Underground Coal Mines oEPA United States Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program Environmental protection 1 ® ® Agency Under the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP), owners or operators of facilities that liberate 36,500,000 actual cubic feet (acf) of methane (CH4) or more per year (equivalent to 100,000 acf of CH4 or more per day) must report emissions fi'om underground coal mines and all other source categories located at the mine for which methods are defined in the ride. Owners or operators are required to collect emission data; calculate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; andfollow 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 (CH4) liberation from each ventilation well or shaft, and/or each centralized ventilation system monitoring point. • Weekly CH4 liberated from each degasification system, and/or each centralized degasification system monitoring point. • Weekly CH4 destruction from each destruction device or point of offsite transport. • Quarterly carbon dioxide (C02) emissions from coal mine gas CH4 destruction where the gas is not a fuel input for energy generation or use. • Annual C02, and nitrous oxide (N20) 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. November 2011 1 40 CFR part 98, subpart FF ------- How Must GHG Emissions Be Calculated? Total annual CH4 emissions are the sum of CH4that is liberated from ventilation wells and shafts and degasification systems, less the quantity of CH4 that is collected and destroyed. • For ventilation wells and shafts, liberated CH4 is determined by quarterly or more frequent sampling, or continuous monitoring of flow rate and CH4 concentration. • For degasification systems, liberated CH4 is determined by weekly or more frequent sampling, or continuous monitoring of flow rate and CH4 concentration. • CH4 destroyed is determined by continuous monitoring of flow rate and CH4 concentration of gas collected for destruction and by applying a destruction efficiency. C02 emissions from CH4 destruction are estimated by applying a factor to the estimate of CH4 destroyed. When Does Reporting Begin? Facilities subject to subpart FF must begin monitoring GHG emissions on January 1, 2011 in accordance with the methods specified in subpart FF. For 2012 only, the GHG report must be submitted to EPA by September 28, 2012. This reporting deadline applies to all subparts being reported by the facility. If your subpart FF facility submitted a GHG annual report for reporting year 2010 under another subpart (e.g., subpart C for general stationary fuel combustion), then by April 2, 2012 you must notify EPA through e- GGRT that you are not required to submit the second annual report until September 28, 2012 (the notification deadline according to 4 CFR 98.3(b) is March 31, 2012, however, because this date falls on a Saturday in 2012, the notification is due on the next business day). Starting in 2013 and each year thereafter, reports must be submitted to EPA by March 31 of each year, unless the 31st is a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday, in which case the reports are due on the next business day. 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, CH4 concentration, and any CH4 destruction for each ventilation system and degasification system. • Dates in the reporting period where active ventilation of mining operations is taking place, dates where degasification of mining operations is taking place, and dates when continuous monitoring equipment is not properly functioning. • Quarterly CH4 liberated and CH4 emitted (net) from each ventilation well or shaft, and from each degasification system. • Quarterly C02 emissions from onsite destruction of coal mine CH4, where the gas is not a fuel input for energy generation or use. EPA has temporarily deferred the requirement to report data elements in the above list that are used as inputs to emission equations (76 FR 53057, August 25, 2011). For the current status of reporting requirements, including the list of data elements that are considered to be inputs to emissions equations, consult the following link: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/CBI.html November 2011 2 40 CFR part 98, subpart FF ------- 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: GHGReporting@epa.gov. November 2011 3 40 CFR part 98, subpart FF ------- |