Climate Mayors Chair, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean and Executive Director Kate Wright denounced the Environmental Protection Agency’s loosening of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), a major federal protection that has been in place for more than a decade.

The final rule, announced today, weakens an air pollution safeguard designed to limit mercury, arsenic, and other toxic pollution from power plants. These standards were created to protect people, the environment and reduce health risks for pregnant women, infants, and other vulnerable people.