FACT SHEET PROPOSED MERCURY AND AIR TOXICS STANDARDS (MATS) FOR POWER PLANTS ELECTRONIC REPORTING PROVISIONS ACTION • On April 3, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed revisions to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) to identify data elements to be reported electronically using the Emissions Collection and Monitoring Plan System (ECMPS) Client Tool. • The proposed action would change the format and mechanism for electronic reporting but would not change the compliance information already required by the rule. • Reprogramming and testing are expected until December 2023. Until then, the proposed rule would extend the alternate compliance reporting process that allows portable document format (PDF) file submissions. • This proposed action is projected to reduce annual source burden by 11,000 hours and annual costs by over $15 million. BACKGROUND • In 2012, industry stakeholders requested that EPA merge separate electronic reporting systems, that exist in the MATS rule, into the ECMPS Client Tool. • The agency agreed to make the transition and allowed temporary submission of some MATS reports by PDF files until the transition was completed. • The alternate compliance reporting process deadline needs to be extended until the ECMPS Client Tool is revised and tested, which will not be completed until December 2023. • This proposed action identifies the data elements to be reported electronically by power plants and would extend the alternate compliance reporting process that allows PDF file submissions through December 2023. HOW TO COMMENT • EPA will accept comments for 30 days after the proposal is published in the Federal Register. • Comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2018-0794 may be submitted by one of the following methods: o Go to https://www.regulations.gov/ and follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments, o Send comments by email to a-and-r-docket@epa.gov. Attention Docket ID No. EPA- HQ-OAR-2018-0794. • Out of an abundance of caution for members of the public and our staff, the EPA Docket Center and Reading Room will be closed to public visitors beginning at the close of ------- business on March 31, 2020 (4:30 pm) to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19. Our Docket Center staff will continue to provide remote customer service via email, phone, and webform. We encourage the public to submit comments via https://www.regulations.gov/ or email, as there will be a delay in process mail and no hand deliveries will be accepted. For further information on EPA Docket Center services, please visit us online at https://www.epa.gov/dockets. FOR MORE INFORMATION • Interested parties can download a copy of the proposed rule notice from EPA's website at the following addresses: https://www.epa.gov/mats/regulatorv-actions-final-mercurv-and- air-toxics-standards-mats-power-plants and http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/utilitv/utilitypg.html. • Today's action and other background information are also available electronically at https://www.regulations.gov/. EPA's electronic public docket and comment system. • For further information about the notice, contact Mr. Barrett Parker, EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Sector Policies and Programs Division, Measurement Policy Group at (919) 541-5635 or by email at parker.barrett@epa.gov. ------- |