Court rulings and official announcements from the U.S. judicial system

Supreme Court Allows EPA to Enforce New Mercury and Methane Emissions Rules Including NACCO and Oklahoma Lists

Oct 4, 2024, 03:45 PM

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to pause new federal air pollution rules from the Biden administration, which aim to tighten limits on mercury and methane emissions. This decision allows the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to continue enforcing regulations targeting emissions from oil wells, tanks, pipelines, and coal-fired power plants. The rules are designed to reduce the release of mercury and methane, both significant contributors to climate change. The regulations include the NACCO list and Oklahoma list, and require an 80% cut in methane pollution. The challenges to these regulations were brought by a group of Republican-led states and industry groups, who argued that the rules would impose significant economic burdens. Despite these objections, the Supreme Court's decision means that the EPA's rules will remain in effect while the legal challenges proceed in lower courts.