US EPA rules MATS costs “reasonable”

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that the cost of compliance with its controversial Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) is “reasonable” and poses no threat to the electric power industry’s ability to provide reliable power to consumers at a reasonable cost.

The findings come in response to a Supreme Court decision last year that ruled that the EPA should have included an assessment of compliance costs when preparing the MATS regulation.

This ruling “completes the EPA’s response to the Supreme Court’s direction,” the agency said.

The EPA’s finding was criticised by the US Chamber of Commerce, however, which accused the agency of continuing it ‘bait-and-switch’ approach.

“Even after a resounding rebuke by the Supreme Court, it appears the EPA will continue to use their ‘bait-and-see’ approach to regulating businesses and the energy sector,” said the US Chamber’s Senior Vice President of Environment, Technology and Regulatory Affairs, William Kovacs.

“In reality, this agency is driving up energy costs for Main Street and consumers with a regulation that was implemented under the guise of false promise.”

Edited by Jonathan Rowland.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/power/18042016/us-epa-rules-mats-costs-reasonable-2016-630/