Join	the	CMOP	Network	

As	part	of	its	outreach	efforts,	EPA	maintains	contact	with	the	U.S.	and	international	CMM	/	CBM	industries	and	encourages	interaction	between	industry	participants	through	the	CMOP	Network.	Joining	the	CMOP	Network	is	free	and	voluntary!	As	a	CMOP	Network	Member,	you:	•		 Will	receive	our	quarterly	newsletter,	the	Coalbed Methane (CBM) 

Extra,	via	e­mail.	

•		 Can	request	to	receive	our	weekly	news	announcement,	the	CBM 

Note,	via	e­mail.	

•		 Can	add	your	organization	and	contact	information	to	our	Network	

Contacts	list	featured	on	the	CMOP	Web	site.	

Sign	up	online	today!	www.epa.gov/cmop/join/index.html	

United	States	Environmental	Protection	Agency	1200	Pennsylvania	Avenue,	N.W.	(6207J)	Washington,	DC	20460	Official	Business	Penalty	for	Private	Use	$300	EPA­430­K­08­008	October	2008	www.epa.gov/cmop	

Recycled/Recyclable.Printed	with	vegetable	oil–based	inks	on	100%	(minimum	50%	postconsumer)	recycled	paper.	
Our	Mission	

The	U.S.	Environmental	Protection	 PROGRAM	GOALS	Agency’s	Coalbed	Methane	Outreach	Program	(CMOP)	is	a	voluntary	pro­ •	 Reduce	GHG	emissions	gram	with	a	goal	of	reducing	methane	 •	 Achieve	the	profi	table	emissions	from	coal	mining	activities.	 recovery	and	use	of	CMM	Our	mission	is	to	promote	the	profi	t­ •	 Promote	the	use	of	a	clean	

able	recovery	and	utilization	of	coal	mine	methane	(CMM),	a	potent	green­ energy	source	house	gas	(GHG)	that	contributes	to	climate	change	if	emitted	to	the	atmosphere.	 When	collected	and	used	for	energy,	CMM	is	a	valuable	fuel	source.	Since	1994,	CMOP	has	worked	cooperatively	with	the	coal	mining	industry	to	reduce	CMM	emissions.	By	helping	to	identify	and	implement	methods	to	recover	and	use	CMM	instead	of	emitting	it	to	the	atmosphere,	CMOP	has	played	a	key	role	in	the	United	States’	efforts	to	reduce	GHG	emissions	and	address	global	climate	change.	This	guide	summarizes	CMOP	activities	and	also	highlights	some	of	the	program’s	accomplishments.	

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19941995	19961997199819992000200120022003200420052006	

CMOP	Accomplishments—U.S.	Emissions	Reductions	Between	the	time	of	the	program’s	launch	in	1994	and	2006,	CMOP	assisted	the	U.S.	coal	mining	industry	in	successfully	reducing	U.S.	CMM	emissions	by	about	16	percent.	These	emissions	reductions	are	the	result	of	active	underground	mines	recovering	and	utilizing	drained	gas.	Today,	the	U.S.	coal	mining	industry	recovers	and	uses	more	than	80	percent	of	all	drained	CMM.	U.S.	CMM	reductions	since	1994	have	effectively	removed	the	equivalent	of	more	than	216	million	metric	tons	of	carbon	dioxide	(535	billion	cubic	feet	of	methane)	from	the	atmosphere.	According	to	EPA,	this	is	equivalent	to:	•		 Removing	more	than	39	million	passenger	vehicles	from	the	roads	for	

one	year.	

•		 Shutting	off	more	than	46	coal­fired	power	plants	for	one	year.	•		 Providing	electricity	to	more	than	28	million	homes	for	one	year.	These	emissions	reductions	have	had	an	important	economic	impact	as	well.	Nationally,	CMM	gas	sales	generate	more	than	$300	million	in	revenue	each	year.	

U.S. CMM Emissions Have Declined Since 1994 

250	 450	

400	

200	 

350

Billion Cubic Feet (Bcf)

Million Short Tons

300	 150	 250	200

100	

150	100 50	50		 

0	 0	 

Total	U.S.	CMM	Emissions	(Bcf)	 Total	U.S.	Underground	Coal	Production	(M	Short	Tons)	

Source:	CMOP	Annual	Report,	August	2008.	 

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Recovery	and	Use	of	CMM		

Technology	is	readily	available	to	recover	methane—the	major	component	of	natural	gas—from	coal	mines.	Specific	end	uses	for	CMM	depend	on	the	gas	quality,	especially	the	concentration	of	methane	and	the	presence	of	other	contaminants.	Worldwide,	CMM	is	most	often	used	for	power	generation,	district	heating,	boiler	fuel,	and	town	gas,	or	it	is	sold	to	natural	gas	pipeline	systems.	

BENEFITS	OF	CAPTURING	

AND	USING	CMM	

•	 Reduces	GHG	emissions	•	 Conserves	a	local	source	of	

valuable,	clean­burning	energy	

•	 Enhances	mine	safety	by	reducing	in­mine	concentrations	

of	methane	

•	 Provides	revenue	to	the	mine	

CMM	can	also	be	used	in	many	other	ways:	•	 Coal	drying	•		 Heat	source	for	mine	ventilation	air	•	 Supplemental	fuel	for	mine	boilers	•	 Vehicle	fuel	as	compressed	or	liquefied	natural	gas	(LNG)	•	 Manufacturing	feedstock	•		 Fuel	source	for	fuel	cells	In	the	United	States,	nearly	all	CMM	recovered	for	use	from	active	mines	is	injected	into	the	natural	gas	pipeline	system.	

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