Reports and Related Information for WAC 173-406 and WAC 173-400 WAC

Federal court decision

May 20, 2008 U.S. Court of Appeals decision.
On May 20, 2008, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit denied requests by EPA and the Utility Air Regulatory Group for a rehearing on the court’s February 8, 2008 decision to vacate the Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR). This means that the court order on March 14 which struck down the federal rule remains in effect. Read the order.
Federal court strikes down EPA's cap and trade rule for coal-burning power plants.

Federal legislation

Senator Carper Introduces Mercury Bill (February 14, 2008)
Senator Thomas Carper (D-DE) introduced a bill – the Mercury Emissions Control Act – that would require EPA to adopt rules to control mercury emissions from coal-burning power plants. Specifically, the legislation would amend the Clean Air Act to call for EPA to propose, by October 1, 2008, rules under Section 112(d) to control emissions of hazardous air pollutants from new and existing coal-burning power plants (including mercury). The rules must require a reduction in mercury emissions of at least 90 percent from new and existing plants. The bill was introduced in response to the recent vacatur of the Clean Air Mercury Rule by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Washington State law requiring Ecology to adopt rules.

Mitigating the impacts of climate change (ESSB 6001)

Reports and Studies

New report on power plants
- National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) Report
- Press release for report
- PowerPoint Presentation: Carbon Capture Related Activities in US, by Robert Williams, Princeton University
History of Mercury in Selected WA Lakes Determined from Age-Dated Sediment Cores - New Ecology publication
Mercury Emissions from Power Plants: States Are Setting Stricter Limits - Report from Congressional Research Service
Ecology studies:
- Study 1: Quality Assurance Project Plan: Depositional History of Mercury in Selected Washington Lakes Determined from Sediment Cores
  - Update note: Sediment cores were collected from Lake St. Clair, Lake Ozette, and Lake Sammamish in the fall of 2006. Samples are being analyzed and the final report is due in June, 2007.
- Study 2: Quality Assurance Project Plan: Measuring Mercury Trends in Freshwater Fish in Washington State
  - Update notes:
    - Fish were collected from 6 sites in 2005: Loon L, Silver L (Cowlitz Co), Potholes Res, Liberty L, and Long L (Spokane R). Final report is due in March 2007.
    - Fish were collected from 6 sites in 2006: Meridian L, Sammamish L, Moses L, Neman L, and Offut L. Final report is due in October 2007.
Presentation: Mercury, Air Pollution and Health
Report to Congress: Mercury Emissions from Electric Power Plants: States Are Setting Stricter Limits
How EPA developed state mercury budgets
What are other states doing?
New scientific study links mercury pollution hotspots to U.S. coal-fired power plants and other sources: