The Environmental Protection Agency issued a new $480 million-a-year rule for power plants Wednesday, meant to regulate toxic water waste from the plants.
“Today, EPA is setting the first national limits to protect public health and reduce toxic pollutants, including mercury, arsenic, lead and selenium released into America’s waterways by steam electric power plants,” EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said. “These cost-effective, achievable limits will provide significant protections for our children and communities across the country, including minority and low-income communities, from exposure to pollutants that can cause neurological damage in children, cancer and other serious health problems.”
The new rules for the utility sector follow a Tuesday announcement by the EPA on new rules for regulating the toxic emissions of oil refineries at a cost of $283 million a year.
Wednesday’s rule regulates the water waste that steam generators discharge into rivers and waterways as a byproduct of their cooling processes. Lawmakers from coal states say the rules will place more pressure on power plants to close, as EPA has issued a number of rules that strain the economic viability of the plants.
“The final Steam Electric Effluent Limitation Guidelines are strong but reasonable — based on technologies that are readily available and broadly used in the industry today, reinforcing the ongoing trend towards cleaner, more modern plants,” EPA said. “The standards provide flexibility in implementation through a phased-in approach, allowing plant owners to pursue integrated strategies to meet these requirements.”
The agency said the rule’s benefits will range between $451-$566 million a year, with the compliance cost as $480 million per year.
