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   The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has re-issued a proposed Clean Air Act (CAA) rule that would establish maximum achievable control technology (MACT) standards for limiting emissions of mercury and other hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) from U.S. industrial boilers and furnaces. The agency claims that standards are more flexible and less onerous and costly than those originally issued earlier this year—standards that the regulated community and Republicans in Congress severely criticized. The revised standards apply to approximately 14,000 boilers—less than 1% of all boilers in the United States—which would face a cumulative cost of $1.5 billion to comply, according to the agency. The proposed rule also covers about 187,000 small boilers, which EPA said would be treated as “area sources” and could comply simply by conducting regular maintenance and tune-ups.   “With this action, EPA is applying the right standards to the right boilers,” said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “Gathering the latest and best real-world information is leading to practical, affordable air pollution safeguards that will provide the vital and overdue health protection that Americans deserve.” Bob Cleaves, president and CEO of the Biomass Power Association, said that the revised standards represent a step in the right direction but that “there are still some important issues that need to be addressed to avoid job and investment losses from plant closures.”