§13336 Coalbed Methane Recovery

Summary

The Secretary, working with the EPA Administrator and the Secretary of the Interior, must study and report to Congress within two years after October 24, 1992, on barriers to recovering coalbed methane (technical, economic, financial, legal, regulatory, institutional, or other) and on the environmental and safety aspects of flaring coalbed methane released from coal mines. Starting one year after October 24, 1992, the Secretary must give the public information about modern coalbed methane recovery methods, including costs and benefits, and must create a demonstration and commercial program focused on gas enrichment and on: making medium-quality mine methane pipeline-ready; using mine ventilation air for nearby power generation (such as gas turbines or internal combustion engines or other coal-fired plants); cofiring mine methane with coal in boilers; and other suitable mine-methane technologies.