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Global Climate Change Digest
A Guide to Information on Greenhouse Gases and Ozone Depletion
Published July 1988 through June 1999

FROM VOLUME 4, NUMBER 9, SEPTEMBER 1991

NEWS...
COALBED METHANE EXAMINED

Item #d91sep116

Methane (or natural gas) is commonly vented from coal mines because it can form explosive mixtures with air in the mines. Two recent reports, from the U.S. EPA and the Center for Clean Air Policy (a broad-based coalition of governors and representatives of industry and public interest groups), have concluded that this substantial source of greenhouse gas emissions can be profitably exploited as a fuel. Legislation encouraging coalbed methane recovery cleared the U.S. House Energy and Power subcommittee in July 1991. (See Reports/Of General Interest, this Global Climate Change Digest issue--Sep. 1991, and Environ. Rptr. Curr. Devel., pp. 600-601, July 12.)