Underground Coal Mines
United States
Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program
Under the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP), 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) must report emissions from underground coal mines
and all other source categories located at the mine for which methods are defined in the rule.
Owners or operators are required to collect emission data; calculate greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions; and follow the specified procedures for quality assurance, missing data,
recordkeeping, and reporting.
How Is This Source Category Defined?
This source category consists of both underground mines under development and underground mines
categorized by MSHA as active (where coal is currently being produced or has been produced within the
previous 90 days). It includes all underground coal mines that have operational pre-mining degasification
systems. Abandoned (closed) mines, surface coal mines, and post-coal mining activities are not included
in this source category.
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.
CH4 liberation (including both emitted methane and methane that is combusted) from each ventilation
shaft and each degasification well must be included; however, monitoring for each system type may take
place at one or more centralized monitoring points that covers all emissions points within that system.
What GHGs Must Be Reported?
Underground coal mine owners and operators must report:
• Quarterly methane (CH/t) liberation from each ventilation well or shaft, and/or each centralized
monitoring point.
• Weekly QrU liberated from each degasification system, and/or each centralized monitoring point.
• Weekly CH4 destruction from each destruction device or point of offsite transport.
• Quarterly carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from coal mine gas CUt destruction where the gas is
not a fuel input for energy generation or use.
• Annual CO2, and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from stationary fuel combustion devices using
the calculation methods specified in 40 CFR part 98, subpart C (General Stationary Combustion
Sources). The information sheet on general stationary fuel combustion sources summarizes
calculating and reporting emissions from these sources.
In addition, each facility must report GHG emissions for any other source categories for which calculation
methods are provided in other subparts of the rule, as applicable.
June 2010 1 40 CFR part 98, subpart FF
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How Must GHG Emissions Be Calculated?
Total annual QrU emissions are the sum of quarterly CH4that is liberated from ventilation wells and shafts
and degasification systems, less the quantity of CH^ that is collected and destroyed.
• For ventilation wells and shafts, liberated CFLt is determined by quarterly or more frequent
sampling, or continuous monitoring of flow rate and CFLj concentration.
• For degasification systems, liberated CFi4 is determined by quarterly or more frequent sampling,
or continuous monitoring of flow rate and CFi4 concentration.
• CFi4 destroyed is determined by continuous monitoring of flow rate and CFi4 concentration of gas
collected for destruction and by applying a destruction efficiency.
CO2 emissions from CFi4 destruction are estimated by applying a factor to the estimate of CFi4 destroyed.
When Must Reporting Begin?
Underground coal mines subject to subpart FF must begin monitoring GHG emissions on January 1, 201 1
in accordance with the methods specified in the subpart. The first reports are due to EPA on March 31,
2012 and annually thereafter.
What Information Must Be Reported?
In addition to the information required by the General Provisions at 40 CFR 98.3(c), each underground
coal mine must report the following information:
• Volumetric flow rate, CFI4 concentration, and any CFLt 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 CFI4, where the gas is not a fuel
input for energy generation or use.
For More Information
This document is provided solely for informational purposes. It does not provide legal advice, have
legally binding effect, or expressly or implicitly create, expand, or limit any legal rights, obligations,
responsibilities, expectations, or benefits in regard to any person. The series of information sheets is
intended to assist reporting facilities/owners in understanding key provisions of the final rule.
Visit EPA's Web site (www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ghgrulemaking.html) for more
information, including all rulemakings related to the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, additional
information sheets on specific industries, the schedule for training sessions, and other documents and
tools. For questions that cannot be answered through the Web site, please contact us at: ghgmrr@epa.gov.
June 2010 2 40 CFR part 98, subpart FF
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