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Climate change

Environmental Groups Sue EPA Over Texas Coal Plant Pollution

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club, filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over Texas's inadequate plan to address regional haze pollution, largely caused by sulfur dioxide emissions from coal power plants. The groups want the EPA to reject the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality's (TCEQ) plan and force the state to reduce emissions from its coal plants, which are the biggest source of haze pollution in the country. The pollution affects national parks and wilderness areas in Texas and neighboring states, reducing visibility by as much as 70% and harming the health of people in marginalized communities.

Key Takeaways:

  • The lawsuit was filed by the Sierra Club, Environmental Integrity Project, and National Parks Conservation Association against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over Texas's inadequate plan to address regional haze pollution.
  • Regional haze is largely caused by sulfur dioxide pollution from coal power plants and industrial sources, which travels across a region and dirties skies year-round.
  • The Clean Air Act requires states to reduce haze in national parks and wilderness areas, but Texas's plan would do nothing to decrease haze pollution.
  • The lawsuit has the potential to touch almost all of the 14 coal plants in Texas and force them to reduce emissions, which would also help address the global climate crisis.
  • The groups want the EPA to reject the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality's (TCEQ) plan and implement a strong federal plan that would decrease haze pollution.
  • The pollution affects national parks and wilderness areas in Texas and neighboring states, reducing visibility by as much as 70% and harming the health of people in marginalized communities.
  • The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, and the complaint can be found online.
  • The organizations are represented by the Sierra Club and Earthjustice.

Statistics:

  • Regional haze pollution affects almost a third of national parks in the U.S.
  • Texas coal plants release the biggest amount of sulfur dioxide emissions in the country, contributing to haze pollution.
  • The visibility reduction due to haze pollution in Big Bend National Park is as high as 70%.
  • There are 14 coal plants in Texas that are responsible for regional haze pollution.
  • The Clean Air Act requires states to reduce haze pollution in national parks and wilderness areas.

Sources:

  • Sierra Club press release
  • Environmental Integrity Project press release
  • National Parks Conservation Association press release
  • Coal plants most responsible for haze pollution (source list)
  • Clean Air Act information (source link)

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