DEP Appeals Invalidation Of Mercury Emissions Rule By Commonwealth Court

The Department of Environmental Protection will appeal a Commonwealth Court ruling last weekPennsylvania's state-specific regulation limiting mercury emissions from power plants as unlawful, invalid and unenforceable.

 

The regulation, adopted in February 2007, was challenged by PPL Corp. concerned about wasting wasting millions of dollars on pollution control equipment to meet a state standard that may be erased or pre-empted once the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency adopts a regulation to control mercury emissions.

 

“The Pennsylvania Mercury Rule is a well-crafted, cost-effective program designed to protect our citizens from exposure to mercury emitted by coal-fired power plants,” said Acting DEP Secretary John Hanger. “Our rule accelerates adoption of proven technologies that would protect public health and the environment.”

 

Under Pennsylvania's rule, the state's three dozen coal-fired plants had until 2015 to reduce their mercury emissions by 90 percent over 1999's emission levels.

 

Pennsylvania's power plant owners have already invested hundreds of millions of dollars in air pollution control equipment that will, in addition to reducing acid rain and nitrogen oxide emissions, will significantly reduce mercury emissions, according to the Department of Environmental Protection.

 

Examples include the $600 million improvements made to the Keystone Generating Station in Indiana County, the $600 million improvements to the Montour Power Planti n Danville and the $500 million project at the Hatfield Ferry Power Station in Masontown, Pa.