U.S. Faces Legal Challenge Over EPA Rollback of Mercury Pollution Limits

A coalition of major health and environmental organizations has filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency, challenging its decision to roll back federal limits on mercury and other toxic emissions from coal-fired power plants. The case, brought before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, includes groups such as Earthjustice, American Lung Association, Natural Resources Defense Council, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. At the center of the dispute is the repeal of the 2024 update to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standard, which had aimed to significantly curb mercury pollution and other hazardous air pollutants. The Biden-era rule was projected to cut mercury emissions by 70% and deliver substantial public health benefits. Plaintiffs argue that the rollback endangers vulnerable populations, particularly children, by increasing exposure to neurotoxic pollutants. They also highlight concerns over reduced emissions monitoring, claiming communities may be left unaware of rising health risks. The lawsuit follows additional exemptions granted to older coal plants, which the coalition says have already contributed to rising pollution levels nationwide. The case marks a significant escalation in legal resistance to the administration’s broader environmental deregulation agenda.