Analysis of the Final MATS Risk and Technology Review (RTR)
On April 25, 2024, the EPA announced requirements to strengthen and update the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units (EGUs), commonly known as the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) for power plants, based on an evaluation of the residual risk and technology review (RTR). The RTR reflects recent developments in control technologies and the performance of these plants. EPA’s power sector analysis for this final rule uses EPA’s Power Sector Modeling Platform 2023.
Documentation for the EPA’s Power Sector Modeling Platform 2023
For the power sector analysis of the final MATS RTR, the EPA relied on EPA’s Power Sector Modeling Platform 2023. The links below provide information regarding the reference case used. Additional detail regarding analysis of the final rule is provided in the documentation supplement linked below.
- EPA’s Power Sector Modeling Platform 2023
- NEEDS for IPM 2023 (rev 01-04-2024) (xlsx)
- EPA’s Power Sector Modeling Platform 2023 Documentation Supplement (pdf)
IPM Run Files
Download IPM run files for the final MATS RTR using the links in the table below. Click on the IPM run name in the first column of the table below to download a file. The files are posted in one of two formats, a zipped archive or an excel spreadsheet, and contain detailed IPM input and output files (i.e., DAT, System Summary Report, RPE, and RPT files) for the listed runs. Review the Guide to IPM Input/Output Files (pdf) .
More detailed information on the modeling framework, specific scenarios, assumptions, and other important details of the analysis can be found in the Regulatory Impact Analysis that accompanies the final rule.
| IPM Run Name | IPM Run Description |
|---|---|
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EPA's Power Sector Modeling Platform 2023 Reference Case (zip) |
The baseline for this final rule. Includes the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), the final GNP, MATS, 2015 ELG, 2015 CCR, 2020 ELG and CCR rules. It also includes key fleet updates regarding new units, retired units, and control retrofits that were known by August 2023. |
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This scenario includes a revised filterable PM standard for existing coal-fired EGUs of 0.010 lb/MMBtu and a revised mercury standard for lignite-fired EGUs of 1.2 lb/TBtu. |