FINAL MERCURY RULE WEAKENS EMISSIONS LIMITS COMPARED TO PROPOSAL

EPA's final mercury rule includes less stringent caps for new and existing power plants in the first phase of reductions for the toxic air pollutant, compared to the expected caps in the agency's initial proposal. The agency is justifying the change based on a new analysis of the "co-benefits" achieved by the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) released earlier this month. Under the rule released March 15, EPA followed its expected approach in setting up a controversial cap-and-trade system for...