Going to the MATS: What’s at stake and at play for health, climate, environmental regulation, and environmental justice in response to Trump EPA proposed rule changes

In 2012, the Obama Administration issued a Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) requiring power plants to significantly reduce their emissions of mercury, arsenic, particulate matter, and other toxic air pollution. The MATS rule had big impacts. Energy utilities invested billions in pollution-control equipment like scrubbers and shut down older coal-fired power plants, accelerating reductions in climate-forcing carbon emissions Mercury pollution in communities living near coal plants – disproportionately affecting people of color and poor people -- dropped over 85% nationwide. Pregnant women, children, and people with respiratory problems had less exposure to neurotoxins and particulate matter, cutting billions in health care cost, and preventing over 11,000 premature deaths and approximately 130,000 asthma attacks each year.

Now the Trump Administration’s Environmental Protection Agency is proposing changes to the MATS rule that could undermine the inclusion of health co-benefits when regulators calculate costs and benefits of environmental regulations. The proposal threatens numerous public interests and – in part because of those varied stakes – presents a significant unusual relationship- and power-building opportunity.

Funders are invited to hear what’s at stake and at play for public health, climate campaigns, environmental regulation, and environmental justice. This webinar is sponsored by the Climate and Energy Funders Group, the Environmental Grantmakers Association, the Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities, and the Health and Environmental Funders Network.

Facilitated discussion will be moderated by Karen Harris of the John Merck Fund with speakers including:

• Lyndsay Alexander, Assistant Vice President and Director of the Healthy Air Campaign, National Policy and Advocacy, American Lung Association

Prior to her current role, Lyndsay served as the Director of Advocacy and Deputy Director of the Healthy Air Campaign. Her work included representing the American Lung Association before Congress and federal regulatory agencies, and providing technical assistance and strategic guidance to field staff on air pollution policy and advocacy. Lyndsay holds a Master of Public Administration degree with a certificate in environmental policy from the University of Tennessee and a Bachelor of Arts in public policy analysis with a minor in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

• Phyllis Cuttino, Campaign Director, Climate Action Campaign

Phyllis’ previous role was as managing director of Campaigns and Strategies at Climate Nexus where she oversaw efforts to identify and respond to early and emerging climate and clean energy communications and policy trends. She has also directed sustainability initiatives for The Pew Charitable Trusts leading the Clean Energy Program, the Pew Project on National Security, Energy and Climate and the Flood-Prepared Communities Initiative. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from Furman University.

• Conrad Schneider, Advocacy Director, Clean Air Task Force (CATF)

Conrad directs CATF’s advocacy efforts, writes, and speaks on air pollution and climate change issues, and testifies before Congress and state legislatures and in federal and state administrative hearings. Conrad currently serves on the board of directors of the Center for Clean Air Policy in Washington, D.C. and teaches Environmental Law and Policy at Bowdoin College. He earned a J.D. from the University of Virginia and a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

• Kerene Tayloe, Esq., Director of Federal Legislative Affairs, We ACT for Environmental Justice

Kerene is a social justice advocate who has worked tirelessly in the areas of environmental justice, civil rights, and voter protection. Prior to her current role, she was the Policy Director for Green For All. She is focused on ensuring that communities of color lead and speak for themselves as we address the important challenge of climate change. Kerene earned a JD in Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law from the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University College of Law, and a bachelor of science in political science from the University of South Florida.

Register for this webinar.

Related resources:

From EPA

• Mercury and Air Toxics Standards proposed revisions

Media Coverage

• EPA announces plan to roll back mercury rules in power plants, Susanne Rust, LA Times, Dec. 28, 2018
• New E.P.A. Plan Could Free Coal Plants to Release More Mercury Into the Air, Lisa Friedman, New York Times, Dec. 28, 2018
• Trump's EPA Poised to Undo Progress on Mercury Pollution Reduction, Sally Hardin and Angelica Lujan, Center for American Progress, Dec. 18, 2018
• The EPA wants to make it harder to ratchet down toxic chemicals from power plants, Umair Irfan, Vox, Dec. 28, 2018

Public Health, Medical, Impacted Community Responses

• American Academy of Pediatrics Statement
• American Lung Association statement and ALA factsheet: Protect Babies Brains: Protect Limits on Mercury and Air Toxics
• American Lung Association’s 2019 Year of Air Pollution and Health
• Harvard School of Public Health backgrounder for reporters on MATS
• Health professionals’ letter on Mercury and Air Toxics (open now)
• Our Children Need Health Protections Strengthened, Not Rolled Back, Rev. Dr. Ambrose Carroll, Successful Black Parenting
• Faith community statement, National Religious Partnership for the Environment
• Protect the air our children breathe, Kate Harwell, Concord Monitor
• #PoisonPlan

Other Resources