Restores Stricter Mercury and Toxic Metal Limits on Coal Plants
Restores Stricter Mercury and Toxic Metal Limits on Coal Plants
IntroducedApril 27, 2026
In Senate5 months ago
Intro
Motion
Senate
House
Pres
The House voted against taking this up.
It stays where it is unless leadership tries again.
Environmental ProtectionAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresAir qualityClimate change and greenhouse gasesCongressional oversightEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Why This Matters
This resolution cancels the Environmental Protection Agency's February 2026 repeal of tighter air toxics rules for coal-fired power plants, which would put the stricter 2024 limits on mercury and toxic metal pollution back in place.
If you live near a lignite coal plant in North Dakota or Texas, that plant would again face the stricter 2024 mercury limit starting in 2027, though plants with presidential exemptions would have until 2029.
Who this affects
Neighbors of coal power plants · Coal power plant operators · Lignite coal plant workers · Utility electricity customers
What does this resolution do?
1Brings back the 2024 limit on soot-like particle pollution from existing coal plants, which serves as a stand-in for toxic metals like arsenic, lead, and nickel.
2Restores the requirement that coal plants show they meet the particle limit by continuously monitoring their smokestacks, not just through occasional testing.
3Restores the tighter mercury limit for power plants that burn lignite, a lower-grade coal burned mostly in North Dakota and Texas.
4Takes effect only if both the House and Senate pass it and the President signs it or Congress overrides a veto.
