US Court Throws Out EPA Coal Pollution Rule, Leaves Millions Exposed to Harmful Emissions | Common Dreams

A US appeals court overturned a recent Environmental Protection Agency air pollution rule on Tuesday, which would have reduced harmful emissions from coal-burning power plants and saved the lives of up to 34,000 people per year. As many as 240 million Americans will now lose the protections against dangerous smog and soot pollution.

(Photo: Reuters/Chris Baltimore/Files) In the 2-1 decision the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit sent back for indefinite revision the EPA’s Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, which would have reduced sulfur dioxide emissions by 73 percent and nitrogen oxide by 54 percent at coal-fired power plants from 2005 levels, in 28 states.

The EPA adopted the regulation one year ago in a bid to reduce downwind pollution from power plants across state lines. It was scheduled to go into effect in January; however, several large power companies and some states sued to stop it.

“This decision allows harmful power plant air pollution to continue to aggravate major health problems and foul up our air. This is a loss for all of us, but especially for those living downwind from major polluters,” said John Walke, clean air director at the Natural Resources Defense Council.”

“This rule would have prevented thousands of premature deaths and saved tens of billions of dollars a year in health costs, but two judges blocked that from happening and forced EPA to further delay long overdue health safeguards for Americans.”

According to the Environmental Defense Fund, the rule would have:

• Saved up to 34,000 lives each year
• Prevented 15,000 heart attacks each year
• Prevented 400,000 asthma attacks each year
• Provided $120 billion to $280 billion in health benefits for the nation each year

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