Some big power plants, like the one in Colstrip, Montana, don't have to follow the rules. This plant sends out more bad air pollution, like lead and arsenic, than other similar plants in the US, says the EPA. Other plants that don't have to follow the rules are Coal Creek Station in North Dakota, which makes a lot of mercury pollution, and the Oak Grove plant in Texas, which also pollutes a lot.

Some of the biggest energy companies in the country own the plants that are not included. These companies include Talen Energy and Dominion Energy.

This rule also applies to four power plants run by the Tennessee Valley Authority. This is America's biggest public energy company.

The government said on Tuesday that the special rules will help coal power plants. This will make sure we have enough electricity, that it is not too expensive, and that our country's energy is safe.

Michelle Bloodworth, who is in charge of a group that helps coal power plants, said Trump thinks the country needs coal power to have a safe electricity supply. She also said this is very important for the economy.

She said the rules from President Joe Biden did not follow the Clean Air Act and used wrong information.

Bloodworth said a rule about mercury, finished last year, might have caused many coal power plants to close early. He added that these plants are needed to keep the electricity system working well.

Environmental groups said the special permissions were wrong. They said President Trump and the EPA leader, Lee Zeldin, did not do their job. These permissions are given if the president says the needed technology is not easy to get and the plants help national safety.

This allows companies to pollute more and makes our air less clean, said Maya Golden-Krasner from an environmental group. She said it is bad to say it is for national security to make people across the country breathe in more bad things. This shows they care more about making money than about people's health and the Earth.

Groups that care about nature and health say the government's plan to let some companies not follow rules is bad. They think this could let many companies avoid rules that keep nature and people healthy.

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

Some EPA rules do not have to be followed. This includes rules about mercury and other things in the air that are not safe. Mercury can hurt your brain, especially if you are a child. It can also cause problems for babies before they are born.

Last week, Trump signed orders to keep some old coal power plants open. He said this was needed because the US needs more electricity for things like data centers and electric cars. Trump also told government groups to find coal on government land, make it easier to get coal, and offer more land for coal companies to use.

Trump, who is a Republican, has often said he wants to help the coal business become more important and used more.