WASHINGTON -- The Environmental Protection Agency has agreed to issue new air-pollution rules for coal- and oil-fired power plants by November 2011, according to court documents.

While the new regulations will likely reduce emissions of cancer-causing pollutants by millions of tons annually, they could mean costly technology upgrades for the industry.

A consent decree released late Thursday follows a lawsuit filed by medical associations and environmental organizations against the EPA in December, alleging the agency wasn't drafting new power-plant emission rules fast enough as required by the Clean Air Act.

At issue were final "maximum achievable control technology" emission standards for hazardous air pollutants such as mercury, arsenic, cadmium, other heavy metals, acid gases and dioxins. The agreement marks a major victory for the medical and environmental groups after years of legal battles against the industry and the Bush administration EPA.

"This is big," said Ann Weeks, legal director at the Clean Air Task Force, who has been fighting for new standards for nearly a decade. "We are very pleased with the outcome of this case, and look forward to working with the EPA to develop emissions standards for this industry that mandate the deep cuts in this pollution that the law requires."