EPA Mercury Rollback Sparks Outrage as Dirty Power Plants Escape Stricter Rules

A recent EPA rollback of mercury emissions rules has sparked concern among local communities and environmental groups. The decision, announced in early 2026, reverses stricter regulations introduced under the Biden administration. Critics argue that the move will leave vulnerable populations at risk, despite claims that the changes are minor.

Only one U.S. power plant, the Coleto Creek facility in Texas, still burns lignite coal and falls under the revised rules. Yet, the impact on nearby communities—particularly those near older, dirtier plants—remains a major point of contention.

The Colstrip power plant in Montana stands out as the nation's dirtiest, emitting high levels of soot and mercury. Unlike many modern facilities, its two operating units lack basic pollution control technology. Mercury, a potent neurotoxin, can settle in waterways, contaminate fish, and enter the food chain—posing serious risks to pregnant women, babies, and young children.

The Northern Cheyenne tribe, living near Colstrip, has long raised concerns about air and water pollution. Charlene Alden, the tribe's environmental protection director, criticised the Trump administration's decision to weaken mercury regulations. Under Biden, the EPA had pushed for stricter controls, arguing that the necessary technology was both available and affordable. The Trump EPA, however, claimed that upgrades would impose excessive costs on plant operators. Colstrip had previously secured a waiver to bypass Biden-era pollution rules. Now, with the Trump administration eliminating those regulations entirely, the plant faces no legal obligation to reduce its mercury emissions. Joe Goffman, a Biden EPA official, countered the rollback's description as a 'small' change, pointing to lasting health risks for communities near lignite-burning plants like Colstrip and Coleto Creek.

The rollback leaves just one lignite plant, Coleto Creek, directly affected by the loosened mercury rules. But for tribes and residents near facilities like Colstrip, the health consequences could be far-reaching. Without stricter controls, mercury pollution will continue to threaten local water supplies and public health for years to come.