The Trump government has allowed about 70 power plants that use coal to not follow some government rules for two years. These rules are meant to lower the amount of dangerous chemicals like mercury, arsenic, and benzene.

On Tuesday, the government put a list on its website. The list names 47 power companies that use coal. These companies are allowed to ignore some rules about clean air. These rules are from President Biden's time and stop pollution from things like mercury. President Trump made an order last week to help companies that use coal, because they are having problems. Using coal makes a lot of pollution, but it has been used for a long time.

Some power plants, like the one in Colstrip, Montana, don't have to follow all the rules about pollution. The government says this plant puts out more bad air pollution like lead and arsenic than any other similar plant in the country. Other plants that don't have to follow all the rules are in North Dakota and Texas. They also make a lot of pollution.

Some of the biggest power companies in the country own these plants. These companies include Talen Energy, Dominion Energy, NRG Energy, and Southern Co.

These rules also apply to four power plants used by the Tennessee Valley Authority. This is the biggest public power company in the country.

The EPA said Tuesday that the president's changes will help power plants that use coal. This will make sure that electricity is always available and not too expensive. The EPA is also helping to make our country's energy future safe.

Michelle Bloodworth, who leads a group for coal power plants, said Trump thinks the country needs coal plants. She said they are very important for keeping our electricity safe and steady. This helps our economy.

She said the rules made by the former President, Joe Biden, did not follow the Clean Air Act and used bad information.

Bloodworth said a new rule about mercury, finished last year, might have made many coal power plants close too soon. He added that these plants are needed to help the electricity system work well.

Environmental groups said it was wrong that some power plants didn't have to follow the new environmental rules.

"Letting more pollution happen damages the rules that keep our air clean," said Maya Golden-Krasner, a lawyer who works for a group that protects nature. "It is bad to say that making people breathe more bad chemicals is needed for the country to be safe. This shows that companies that pollute care more about making money than about the health of people and the Earth."

Groups that care about nature and health say the government's plan is not good. They think it could let many companies not follow rules that keep nature and people healthy.

Some people say the new email address from the EPA, where companies can ask for special permission, helps companies that pollute.

Sometimes, rules about dangerous things in the air, like mercury, can be ignored. Mercury can hurt your brain, especially for children. It can also cause problems for babies before they are born if their mother is around it.

Last week, Trump made some decisions using his power. He said that some old coal power plants that were going to close can stay open. This is because people in the U.S. need more electricity for things like computers and electric cars. Trump also told government groups to find more coal on government land, make it easier to dig for coal, and let companies dig for coal on U.S. land.

Trump, who is a Republican, has often said he wants to help the coal industry because he thinks it is good.