Clean Air Act: Emerging Mercury Control Technologies Have Shown Promising Results, But Data on Long-Term Performance are Limited

ISBN-10: 1422302423
ISBN-13: 9781422302422
Series: Clean Air Act
Pages: 66
Language: English
Published: 2005-12
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
Author: John B. Stephenson

Description

In March 2005, the EPA issued a rule that will limit mercury emissions (ME) -- a toxic element that causes neurological problems -- from coal-fired power plants, the nation's largest ind'l. source of ME. Under the rule, ME are to be reduced from a baseline of 48 tons/yr. to 38 tons in 2010 & to 15 tons in 2018. The ME target for 2010 is based on the level of ME achievable with technol. for controlling other pollutants -- which also capture some mercury -- because it believed emerging mercury controls had not been adequately demonstrated. This report: describes the use, availability, & effectiveness of technol. to reduce ME at power plants; & identifies the factors that influence the cost of these technol. & reports on available cost estimates. Tables.