National Policy National Policy Issues i. Acid Rain Program ii. NOx SIP Call iii. Clean Air Interstate Rule iv. Clean Air Mercury Rule v. Retrofit Technology vi. Industrial Boiler MACT

State Policy State Policy Issues i. Mercury

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National Legislation and Regulations

Clean Air Mercury Rule

EPA finalized the Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR) on March 15, 2005. On February 8, 2008, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia vacated the rule, requiring EPA to draft a new regulation. As a result of this ruling, it is more likely that individual power plants will be held to stringent levels of mercury emissions instead of averaging mercury emissions across multiple plants.

CAMR was implemented to reduce mercury emissions specifically from coal-fired electric generating units (EGUs), a source of mercury previously unregulated. Mercury is a toxic pollutant that enters the human food chain when fish with high levels of methylmercury (a converted form of mercury) are consumed. Women of childbearing age are the most sensitive population since consuming high levels of methylmercury can cause serious neurological development problems in developing fetuses.

CAMR capped mercury emissions in two phases and trading of mercury allowances was to be permitted. The first cap in 2010 would have been achieved as a co-benefit of facilities installing SO2 and NOx emissions control equipment, which offer mercury reduction benefits, to comply with the CAIR. From baseline emissions of 48 tons (1999), EPA set the co-benefit Phase 1 mercury cap at 38 tons. The second phase cap, in 2018, would have reduced coal-fired power plant emissions to 15 tons. This approach realized a total reduction in mercury emissions of nearly 70%.

States were given the option of participating in the federal mercury cap and trade program or could opt-out and create their own state regulation. See the state mercury page for more information about state mercury regulations.

K-Fuel® testing at an electric generating unit in western Pennsylvania and industrial boilers in Painesville, Ohio and University of Notre Dame have demonstrated significant mercury reduction benefits associated with the coal refining process.

For more information:

EPA Clean Air Mercury Rule website: http://www.epa.gov/air/mercuryrule/index.htm

EPA Mercury website: http://www.epa.gov/mercury/