The Environmental Protection Agency proposed a rule that reaffirms that hazardous air pollutants such as mercury from power plants should be regulated.

“We can all agree that everyone deserves clean air to breathe. That’s why EPA is reaffirming these standards to reduce harmful pollution from power plants and protect our most vulnerable,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan tweeted on Twitter.

The EPA proposed the rule on Jan. 31 that “it remains appropriate and necessary to regulate hazardous air pollutants (HAP), including mercury, from power plants after considering cost,” a Fact Sheet on the proposed rule said.

If EPA’s proposed rule is finalized, coal- and oil-fired power plants will have to continue to control emissions of hazardous air pollution. The proposed rule is being submitted for publication in the Federal Register.

“This action revokes a 2020 finding that it was not appropriate and necessary to regulate coal- and oil-fired power plants under Clean Air Act (CAA) section 112, which covers toxic air pollutants,” the Fact Sheet said. “EPA reviewed the 2020 finding and considered updated information on both the public health burden associated with HAP emissions from coal- and oil-fired power plants as well as the costs associated with reducing those emissions under the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS).”