollution caused over 100 deaths and cost approximately $300 million per year in health impacts. Additionally, it links coal plants to climate change, noting they were responsible for 18% of Alberta's total greenhouse gas emissions in 2011, and warns of future climate-related health risks for Albertans, such as increased heat waves and flooding.

Health professionals from 30 countries call on G7 nations to phase out coal power to reduce air pollution and climate-related health risks. The document highlights that coal plants release sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury, contributing to millions of premature deaths and significant healthcare costs. It advocates for renewable energy and energy efficiency as viable alternatives, noting successful phase-outs in regions like Ontario and the UK.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) contends that the EPA's proposed MACT standards for coal-fired utility units violate the Clean Air Act (CAA) by using arbitrary subcategories based on coal rank and flawed statistical methods to inflate emission floors. CATF argues that the EPA has ignored available, cost-effective technologies—such as activated carbon injection and fabric filters—that could achieve significantly higher mercury removal rates. The document further asserts that the EPA is legally obligated to regulate all HAPs emitted by these units, not just mercury and nickel, and that proposed compliance extensions are unauthorized and unnecessary given available labor and equipment resources.

The document contends that the EPA lacks the legal authority under sections 111 and 112 of the Clean Air Act to implement nationwide emission trading for hazardous air pollutants. It argues that these sections mandate uniform, source-specific performance standards rather than a tradeable allowance system. The author further claims that the EPA's approach is arbitrary and capricious because it fails to adequately address the risk of localized mercury 'hotspots' and includes flawed program elements, such as a 'safety valve' provision and exemptions for small emitters, which could delay the installation of pollution controls and maintain high emission levels.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) asserts that the EPA's proposed MACT regulations for utility units lack rigorous economic analysis and fail to protect children from mercury risks. By modeling an 'Alternate Mercury Control Scenario' using the EPA's own Integrated Planning Model (IPM), CATF demonstrates that more stringent mercury emission limits are cost-effective, providing substantial health benefits—specifically avoided premature deaths from PM2.5 exposure—that far outweigh the incremental costs to the power sector. The document further claims the EPA misled the public regarding its compliance with Executive Order 13045 concerning environmental health risks to children.

The document contains technical tables comparing proposed Indian coal power plant emission standards for SO2, NOx, and PM with standards from the EU, China, and the US. It also includes detailed performance data for numerous US coal units, specifically listing SO2 and NOx rates for 2014, as well as tested levels of filterable particulate matter and mercury across various plants.

The report examines the public health and environmental impacts of delaying compliance with the Air Toxics Rule for coal- and oil-fired power plants. It proposes a 'Reliability-Only Dispatch' mechanism, which would restrict units granted compliance extensions to operate only when absolutely necessary for grid reliability, rather than allowing 'business as usual' operations. Using modeling and case studies like the Cromby-Eddystone agreement, the author argues this approach can significantly reduce premature deaths and health damages compared to unrestricted extensions.

The report argues against doubling the SO2 emission limit, asserting that the government's rationale regarding water use and cost is flawed. It contends that Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) is more effective and not prohibitively water-intensive, while Dry Sorbent Injection (DSI) poses significant risks to particulate matter control, mercury emissions, and groundwater quality. The author recommends reducing the MES to 200 mg/Nm3 to align with international norms.

The report finds that Eskom's current retrofit plan is insufficient to address sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions, leading to significant projected mortality and economic losses. Full compliance with the MES by 2025 would avoid approximately 2,300 deaths and R42 billion in economic costs annually. The most stringent scenario, applying Best Available Technology (BAT), would reduce health impacts by over 90% by 2031 compared to the current plan.

The report finds that the proposed Lephalale Coal Mine (LCM) and its power plant will cause significant air quality violations and severe health and economic burdens. It argues that a previous environmental impact assessment (EIA) by GESI (2017) underestimated these impacts by neglecting mercury, existing pollution sources, and secondary PM2.5 formation. The analysis indicates that while mining alone causes 93 premature deaths, burning the coal on-site increases this to 3,120 deaths, and burning it at existing plants like Medupi or Matimba could lead to up to 41,984 premature deaths. Mercury emissions are projected to cause a loss of 3,700 IQ points and 554 lives, with significant deposition in protected ecosystems like the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve.

This fact sheet by Earthjustice opposes H.J. Res. 42, which seeks to overturn EPA regulations adopted in August 2010 to reduce mercury, soot, and other toxics from over 100 cement plants. The document emphasizes the severe developmental risks mercury poses to unborn babies and children, noting that the EPA's protections could prevent 2,500 premature deaths annually. It specifically identifies GCC of America, Inc. in Tijeras, New Mexico, as a source of mercury pollution and lists numerous New Mexico water bodies under fish consumption advisories due to mercury contamination.

The report explores automated emissions reduction (AER), a software-based technology that modulates the electricity use of internet-connected devices based on real-time grid emissions data. Based on a pilot in Chicago and a stakeholder workshop, the report finds that AER can reduce pollution by 5–40% for specific loads and lower customer acquisition costs for utility demand response programs. It proposes five priority near-term initiatives: institutional and residential pilots, device certification, integration into GHG accounting protocols, and the creation of open-source infrastructure.