TAKOMA PARK, Md. (AP) — Environmental groups say an aging, coal-fired power plant in Washington County that is being closed by FirstEnergy along with five others did not comply with Maryland’s 2006 Healthy Air Act.

The Environmental Integrity Project and the Chesapeake Climate Action Network says they have sued to forced pollution reductions at the plant, which they say is responsible for thousands of tons of nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide emissions.

The groups say those emissions are responsible for smog and nutrient pollution in the Chesapeake Bay and the closing is a victory for the environment and human health.

FirstEnergy Corp. announced Thursday that new environmental regulations led it to shut down the six older, coal-fired power plants in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

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