EPA finalizes rollback of coal plant wastewater regulations

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a rollback of wastewater regulations from coal-fired power plants, which critics say will allow dangerous substances including arsenic and mercury to leach into waterways. The finalized rule loosens requirements for treating discharges of toxic pollution from power plants that were set by the Obama administration in 2015. It also delays the implementation of the requirements and exempts several plants. ERTISEMENT A senior Trump EPA official told reporters on Monday that its new version of the rule is expected to save the power sector $140 million annually and reduce pollution by a million pounds per year compared to the 2015 rule. “Newer, more affordable pollution control technologies and flexibility on the regulation’s phase-in will reduce pollution and save jobs at the same time,” added EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler in a statement...MORE