Welcome to the home page of EPA’s Coalbed Methane Outreach Program (CMOP). CMOP is a voluntary program whose goal is to reduce methane emissions from coal mining activities. Our mission is to promote the profitable recovery and use of coal mine methane (CMM), a greenhouse gas more than 20 times as potent as carbon dioxide. By working cooperatively with coal companies and related industries, CMOP helps to identify and implement methods to use CMM instead of emitting it to the atmosphere. In turn, these actions mitigate climate change, improve mine safety and productivity, and generate revenues and cost savings.

The following links provide more information on CMOP:

• Basic Information – Learn more about methane emissions from coal mining and how CMOP is working collaboratively with industry and other government organizations to reduce emissions.
• Accomplishments – Learn more about CMOP and the U.S. coal industry's successes in reducing methane emissions from coal mines.
• Experts – Find companies and individuals with specialized expertise related to coalbed methane and coal mine methane resource assessment and development.
• Documents Tools, and Resources – Find publications and technical tools that provide information on methane emissions from coal mines and will assist you in developing CMM recovery and use projects by describing available technological options for methane capture and use, evaluating market opportunities, and describing recent CMM developments in the U.S. and abroad.
• Workshops/Conferences – Learn more about upcoming events and activities.
• International Activities – Learn more about how CMOP works with organizations in many coal-producing countries to promote CMM development and use.
• Ventilation Air Methane (VAM) – Find information on the technical and economic opportunities for VAM project development.