United States

Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Air and Radiation
6207-J

A publication of the Coalbed Methane Outreach Program (CMOP)

www.epa.gov/coaibed

Environmental Group Sues to Overturn West Elk
Decision Authorizing Mine Expansion

E PA-430-N-00-004
October 2008

COALBED	METHA

U.S. tPA

Coalbed Methane

An environmental group called on federal agencies to with-
draw a permit for a Western Colorado coal mine expan-
sion that they claim would waste 7 million cubic feet of
methane daily and contribute to global warming. Methane
- also known as natural gas - is over 20 times more po-
tent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmos-
phere, yet is also a valuable energy source.

Lawsuit Challenges Federal Agencies

In a lawsuit filed in federal court in Denver on October 7,
2008, WildEarth Guardians, represented by the public in-
terest law firm Earthjustice, challenges the U.S. Forest
Service and the Department of Interior for allegedly violat-
ing the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to con-
sider alternatives to methane venting and to account for

the impacts of methane venting on global warming of ex-
panded activities at the West Elk Coal Mine. The lawsuit
aims to overturn the November 8, 2007, decision authoriz-
ing the mine to expand coal production and vent methane
liberated from the mine's degasification system.

West Elk Mine

The West Elk Coal Mine, near Paonia in Gunnison County,
Colorado, is operated by Mountain Coal Company, a sub-
sidiary of Arch Coal, a multinational coal company based
in St. Louis. Last July, the Forest Service and Interior De-
partment permitted Arch Coal to expand the mine, drill 168
drainage wells to vent methane, and build nearly 23 miles

see WEST ELK, page 6

Methane to Markets Update

U.S. EPA funds 20 methane projects to support Methane to
Markets Partnership

Through the Methane to Markets Partnership (M2M), EPA is funding
20 new projects that will help 12 countries increase their capture and
use of methane from the landfill, coal, agriculture, and oil and natural
gas sectors. These projects will receive more than $4.5 million in M2M
grants from EPA.

In the coal sector, six projects were awarded, located in China, India,
Mongolia, and Poland. These projects are as follows:

•	The Jackson Hole Center for Global Affairs, a U.S.-based NGO, will
embark upon a project titled, "The Methane Connection: Coal
Mining Safety and Clean Power Production in China." This project
will promote the expansion of mine-mouth power-generating
capacity in Shanxi Province.

•	Virginia Tech University will conduct a project, "Development of
Guidelines and Technical Evaluation for Degassing Coal Mine
Methane in Advance of Mining to Reduce Methane Emissions in the
Southern Shanxi Province of China."

continued on page 2

In this issue...

1&6 Environmental Group Sues to
Overturn West Elk Decision

I-4	Methane to Markets Update

5	Coal Mine Methane Project
Cash Flow Model

6	Asia Pacific Partnership
meeting

7	China Symposium & Workshop
7 India CBM/CMM Clearinghouse
8-10 CBM/CMM News

II-12	Upcoming Events
12 New Publications

Access documents electronically from
the "Documents, Tools, and Re
sources" pages on our Web site at

www.epa.gov/coalbed

To subscribe to CBM Extra and CBM

Notes, please go to our website
www.epa.gov/coalbed/join/index.html

and register for our mailing list. You
will be added within two weeks.


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October 2008
Page 2

COALBED METHANE EXTRA

Methane to Markets Update

continued from page 1

•	The Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research,
based in India, will conduct a feasibility study for
recovery and utilization of coal mine methane in Jharia,
Bokaro, and Raniganj Coalfields in India.

•	The Mongolian Nature & Environmental Consortium will
conduct a pre-feasibility study on methane recovery and
utilization in Nalaikh Coal Mine in Mongolia.

•	The Poland-based Institute for Ecology of industrial
Areas (IETU) will undertake an abandoned mine
feasibility study and coal mine methane to liquefied
natural gas assessment at Zory Coal Mine in Poland.

•	The Central Mining Institute of Katowice (Poland) will
launch an investigation titled, "Detailed Characteristics
of the Ventilation Air Methane Emissions from Gassy
Underground Coal Mines in Poland."

For more information, please see the EPA press release:

http://vosemite.epa.aov/opa/adrnpress.nsf/

d0cf6618525a 9ef b85257359003ffaS3d/

f456b356ab414269852574dd0056a59e!OpenDocument

For a full listing of the FY2008 grant recipients, see:

http://www.epa.gov/methanetomarkets/qrants08.htm

from the private sector, the government of Mongolia
(Ministry of Fuel and Energy; Ministry of Nature and
Environment), the city government of Ulaanbaatar, the
World Bank, U.S. EPA, and U.S. consultants.

Presentations focused on the opportunities and benefits of
conducting a coal mine methane (CMM) recovery and use
project at Nalaikh coal mine; barriers to project
development; steps in project development; and legal and
policy issues related to coal mine methane project
development in Mongolia.

In 2005, Mongolia produced 7.5 million metric tonnes of
coal (nearly all from surface mines), ranking it 24th
globally. However, Mongolia has extensive coal reserves
(over 22 billion tonnes) that rank it ninth in the world.
Future coal production is expected to rise sharply with
demands for exports, especially from China.

Mongolia's coal mine methane emissions in 2005 were an
estimated 3.5 million cubic meters. There are currently no
degasification or recovery and utilization projects in place
in Mongolia.

For more information on Mongolia's coal mine methane
center, see its profile in the Methane to Markets Global
Overview:

http://www.methanetomarkets.ora/resources/coalmines/overview.htm

Pre-feasibility study in Mongolia kicks off
with workshop

The Mongolian Nature & Environment Consortium (MNEC)
held a successful workshop in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in
September 2008 as the inaugural activity under its
recently-awarded EPA grant (see above).

Under this grant, MNEC plans to conduct a pre-feasibility
study for recovery and utilization of methane at the Nalaikh
Coal Mine in Mongolia. Nalaikh was the country's only
underground mine that officially closed in 1990 after a fatai
mine accident caused by a methane explosion. The
Nalaikh mine is slated to be re-opened as an underground
mine.

As part of its efforts under the grant project, MNEC will
explore the opportunities fordegasifying the mine and
recovering and using the methane gas, and will prepare a
pre-feasibility study.

The workshop focused on the opportunities and
challenges associated with methane recovery from coal
mines in Mongolia. Participants included representatives

Dr. M. Badarch, Genera! Director of the Mongolia Nature and
Environment Consortium, visits the site of the Nalaikh Coal Mine
near Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Photo courtesy Ray Pilcher.

continued on page 3


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October 2008
Page 3

COALBED METHANE EXTRA

Methane to Markets Update

continued from page 2

U.S. EPA Announces Feasibility Studies at
Chinese Coal Mines

U.S. EPA's Coalbed Methane Outreach Program (CMOP)
is helping Chinese coai mines find ways to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions by conducting three fuii-scale
feasibility studies at the Liuzhuang mine in Anhui Province,
a group of six mines in the Songzao coal basin in
Chongqing, and a group of six mines in the Hebi region of
Henan Province. The studies will assess the technical and
economic viability of implementing methane recovery and
utilization projects. The results will be summarized along
with project implementation recommendations in three
comprehensive final reports.

promoting the cost-effective, near-term recovery and use of
methane, while providing clean energy to markets around
the world. Two of three sites understudy were featured as
project opportunities at the 2007 Partnership Expo in

Beijing. China.

China is the world's leading emitter of coal mine methane.
EPA's assistance is part of the U.S. commitment to help
develop up to 15 coal mine methane (CMM) projects under
the second U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue
(SED). The feasibility study for the Hebi mines is also
considered a flagship project of the Coal Mining Task Force
under the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development
and Climate.

A feasibility study is a critical step in the process of
developing a coal mine methane recovery and use project.
The analyses provided by CMOP technical contractors
Advanced Resources International (ARI) and Raven Ridge
Resources (RRR) will allow these sites to explore ways to
capture and use their methane to benefit their local
communities and the environment.

For more information, see EPA's press release:

http://vosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/

dcS7b08b5acd42bc852573c90044aQc4/877Sf30a3b0eahS9652574c8005
26ce2!OpenDocument

Or http://www.epa.goV/cmop/newsroom/releases.html#eight

Methane escaping from Shihao Mine (Chongqing)

Photo courtesy Ray Pilcher

All three studies support the goals of the Methane to
Markets Partnership, a public/private partnership launched
in 2004 that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by

EPA joins forces with World Coal Institute
and United Nations Economic Commission
for Europe (UNECE) to develop best practices
for methane degasification at coal mines

At the meeting of the Ad Hoc Group of Experts on Coal
Mine Methane in October 2008 in Geneva, Switzerland,
EPA, the World Coal Institute, and the UNECE announced
the launching of a new initiative under the Methane to
Markets Partnership. This joint effort aims to promote mine
safety through more effective degasification and methane
recovery and utilization. Through this project, a group of
technical experts will develop a best practices guidance
document related to mine methane degasification and
methane recovery strategies. The document will be
principles-based and will be peer reviewed before it is
publicly launched, planned for 2010.

What do you want to know about?

If you have suggestions or requests for future CBM Extra content, please drop us a line.

Franklin=Pamela@epa.gov or Somers.Jayne@epa.gov


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PageT2008



Methane to Markets

Technical Workshops, Site Tours
and Business Meetings

Hosted by: Mexico's Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y
Recursos Naturales (SEMARNAT), and the
State Government of Nuevo Leon

27-29 January 2009
Monterrey
Mexico

Join us for this exciting event!

Sponsorship Opportunities

27	January

•	Tours of Active Projects in All Four Sectors
(Agriculture, Landfill, Coal, and Oil & Gas)

•	Day One of Steering Committee Meeting

28	January

•	Technical Workshops Targeting All Sectors

•	Day Two of Steering Committee Meeting

29	January

•	Technical Subcommittee Meetings
For All Sectors

The event will take place at the Centra
Internacional de Negocios Monterrey
(CINTERMEX).

Monterrey, Mexico's third-largest city and
home to several of Mexico's top businesses,
has abundant culture and nightlife, and
countless attractions for out-of-town visitors.

This event provides an excellent opportunity to
increase your exposure to some of the world's
most influential international methane policy
makers.

Sponsorships are available for USD$500.00
each. All sponsorship monies received will be
used to help offset the cost of refreshments for
these events, which cannot be paid using
government funds.

Sponsors benefits include:

•	FREE 3m x 3m exhibit booth space

•	Increased attendee exposure

•	Listing in the conference materials

Contact:

Methane to Markets Administrative Support
Group at asg@methanetomarkets.org.

For more information, log on to:
www.methanetomarkets.org/events/2009/all/all-27jan09.htm


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October 2008
Page 5

COALBED METHANE EXTRA

Exciting New Tool Available to CMOP Community!

CMOP is proud to announce the launch of a Coal Mine
Methane Project Cash Flow Model. The web-based tool
allows coal mine operators and owners, project develop-
ers, equipment vendors, and other interested parties to
evaluate the financial viability of recovering and utilizing
CMM at a specific U.S. site in one of six ways:

•	The Coal Drying Scenario is based on retrofitting of an
existing coal dryer at an on-site coal preparation plant
to burn methane drained from the mine instead of, or
in addition, to burning coal.

•	The Open-Flare and Closed-Flare Scenarios are
based on installation of one or more flares to destroy
drained methane.

•	The Mine Boilers Scenario is based on replacement of
coal with drained methane as fuel in on-site boilers
that provide space and/or water heating for mine
facilities.

•	The On-Site Electricity Generation Scenario is based
on use of drained methane to fire internal combustion
engines that drive generators to make electricity for
sale to the local power grid.

•	The Pipeline Gas Scenario is based on drained meth-
ane that is stripped of contaminants, compressed, and
injected into a nearby natural gas common carrier
pipeline.

The CMM Project Cash Flow Model allows a user to
analyze the costs and benefits of developing any of the
above six projects. As many variables as possible have
been included in the model as default values that can be
overridden. Some variables are case-specific and must be
entered by the user.

Examples of benefits considered include:

•	Energy sold to grid or pipeline

•	Avoided coal handling and use

•	Carbon Emission Reduction (CER) credits

Examples of costs considered include:

•	Gas gathering and delivery system, including
compression

•	End-use equipment capital cost

•	End-use equipment operating and management
(O&M) cost

•	Interest, inflation, and discount rates

•	Royalty, severance tax, and negotiation fees

•	Optional - part or all of the estimated drainage well
and blower development costs

After making calculations based on the user inputs and
preferences, the CMM Project Cash Flow Model displays
its results on an attractive Preliminary Report that can be
saved or printed for further reference. The report displays
include:

Cash flow bar graph
Capital and operating costs
Size of the project

Sellable Carbon Emission Reduction (CER) credits
Net Present Value (NPV) and Internal Rate of Return
(IRR)

To try the CMM Project Cash Flow Model, visit the
CMOP website. A detailed User's Guide accompanies the
model to provide step-by-step instructions and to explain
all assumptions. Assistance with operating and navigating
the model is available for free!

Contact us today with your questions, feedback, or sug-
gestions for future enhancements.

URL: http://www.epa.gov/cmop/resources/index.html
email: Somers.Javne@epa.gov
phone: (202) 343-9896

Coal Mine Methane Project Cash Flow Model

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-------
October 2008
Page 6

COALBED METHANE EXTRA

Coalbed Methane!

West Elk from page 1

of new roads on the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and
Gunnison national forests.

Earlier this year, the Forest Service cited numerous legal
and jurisdictional issues that make it difficult for the
agency to ensure the methane is captured. Forest Ser-
vice and Bureau of Land Management officials have cited
safety and logistical concerns raised by having one com-
pany drilling gas wells on the surface, while the mining
company is working underground (Rocky Mountain
News, January 21, 2008).

"No Serious Review"

WildEarth Guardians acknowledges that methane needs
to be vented from a coal seam to protect miners from ex-
plosions. But in a statement, the group said alternatives
to capture the gas for use or, as a last resort, flaring
"were not seriously reviewed by the agencies," even
though some coal mines in the U.S. and the world safely
capture and flare it. According to the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, West Elk Mine was the third largest
emitter of methane from an underground U.S. coal mine
in 2006.

See the Spring 2008 and Summer 2008 editions of the
CBM Extra for background on expansion and degasifica-
tion plans at the West Elk Mine, available at

http://www.epa.aov/cmop/docs/summer 2008.pdf and http://
www.epa.Qov/cmop/docs/spring 2008.pdf

To read the lawsuit visit:

http://www.wildearthauardians.ora/Portals/0/downloads/lawsuit west-
elk-coal-mine 10 08.pdf

CMOP Contacts

Address inquiries about the Coalbed Methane Extra or about
the USEPA Coalbed Methane Outreach Program to:

Pamela Franklin

Phone: 202-343-9476
E-mail: franklin.pamela@epa.gov

Jayne Somers

Phone: 202-343-9896
E-mail: somers.jayne@epa gov

Our mailing address is:

US Environmental Protection Agency
Coalbed Methane Outreach Program, 6207J
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20460

Asia Pacific Partnership Coal Mining
Task Force Meeting

CMOP staff represented EPA as part of the U.S. delegation
to the Asia Pacific Partnership (APP) Coal Mining Task
Force (CMTF) meeting, held September 20-21, 2008 in Las
Vegas, Nevada.

The meeting was well-attended by six of the seven partner
countries (India, China, Japan, Australia, the United States
and new APP member Canada). At the meeting, India in-
troduced two new APP projects, including a proposal for
coal mine ventilation air methane activities.

The APP CMTF meeting was held in Las Vegas in order to
give the delegations an opportunity to attend MINExpo
2008, which had a large number of exhibitors as well as
technical sessions on mining and U.S. coal mine methane
projects.

Coal India Ltd., the world's largest coal company, held a
special reception at MINExpo to provide information on
their ambitious underground coal mine expansion plans.
For more information on the APP meeting, go to:

http://www.asiapacificpartnership.org/mininq expo htm

Delegates to the Asia Pacific Partnership Coal Mining Task
Force meeting visit the MinExpo exhibit in Las Vegas,
Nevada, in September 2008


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October 2008
Page 7

COALBED METHANE EXTRA

Announcement and Call for Papers:

The 8th International Symposium on CBM/CMM
and Carbon Trading in China
&

International Workshop on Mine Methane
Emission Reduction in China

December 4 & 5, 2008
Kunlun Hotel in Beijing, China

Event hosted by The China Coal Information Institute (CCII)

Topics to be addressed include technologies for meth-
ane degasification and utilization, including ventilation air
methane. The symposium is cosponsored by the China
State Administration of Coal Mine Safety and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.

The one-day International Workshop on Mine
Methane Emission Reduction in China on December
5 will be organized around a series of invited presenta-
tions on issues affecting CMM project development in
China, including study results from three major research
projects funded by the Australia-China Bilateral Climate
Change Partnership. The workshop is being organized
by CCII and Australia's CSIRO.

Registration for the Symposium is $400; there is not a
separate fee for the workshop.

For a full range of paper topics requested for submission
to the Symposium, and for a registration form and to
request a visa letter of invitation, please contact:

Ms. Liu Xin, Mr. Zhao Guoquan, Mr. Li Hongjun, Ms.
Huang Lan

China Coal Information Institute

Tel: 0086-10-8465-7948, 8465-7850

Fax: 0086-10-8465-7948, 8465-7806

Email: cbmc@coalinfo.net.cn or cbmc@public.bta.net.cn

For more information about the workshop, please
contact:

Mr. Rhys Worrall
CSIRO Exploration and Mining
Tel: +61 7 3327 4176
Fax: +61 7 3327 4455
Email: rhvs.worrall@csiro.au

All papers should be submitted to the organizing com-
mittee via email or mail by October 30, 2008.

India Coal Mine/Coalbed Methane (CMM/CBM)
Clearinghouse Kick-Off Event

November 17-18, 2008

Indian Institute of Coal Management, Ranchi

Event hosted by Central Mine Planning & Design Institute

What is this event?

India ranks sixth globally in CMM/CBM emissions, pre-
senting an enormous opportunity for CMM/CBM recov-
ery and utilization.

This event will launch the CMM/CBM Clearinghouse in
India, the first official establishment of its kind in the
country. The Clearinghouse will help develop and pro-
mote this market, providing information on technical,
economic, financial, and policy issues to potential in-
vestors and service providers.

The event will be attended by the CMM/CBM industry,
financing organizations and business investors from
the U.S. and India.

Why should you participate?

•	Hear from high-level decision-makers from the
Ministry of Coal and Ministry of Petroleum and
Natural Gas, Government of India.

•	Learn about financing opportunities, expertise and
the latest CMM/CBM technologies available to help
with developing the CMM/CBM market in India.

•	Learn about emerging CMM/CBM markets, their
challenges and success in other countries.

•	Network and explore business prospects with
service and technology providers from the CMM/
CBM industry in the U.S. and India.

For more information or to register, go to:
www.lndiaCBM-CMM.qovtools.us
or email: CMMIndia@bcs-hq.com

Sponsored by:

U.S. Trade and Development Agency
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
India Ministry of Coal
Coal India Ltd.

If you don't receive our weekly email updates, CBM Notes, go to
www.epa.gov/coalbed/join/index.html to sign-up now!


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October 2008
Page 8

COALBED METHANE EXTRA

CBM/CMM News

Guizhou CMM Recovery and Utiliza-
tion Initiative Publishes Autumn
Newsletter

Please find below the link for the Au-
tumn Issue 2008 of the "The Insider",
the newsletter created by the Guizhou
CMM Recovery and Utilization Initia-
tive, an organization created to sup-
port the use of coal mine methane gas
as a clean energy resource. This work
is part of a project funded by the EPA
under a Methane to Markets Partner-
ship grant. This issue includes several
features:

•	Feature Article: Guizhou CMM
Workshop Expands Spectrum for
Localized CMM Development.

This article contains summaries
and main points of presentations
at the workshop.

•	Initiative Presents at CDM Asia
2008.

•	CCII Symposium and Workshop
Announcement.

•	Registration of Three CMM Utiliza-
tion Projects.

http://www.gzcmm.org/Newsletter/

Fall 2008 Chinese.pdf

http://www.gzcmm.org/Newsletter/

Fall 2008 English.pdf

New Abandoned Mine Methane
Project at Cambria 33 Announced

Econergy International announced a
new coal mine methane capture pro-
ject at the Cambria 33 abandoned
mine in Pennsylvania, commissioned
with Vessels Coal Gas, Inc (VCG) in
May. Operated by VCG, the project is
now delivering natural gas into the
Dominion Peoples local distribution

pipeline and will sell an estimated 300
million cubic feet of natural gas annu-
ally over the project's 12 year life. The
project will generate revenue from the
sale of natural gas and from carbon
credits issued as verified emissions
reductions (VERs).

At the time of the project announce-
ment, Cambria 33 was a 50-50 joint
venture between Econergy and VCG,
with a total investment value of ap-
proximately $6.5 million. Econergy
has since been acquired by Suez En-
ergy South America Participaes Ltda.
(SESA).

MSHA records indicate that there has
been no coal production at Cambria
No. 33 since 1995. The Coalbed
Methane Outreach Program (CMOP)
listed this mine in its 2004 Abandoned
Coal Mine Database.

fhttp://www.epa.gov/cmop/docs/
amm final report.pdfl.

Econergy Press Release, May 20,
2008,

www.econergy.com/docs/CambriaFINAL.pdf

Large CMM Power Project Planned
for Ukraine

According to Business Wire, the JSC
Coal Company Krasnoarmeiskaya
Zapadnaya is the latest Ukrainian
company to modernize its coal mining
operations by signing a framework
agreement with GE Energy.

Under the agreement, JSC plans to
install up to 20 of GE's Jenbacher coal
mine gas-fueled cogeneration units.
The engines will use the active mine's
own methane gas to generate about
129 MW in total power output, cover-
ing the mine's on-site power and heat
requirements. The initiative will also
reduce site emissions and support
workplace safety initiatives. The pri-
vately owned mine is located near the
town of Krasnoarmeisk, in the coal-rich

Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine.

One of Europe's leading coal-
producing countries, Ukraine is a
founding member of the Methane to
Markets Partnership. When the Kras-
noarmeiskaya Zapadnaya project
reaches full operation, it is expected to
potentially reduce the equivalent of
more than two million tons C02
equivalent (MMTC02e) emissions per
year, compared to venting the gas into
the atmosphere - qualifying the plant
for carbon emission trading certifi-
cates.

"Generating nearly 129 MWof power
with mine gas could save about 122
million cubic meters of natural gas a
year," Alex Pavlov, GE's Jenbacher
gas engine Sales Manager for the
Ukraine, noted.

For the complete press release, go to

http://www.genewscenter.com/Content/
Detail.asp?ReleaselD=4074&NewsArealD=-
2&MenuSearchCategorvlD=

or visit GE's web site at

http://www.ge.com.

Jim Walter Resources Adds
Second Longwall at Mine No. 7

Walter Industries, a leading producer
and exporter of U.S. metallurgical coal,
announced the successful start up of
the second longwall at its Mine No. 7.
This addition is expected to add
approximately one million incremental
coal tons of production output in 2008.
Combined with recent acquisitions,
Walter Industries expects to have
approximately 11 million tons of total
coal production capacity in 2010.

According to USEPA, Jim Walter
Resources operates three of the gassi-
est underground coal mines in the
U.S. Located in Tuscaloosa County,
Alabama, JWR's Blue Creek Nos. 4, 5,

continued on page 9


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October 2008
Page 9

COALBED METHANE EXTRA

CBM/CMM News

continued from page 8

and 7 were the 11th, 29th, and 4th, gas-
siest underground coal mines in 2006.
JWR has been a leader in the devel-
opment of coal mine methane recov-
ery projects in the United States. The
company's Blue Creek mines recov-
ered and sold approximately 46.5 mil-
lion cubic feet of gas per day in 2006.

Walter Industries Press Release, Sep-
tember 8

2008, http://investorrelations.walterind.com/
phoenix.zhtml?c=71978&p=irol-
newsArticle&ID=1194637&hiahliaht=

Significant Potential for CBM in
Southern Africa

Several significant coalbed methane
(CBM) resources have been identified
in southern Africa, as reported by Min-
ing Weekly. South Africa's Waterberg
area could contain up to one-trillion
cubic feet (tcf) of CBM, which could
provide for 5% of South Africa's liquid
fuel needs for the next 15 years.

Another promising CBM deposit is lo-
cated in the central Kgalagadi of Bot-
swana, where the government has
claimed 62 tcf of proven resources,
with an additional 90 tcf of possible
CBM resources discovered. However,
private industry sources estimate that
only 3 to 4 tcf of the Botswana re-
source is probable. Zimbabwe also
has a probable CBM resource esti-
mated between 1 to 2 tcf. Some infra-
structure development is already being
planned.

The southern African region is ex-
pected to need an additional 2-
gigawatts of (GW) electricity genera-
tion capacity every year through 2030.
A 250 MW peaking power plant - to be
fired by CBM - is slated for construc-

tion in the first quarter of 2009, located
near the village of Mmashoro, in cen-
tral Botswana.

Mining Weekly, September 9, 2008,

http://www.mininaweeklv.com/article.php?
a id=142733

Engineering News, August 15, 2008,

http://www.enaineerinanews.co.za/article.php?
a id=140026

lllawarra Coal's WestVAMP Project
is a Winner

lllawarra Coal's WestVAMP
(ventilation air methane project) power
plant in Appin, Australia, won an envi-
ronmental award at the BHP Health,
Safety, Environment and Community
Awards. The awards recognize BHP
Billiton employees who embody the
company's values and go beyond what
is required in their job to care for the
health and safety of fellow employees,
the environment, and the community.

WestVAMP was one of eight projects
nominated in the environment cate-
gory. This project uses the extremely
dilute methane in the ventilation air
from West Cliff mine to generate 6 MW
of electricity.

Wollondilly Advertiser, September 30,
2008,

http://wollondillv.vourauide.com.au/news/local/
news/general/clean-coal-operator-is-a-
winner/1320450.aspx#

MEGTEC, Equity Firm Buy
Company from Owner

MEGTEC Systems managers and a
private equity firm have bought the
company from Sequa Corp. Hamilton
Robinson LLC of Stamford, Connecti-
cut, joined with management and co-
investors to buy the company, which
provides printing, web coating, pack-
aging, wood products and other proc-
ess and energy market services.

The company, which reported $250
million in revenue in 2007, will be a

stand-alone company with no major
change in management structure or
day-to-day operations.

In May 2008, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency presented a
Climate Protection Award to MEGTEC
in recognition of its technology that
enables coal mine ventilation air meth-
ane to be used as a primary energy-
producing source and its efforts to pro-
mote recovery and mitigation of venti-
lation air methane.

MEGTEC helped develop the world's
first power plant that generates elec-
tricity using coal mine ventilation-air
methane as primary fuel at the West
Cliff Colliery mine in Appin, New South
Wales, Australia.

MEGTEC Systems Press Release,
September 24, 2008

http://www.meatec.com/documents/News%
20release Seaua%20sells%20MEGTEC%
20Svstems%20to%20Hamilton%20Robinson%
20Capital%20Partners ENGLISH.pdf

ConocoPhillips and Origin Agree on
Coalbed Methane Venture

According to the Financial Times,
ConocoPhillips plans to invest up to
A$9.6 billion (US$7.8 bn) to jointly de-
velop coal seam methane gas assets
with Origin Energy, the Australian en-
ergy group. ConocoPhillips and Origin
plan to convert the gas extracted from
coal bed methane into LNG before it is
exported from the Australian state of
Queensland to Asia.

Financial Times, September 9, 2008

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/66d740f8-7e08-11 dd-
bdbd-000077b07658.html?nclick check=1

CNX Gas Named 2008 Platts Global
Energy Awards Finalist:
Hydrocarbon Producer of the Year

CNX Gas has been named a finalist
for the 2008 Platts Global Energy

continued on page 10


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October 2008
Page 10

K\.

COALBED METHANE EXTRA

Coalbed Methane!

CBM/CMM News

continued from page 9

Awards in the category "Hydrocarbon
Producer of the Year." 2008 marks the
10th anniversary of the Platts Global
Energy Awards which annually recog-
nize outstanding achievement and
vision in the global energy industry.

The company and individual winners
will be announced and honored at an
event to be held on December 3, 2008
in New York City. According to
USEPA, CNX Gas Corporation recov-
ers methane from two of the gassiest
mines in the southwestern region of
Virginia: Buchanan and VP 8.

Additionally, in early 2007, CNX Gas -
in partnership with CONSOL Energy
and Ingersoll Rand Energy Systems -
successfully demonstrated electricity
generation by a microturbine fueled by
unprocessed CMM at Bailey mine in
Pennsylvania.

For further information, see the Spring
2007 edition of the Coalbed Methane
Extra at:

http://www.epa.gov/cmop/docs/spring 20Q7.pdf

CNX Gas Corporation Press Release,
October 2, 2008,

http ://www. marketwatch ,co m/ne ws/sto rv/cnx-
aas-named-2008-Diatts/storv.aspx?auid=%
7B95ACA2B5-29F3-4F3E-9895-
0F023E6199EE%7D&dist=hppr

21 World Mining Congress & Expo

The 21st World Mining Congress &
Expo was held September 7-12, 2008
in Crakow and Sosnowiec, Poland.
The Congress was well-attended by
approximately 900 participants from
around the world and included techni-
cal sessions at Jagiellonian University
and a large exposition at Expo Silesia.

Poland has a long mining tradition and
was the organizer of the first Congress
50 years ago in Warsaw. The World
Mining Congress takes place every 2-
3 years and the next Congress will be
held in Istanbul, Turkey during 2011.

For more information on the 21st Con-
gress, go to:

http://www.wmc-expo2008.ora/en/home

Participants at the 21st World Mining
Congress & Expo, Poland

As part of the Congress technical pro-
gram, CMOP staff chaired a session
titled "Underground Mine Environment:
Methane Treatment" and gave a pres-
entation on Methane to Markets activi-
ties. In addition, CMOP met with the
AGH University of Science and Tech-
nology, the Institute for Ecology of
Industrial Areas (IETU) and Central
Mining Institute.

CMOP Exhibits at MINExpo 2008

CMOP participated in MINExpo
INTERNATIONAL® 2008, held Sept
22-24 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The
event, sponsored by the National Min-
ing Association (NMA), is one of the
largest of its' kind in the world.

MINExpo hosted more than 1,200
exhibitors and 35,000 attendees, dis-
playing the latest technology, equip-
ment, parts and services used in the
mining of coal, metallic ores, and other
minerals. Technical presentations on
coal mine methane were given by Jim
Walter Resources, CONSOL Energy,
and the Verdeo Group.

The presentations can be obtained
from the website:

http://www..minexpo com/sessions.shtm

CMOP displayed Methane to Market
materials, U.S. CMM project opportu-
nities, and answered questions from a
diverse array of attendees including
miners, equipment providers, govern-
ment participants from the US and
abroad, and those involved in the car-
bon market.

Countless contacts were made and a
vast, unique audience was reached,
providing an excellent outreach oppor-
tunity. MINExpo is held every four
years and will take place again in
2012.

Additional information about MINExpo
2008 (including videos) can be found

at www.minexpo.com


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October 2008
Page 11

COALBED METHANE EXTRA

Cpalhed Methane

Upcoming CBM/CMM Events

China Coal Expo 2008

2008 Unconventional Gas and Coal Bed

4-7 November 2008

Methane Conference

National Agriculture Exhibition Center

20-21 November 2008

Beijing, China

JW Marriot Denver at Cherry Creek

Phone: +852 2881 5889

Denver, Colorado

Fax: +852 2890 2657

Contact: Miles Markovic

Email: info@together-expo.com

Phone: 416-777-2020 ext. 6261

Website: www.chinacoalexpo.com/





The 8th International Symposium on CBM/CMM

9th International Mine Ventilation Congress

and Carbon Trading in China

10-13 November 2009

4 December 2008

Hotel Crowne Plaza

Kunlun Hotel

New Delhi, India

Beijing, China

Contact: Prof. D.C. Panigrahi

Contacts: Ms. Liu Xin, Mr. Zhao Guoquan, Mr. Li Hongjun, Ms.

Phone: +91-326-2235235/2296628

Huang Lan

Email: dc Daniarahi(®vahoo.co.in or info(3>9thimvc.ora

China Coal Information Institute

Website: www.9thimvc.ora

Phone: 0086-10-84657948, 84657850



Email: cbmc@coalinfo.net.cn orcbmc@public.bta.net.cn



Website: www.coalinfo.net.cn/coalbed/

9th International Conference on Greenhouse

meetina/20080902/20080902e. htm

Gas Control Technologies



16-20 November 2008

(See announcement on page 7.)

The Omni Shoreham Hotel

In conjunction with:

Washington, DC

International Workshop on Mine Methane

Phone: 617-258-0307

Emission Reduction in China

Fax: 617-253-8013

5 December 2008

Email: ghgt9@mit.edu

Kunlun Hotel

Website: mit.edu/ghgt9

Beijing, China



Contact information: see above

India CMM/CBM Clearinghouse Kick-off Event



Sponsored by USTDA, USEPA, and the India Ministry of Coal

2nd Annual China Coal Summit 2008

17-18 November 2008

11-12 December 2008

Indian Institute of Coal Management, Ranchi, India

Beijing China

Website: www.lndiaCBM-CMM.aovtools.us

Website: httD://www.coalsummit.com/

Coal Tech Asia 2008

Methane to Markets Steering Committee,

18-20 November 2008

Subcommittee meeting, and technical work-

New Otani Chang Fu Gong Hotel

shops

Beijing, China

26 - 30 January 2009

Website: www.coaltechasia.com

Guadalajara, Mexico



Website: www.methanetomarkets.org

10th Annual Unconventional Gas Conference



19-21 November 2008



Telus Convention Centre



Calgary, Alberta



Website: www.csug.ca/dl/RegistrationBrochure2008.pdf

continued on page 12


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October 2008
Page 12

COALBED METHANE EXTRA

Cpalhed Methane

Upcoming CBM/CMM Events

continued from page 11

Ventilation and Heat Management in
Underground Mines

Professional Development Course Presented by Dr. Roy
Moreby

9-13	February 2009
Laurentian University
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Email: info@mirarco.org

Website: www.mirarco.orq/courses/2008/
Feb9thMineVentPoster%20latest2.pdf

Asia CBM Forum 2009

23 - 26 February 2009

Jakarta, Indonesia

Contact: Rex Ian Sayson

Phone: +65 6506 0984

Email: rex@.alleventsqroup.com

Website: http://www.alleventsaroup.com/cbm/

2nd CBM/CMM Conference

10-11	March 2009
Hotel Mulia
Jakarta, Indonesia
Contact: Li Ming
Phone: 603-2162-7322
Email: limina@cmtsp.com.sa

Power, Mineral Resources, and Sustainable
Development

Organized by Academy of Mining Sciences of Russia and

UNESCO

May 13- 14, 2009

UNESCO

7 Place Fontenoy, Hall IV
Paris, France

Contact: Mrs. Liudmila Silina
Email: liudmila.silina@mail.ru

Fifth International Symposium on Non-C02
Greenhouse Gases (NCGG-5)

30 June - 3 July, 2009
Wageningen, The Netherlands
Website: www.ncqq5.org

New Publications

New and Updated EPA Publications

Updated:

Identifying Opportunities for Methane Recovery at US
Coal Mines: Profiles of Selected Gassy Underground
Coal Mines, 2002 - 2006

http://www.epa.qov/cmop/docs/profiles 2008 final.pdf

New:

Abandoned Coal Mine Methane Opportunities
Database

http://www.epa.gov/cmop/docs/amm opportunities database.pdf

Updated Methane to Markets Publications

Coal Mine Methane Global Overview (Methane to
Markets Partnership):

http://www.methanetomarkets.org/resources/coalmines/
overview.htm

www.epa.gov/coalbed
www.methanetomarkets.org


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