Mercury and Air Toxics Standards

Asthma was once just an academic concern for Sylvia Brandt, who has spent years studying the chronic lung condition and calculating its tragic toll. N...

It took decades to get the new Mercury and Air Toxics Standards released, and within weeks, the pushback has already begun.

The EPA has unveiled its analysis of a database containing information on the disposal or release of 650 potentially dangerous chemicals used by almost 21,000 facilities. But this provides only a snapshot of the pollution produced by American industry.

It might surprise many Americans to learn that, until just a couple of weeks ago, there were no federal standards requiring operators of the nation's ...

It's an important moment for Americans who eat fish or use electricity. After more than two decades of delays, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is poised to issue a new regulation restricting some power plant emissions that have polluted the nation's air and water.

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, the TRAIN Act, made it through the House of Representatives. But as Yogi Berra would say, "It ain't over 'til it's over."

I reached out to Schakowsky with questions about disinformation on regulation, GOP rhetoric on energy, Gov. Perry's vilification of the EPA, and her commitment to the environment. It was just what the doctor ordered.

There's not a lot more important to parents than loving their children and making sure they have clean air to breathe. Which is why this week's virtual deluge of clean air information is so important -- and scary.

As a member of the Mom's Clean Air Force, this is the second hearing that I have monitored to see where our elected officials are coming down on the issue of supporting non-toxic air.

The Mercury and Air Toxics Standards set the first-ever national safeguards to limit power plant releases of mercury, arsenic, chromium, nickel and acid gases, making this is one of the largest steps to protect our kids from air pollution in a generation.