Activists Likely To Oppose New Epa Emissions Plans For Coal Plants

摘要

Environmentalists who are targeting emissions from all aspects of coal power production are likely to oppose EPA's soon-to-be released proposal tightening the standard for coal preparation facilities for the first time since 1976, as well as a recently issued proposal governing the limestone used in coal plant pollution controls. EPA issued the two proposals to comply with a 2006 consent decree with the Sierra Club, after the group sued the agency for tighter particulate matter (PM) controls on coal preparation plants and non-metallic mineral processing plants. A source familiar with the consent decree says their effort is aimed at holding the coal industry accountable for pollution at all stages of mining, processing and combustion. "It is an effort to ensure ... that the cost of operating the coal plant is accurately reflecting the costs to the community," the source says.