Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined a coalition of 21 states and local governments in filing a lawsuit on Apr. 1 against the Trump administration’s repeal of the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) Rule, which had set limits on emissions from coal- and oil-fired power plants.
The legal challenge centers on concerns that rolling back these protections could increase exposure to hazardous air pollutants such as mercury, arsenic, lead, and acid gases. These pollutants are known to pose significant health risks, especially for vulnerable populations like pregnant women and children.
“Rolling back critical protections on the air we breathe for obsolete standards defies logic and puts Michigan families at risk,” said Attorney General Nessel. “Clean air should be a priority for any administration. Yet we are seeing a calculated effort by the EPA and the Trump White House to dismantle the guardrails that keep residents safe and prioritize the bottom line of fossil fuel billionaires over public health. My colleagues and I will continue to challenge these unlawful actions to protect our communities and environment.”
The coalition argues that mercury emissions can travel across state lines, contaminating waterways far from their source. Mercury is described as a potent neurotoxin with potential lifelong effects on child development when mothers are exposed during pregnancy; adults may also face increased risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or autoimmune dysfunction due to exposure.
Nessel and her counterparts claim that the Environmental Protection Agency failed to provide sufficient justification for reverting to older standards or adequately consider advancements in pollution control technology. The attorneys general have asked the court to rule that this repeal is unlawful.
Joining Michigan in this lawsuit are attorneys general from Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington State and Wisconsin as well as officials from Chicago; New York City; and Harris County in Texas.
