"EPA is relaxing Obama-era regulations for wastewater coming from coal-fired power plants, discharges that can contain high levels of toxic chemicals like mercury, arsenic, nitrogen and selenium.

The agency issued a final rule today, rolling back 2015 standards that represented the first time in more than 30 years the federal government had acted to curb the toxics and other pollutants that power plants release into nearby waterways.

The final rule, known as the Effluent Limitations Guidelines (ELGs), is similar to one proposed last fall but would further extend the timeline for plants to comply. And coal facilities closing, repowering or switching to natural gas by 2028 are exempt."

Hannah Northey reports for E&E News August 31, 2020. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"E.P.A. Relaxes Rules Limiting Toxic Waste From Coal Plants" (New York Times) [3]

"Trump Relaxes Limits on Toxic Waste from Coal Power Plants" (Bloomberg Environment) [4]