Coal Mining Methane Emissions

The EPA's U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report provides an extensive analysis of human-instigated sources of GHGs in the United States, beginning with the year 1990. The report addresses the increasing and decreasing GHG levels that arise from the nature of an energy-consuming industrial society, as well as society's desire to offset the past, current, and future damages incurred from GHGs. Although carbon dioxide attracts considerable attention as a gas that negatively affects our planet, methane and several other GHGs pose a significant threat to our environment, as well. Methane "is more than 20 times as effective as CO2 at trapping heat in the atmosphere," as discussed in the report. A common source of energy, coal mining accounts for a substantial portion of our yearly methane emissions. The following animated map illustrates the total coal mining methane emissions (in million cubic feet or MMcf), due the combination of underground, surface mines, and post-mining activities, by state and year. Please see this site to view the full report.