WASHINGTON (11/15/05) -- State and local air pollution control authorities have released a model rule that would require electric power companies to cut up to 95 percent of their toxic mercury emissions by 2012. The model rule, that could be adapted by air agencies around the nation, was developed under the auspices of the State and Territorial Air Pollution Program Administrators (STAPPA) and the Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials (ALAPCO)

The model rule calls for far deeper cuts in toxic mercury emissions from electric power plants than federal rules issued this year by the U.S. EPA, and would require the cleanup to be achieved more than a decade earlier. Unlike the federal approach, the state/local plan would not permit power companies to trade mercury emissions. 

"We all agree that mercury is a dangerous neurotoxin – something that threatens the health of babies and adults alike – and that coal-burning power plants are a significant source of mercury emissions," said John A. Paul, Supervisor of the Regional Air Pollution Control Agency in Dayton, Ohio and President of ALAPCO. "The real question is, what’s the best way to address this problem?"

"We believe our plan is a much better way to go. EPA’s approach would allow too much mercury for too long. The STAPPA/ALAPCO model rule gives state and local authorities a better option as they move forward on this issue," added Eddie Terrill, Director of the Oklahoma Air Quality Division and President of STAPPA.

Earlier this year, the U.S. EPA drafted and issued rules that would call for a gradual reduction in mercury emissions over the next two decades. Under EPA’s rules, overall emissions would drop by 69 percent. But, according to EPA’s own projections, because power companies would be allowed to trade emmissions and could bank early reductions, the 69 percent reduction probably would not be achieved until about 2025.

"This federal approach is highly flawed and deficient," said STAPPA and ALAPCO’s Executive Director, S. William Becker. "Even though effective pollution control technologies are available today, EPA would not require any mercury-specific pollution controls before 2018," noted Becker, who added that mercury ‘hot spots’ could occur because power companies would be allowed to trade the right to pollute.

By contrast, the state and local model rule would require 90- to 95-percent control of mercury by 2012. Companies would not be permitted to trade emissions with each other or to bank them. The model rule also provides several options for companies to achieve a targeted 80-percent interim reduction of mercury by 2008. Studies have shown that such effective cleanup could be achieved without reducing coal use and with minimal impact on monthly electric bills.

The model rule is available online.