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

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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.

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