EPA Asks D.C. Circuit to Hold in Abeyance Case Challenging New Source Mercury Limits

摘要

The Environmental Protection Agency is asking a federal court to temporarily suspend litigation over mercury and air toxics standards for new power plants (White Stallion Energy Center LLC v. EPA, D.C. Cir., No. 12-1272, motion filed 7/20/12).The agency announced July 20 it would reconsider the new plant standards, following complaints that the mercury limits are so low that they cannot be continuously monitored, which could prevent new coal-fired plants from being built (see related story).In a July 20 motion in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, EPA said legal challenges to the new source standards should be held in abeyance during the reconsideration and an expedited briefing schedule should be lifted.