"EPA Finalizes Tough New Rules on Emissions By Power Plants"

"The Obama administration finished crafting tough new rules Friday curbing mercury and other poisons emitted by coal-fired utilities, according to several people briefed on the decision, culminating more than two decades of work to clean up the nation's dirtiest power plants.

As part of last-minute negotiations between the White House and the Environmental Protection Agency, the regulations give some flexibility to power plant operators who argued they could not meet the three-year deadline for compliance outlined by the EPA. Several individuals familiar with the details declined to be identified because the agency will not announce the rules until next week.

The new rules will cost utilities $10.6 billion by 2016 for the installation of control equipment known as scrubbers, according to EPA estimates. But the EPA said those costs would be far offset by health benefits. The agency estimates that as of 2016, lowering emissions would save $59 billion to $140 billion in annual health costs, preventing 17,000 premature deaths a year along with illnesses and lost workdays."

Juliet Eilperin and Steven Mufson report for the Washington Post December 16, 2011.

SEE ALSO:

"EPA Rules Threaten Older Power Plants" (AP)

"After 20 Years Of Poisoned Babies, EPA Will Finally Close Coal Industry’s Toxic Mercury Loophole" (Think Progress Green/Brad Johnson)