McCarthy Defends EPA Clean Power Plan, Rule to Regulate Mercury From Power Plants

摘要

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy dismissed claims by some energy companies and state officials who allege the proposed Clean Power Plan is an illegal attempt under the Clean Air Act to remake the nation's power sector. McCarthy defended the agency's effort to regulate carbon emissions from existing power plants and its final rule regulating mercury and other hazardous air pollutants from power plants, both of which are being legally challenged. Speaking at the ECO:nomics conference March 26 in Santa Barbara, Calif., McCarthy classified two lawsuits pending in federal appeals court that challenge the proposed Clean Power Plan rule as unprecedented attempts to prevent the EPA from completing the rule-making (In re Murray Energy Corp., D.C. Cir., No. 14-1112, merits panel assigned, 3/18/15; West Virginia v. EPA, D.C. Cir., No. 14-1146, merits panel assigned, 3/18/15; 46 ER 817, 3/20/15).