This  document was  developed for the Proposed Mandatory  GHG Reporting Rule.
For  the final document, please visit the  final Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases
Rule.
Underground  Coal Mines
                                                                                   United States
Proposed Rule: Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases                         Aaencjmerrtal Pl°t9ction

Under the proposed Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) rule, owners or
operators of facilities that are subject to quarterly or more frequent sampling of mine ventilation
systems by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) would report emissions from
underground coal mines.  Owners or operators would collect emission data; calculate GHG
emissions; and follow the specified procedures for quality assurance, missing data,
recordkeeping, and reporting.


Owners or operators of underground coal mines also would be required to report emissions
under 40 CFRpart 98, subpart KK (Suppliers of Coal).

How Is This Source Category Defined?

Under the proposal, this source category consists of underground coal mines that are active or under
development, including all underground coal mines that have operational pre-mining degasification
systems. It includes both mines under development and mines categorized by MSHA as active (where
coal is currently being produced or has been produced within the previous 90 days).

This source category consists of the following emission points:
   •   Each ventilation well or shaft.
   •   Each degasification system well or shaft, including degasification systems deployed before,
       during, or after mining operations.

Abandoned (closed) mines, surface coal mines, and post-coal mining activities are not included in this
source category.

What GHGs Would Be Reported?

The proposal calls for underground coal mines to report:

   •   Methane (CH4) emissions from each ventilation well or shafts, and CFU liberated from each
       degasification system deployed before, during, or after mining operations.
   •   Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from coal mine gas CFU destruction where the gas is not a fuel
       input for energy generation or use.

In addition, each facility would report GHG emissions for other source categories for which calculation
methods are provided in the rule.  For example, facilities would report CO2, nitrous oxide (N2O), and CH4
emissions from each stationary combustion unit on site by following the requirements of 40 CFR part 98,
subpart C (General Stationary Fuel Combustion Sources). Please refer to the relevant information sheet
for a summary of the proposal for calculating and reporting emissions from any other source  categories at
the facility.
March 2009                                   1                             EPA-430-F-09-012

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This document  was  developed  for the Proposed  Mandatory  GHG Reporting Rule.
For  the  final  document,  please visit the final Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases
Rule.
How Would GHG Emissions Be Calculated?
Under the proposal, total annual QrU emissions would be estimated as the sum of quarterly CF^that is
liberated from ventilation wells and shafts and degasification systems, less the quantity of CFU that is
collected and destroyed.
    •   For ventilation wells and shafts, liberated CFU would be determined by quarterly measurements
       of flow rate and CFU concentration.
    •   For degasification systems, liberated CFi4 would be determined by continuously measuring flow
       rate and CFi4 concentration.
    •   CFi4 destroyed would be determined by measuring flow rate and CFLt concentration of gas
       collected for destruction and applying a destruction efficiency (the lesser of 98 percent or the
       manufacturer's specified destruction efficiency).

CO2 emissions from CFi4 destruction would be estimated by applying a factor to the estimate of CFi4
destroyed.

What Information Would Be Reported?

In addition to the information required by the General Provisions at 40 CFR 98.3(c), the proposal calls for
underground coal mine owners or operators to report the following information annually:
    •   Volumetric flow rate, CFI4 concentration, and any CFLj destruction for each ventilation system
       and degasification system.
    •   For each degasification system, dates in the reporting period where active ventilation of mining
       operations is taking place or when continuous monitoring equipment is not properly functioning.
    •   Quarterly CFI4 liberated and CFI4 emitted (net) from each ventilation well or shaft, and from each
       degasification system.
    •   Quarterly CO2 emissions from onsite destruction of coal mine gas CFLj, where the gas is not a fuel
       input for energy generation or use.

For More Information

This series of information sheets is intended to assist reporting facilities/owners in understanding key
provisions of the proposed rule. However, these information sheets are not intended to be a substitution
for the rule. Visit EPA's Web site (www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ghgrulemaking.html) for more
information, including the proposed preamble and rule and additional information sheets on specific
industries, or go to  to access the rulemaking docket (EPA-HQ OAR-2008-0508).
For questions that cannot be answered through the Web site or docket, call 1-877-GHG-l 188.
March 2009                                    2                              EPA-430-F-09-012

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