3 EPA Hearings on National Mercury Standard

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold three public hearings in May on the proposed mercury and air toxics standards. The new power plant mercury and air toxics standards would require many power plants to install widely available, proven pollution control technologies to cut harmful emissions of mercury, arsenic, chromium, nickel and acid gases, while preventing as many as 17,000 premature deaths and 11,000 heart attacks a year.

WHAT: Public hearings on proposed mercury and air toxics standards

WHEN: May 24 and 26, 2011

Each hearing will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 8 p.m. (local time)

WHERE: May 24: Chicago, Ill.
Crowne Plaza Chicago Metro
799 W. Madison St.
Chicago, Ill. 60611

May 24: Philadelphia, Pa.
Westin Philadelphia
99 S. 17th Street at Liberty Place

Philadelphia, Pa. 19103
May 26: Atlanta, Ga.
Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center
61 Forsyth St. SW
Atlanta, Ga. 30303-8960

The public may register to speak at a specific time at a hearing by contacting Pamela Garrett at 919-541-7966 or registering in person on the day of a hearing. EPA also will accept written comments on the proposed standards until July 5, 2011. EPA will finalize the rule by November 2011.

More information on the hearings and instructions for submitting written comments