AG Rayfield, 20 States Sue Over Mercury Pollution Rule Rollback
Summary
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, joined by 20 other states and local governments, filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's rollback of the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) Rule. The coalition argues the EPA failed to provide a reasoned basis for reverting to outdated emissions standards for coal and oil-fired power plants. The lawsuit seeks judicial reversal of the rule allowing increased emissions of mercury, arsenic, lead, and other toxic pollutants.
What changed
The Oregon DOJ announced that Attorney General Rayfield, leading a coalition of 21 attorneys general and local governments, filed a Petition for Review challenging the EPA's rollback of the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards. The 2024 MATS Rule had updated standards limiting emissions of hazardous air pollutants including mercury, arsenic, lead, and acid gases from coal- and oil-fired power plants. The administration's recent action allows power plants to release more toxic emissions, which can travel across state lines and deposit into waterways including the Columbia River.
The coalition argues the rollback is unlawful because the EPA failed to provide a reasoned basis and did not adequately consider developments in pollution control technology. The plaintiffs are asking the court to reverse the rule. Energy companies operating coal and oil-fired power plants may face regulatory uncertainty as this litigation proceeds. The coalition highlights that mercury exposure poses serious health risks, particularly for pregnant women and children, including neurological disorders and developmental harms.
What to do next
- Monitor litigation proceedings as the MATS rollback is challenged in federal court
- Review current emissions compliance status pending regulatory clarification
- Assess potential liability exposure for mercury and toxic air emissions from affected facilities
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Attorney General Rayfield Files Lawsuit to Protect Rivers, Oregon Families from Mercury Pollution
March 31, 2026 • Posted in Homepage, Lawsuits and Letters, Media Release
Attorney General Dan Rayfield and a coalition of 20 other states and local governments sued the Trump administration today for weakening federal limits on mercury and other toxic pollutants released by coal and oil-fired power plants. The administration recently rolled back the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) Rule, allowing power plants to release more dangerous chemicals into the air – chemicals that can travel across state lines and settle into rivers and waterways.
“Oregon families deserve clean water and a federal government that fights for that – not one that gives pollutants a free pass,” said Attorney General Rayfield. “Mercury poison does not stop at state lines – it travels, deposits in rivers and waterways, and ends up in the fish people eat. Rolling back these protections puts pregnant women, children, and families across Oregon at greater risk.”
The MATS Rule implements nationwide standards that limit emissions of toxic air pollutants from coal- and oil-fired power plants, including mercury, arsenic, lead and other toxic metals, in addition to acid gases, such as hydrogen chloride and formaldehyde. In 2024, following significant developments in the technologies used to control pollution, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) updated the standards for emissions of these hazardous air pollutants from power plants. Last month, the Trump administration rolled back the updated standard, allowing for more of these dangerous emissions to be released into the air.
While mercury and other hazardous air pollutants disproportionately harm people who live near coal- and oil-fired power plants, the emissions can also travel great distances and be deposited into other states. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that poses serious dangers to public health, especially for pregnant women and children. For example, a pregnant person’s consumption of mercury exposes their child to mercury and can cause lifelong developmental harms and neurological disorders such as seizures, vision and hearing loss, or delayed development. Exposure to mercury also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and autoimmune dysfunction in adults.
Mercury emissions from power plants are also a major contributor to mercury contamination in U.S. waterways, including the Columbia River. Mercury pollution in lakes and rivers harms the local commercial and recreation fishing economies.
Attorney General Rayfield and the coalition argue that the repeal is unlawful because the EPA has failed to provide a reasoned basis for it and failed to adequately consider developments in practices, processes and control technologies in its attempt to revert to outdated standards. The attorneys general are asking the court to determine that the rule is unlawful and must be reversed.
Joining Attorney General Rayfield in this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin, along with the city of Chicago, the city of New York and Harris County, Texas.
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