CONTACT: DKC News, MomsCleanAirForce@dkcnews.com
Washington, DC (July 10, 2025)—Today, dozens of Moms Clean Air Force staff, organizers, and members are testifying before EPA to oppose the agency’s proposal to repeal recent updates to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS).
Patrice Tomcik, Moms Clean Air Force’s senior national field director, was one of the Moms who testified at today’s hearing, telling EPA staff:
“In Southwestern Pennsylvania where I live, the last two coal fired power plants are still operating and emitting very large amounts of mercury pollution. Along with mercury pollution, power plants emit other harmful pollutants that can cause premature deaths, asthma, chronic bronchitis, heart attacks and cancer. Children are especially vulnerable to pollution because their bodies are still developing. My youngest son is a cancer survivor and I know his immune system is compromised which makes him very vulnerable to pollution. I can’t control the air my son breathes and rely on the EPA to do their job and protect him from harmful pollution.”
Last year’s updates to MATS represent the rule’s first modernization in over a decade. While MATS has been highly successful in reducing mercury pollution, more work was left to be done to protect families from mercury and other dangerous pollution from coal plants. The recent updates close a loophole that allowed dirty lignite coal plants to evade important mercury pollution controls. These updates will also help reduce children’s exposure to harmful air pollutants like particle pollution and NOx as well as other heavy metals addressed by MATS, including arsenic and lead, and require coal plants to continuously address their emissions, holding them accountable for the pollution that is going into communities.
Learn more about the danger of mercury and the benefits of strong MATS here.