Version 1.1

Version 1.1 of the U.S. Coal Mine Methane (CMM) Protocol was released on October 26, 2012. The protocol was revised to make technical changes and incorporate feedback received since the protocol’s adoption in 2009. This includes updates to quantification, project monitoring and instrument QA/QC requirements. See the summary of changes document below for a complete list of revisions made to the protocol.

• U.S. Coal Mine Methane Protocol Summary of Changes from Version 1.0 to Version 1.1

The revision was originally expected to be a policy revision (to Version 2.0) to expand the scope of the regulatory compliance requirements. However, based on the Environmental and Social Safeguards Policy adopted by the Reserve’s Board on September 26, 2012, the Reserve did not expand the scope of regulatory compliance under the U.S. Coal Mine Methane Protocol. Instead, the Reserve issued Version 1.1 of the protocol to incorporate the other proposed changes contained in the protocol that was available for public comment.

Public Comments

• Staff Response to Public Comments on draft U.S. CMM Protocol Version 2.0

Public Comment Webinar

The Reserve hosted a webinar open to all interested stakeholders to discuss the proposed changes to the protocol on March 13, 2012. The Reserve used feedback from the webinar along with written comments received during the public comment period to inform decisions about the proposed changes. See the presentation slides and video below.

Reserve Presentation
Meeting Video

Draft Version 2.0 – Pipeline Project Eligibility

Between May 2009 and August 2011, Reserve staff worked with the multi-stakeholder workgroup to develop a performance standard that would define eligibility for CMM drainage projects that send gas to pipeline (“pipeline projects”). This project type was excluded from Version 1.0 because data analyzed at that time did not support establishing a performance standard for such projects. Additional data analyses did not provide a clear path forward for inclusion of pipeline projects, and work on this element of the protocol was suspended until more data become available. Thus, no U.S. CMM Protocol Version 2.0 was issued. See memo and additional resources below for more detail.

• Update on Incorporating Pipeline Projects into the U.S. Coal Mine Methane Protocol (August 2011)

Resources

• Summary of CMM Gas Quality Analysis (October 20, 2009)
• Well Level Analysis Summary Memo (October 14, 2010)

Version 1.0

• U.S. Coal Mine Methane Protocol Version 1.0 (October 7, 2009)
• Errata and Clarifications to U.S. Coal Mine Methane Protocol Version 1.0 (October 22, 2013)

• U.S. Coal Mine Methane Protocol Summary Version 1.0

The Reserve began developing the U.S. Coal Mine Methane Protocol in February 2009. The technical workgroup met from May through September, during which time drafts of the protocol were made available for workgroup and public review and comment. A public workshop was held in August 2009 to discuss the draft protocol and encourage further public feedback. Staff made final revisions to the protocol in September 2009 and it was approved by the Reserve Board on October 7, 2009.

Public Comments

Staff Response to Public Comments, Version 1.0 (September 2009)

Public Workshop

The Reserve hosted a public workshop on August 25, 2009 in Philadelphia, PA, to provide a venue for public feedback on the draft U.S. Coal Mine Methane Protocol. The agenda and presentation from the workshop are available below.

U.S. Coal Mine Methane Protocol Public Workshop – Agenda
U.S. Coal Mine Methane Protocol Public Workshop – Slides

Workgroup Participants

The Climate Action Reserve worked closely with a multi-stakeholder workgroup throughout the protocol development process. The workgroup included industry representatives, federal agency personnel, NGOs, verifiers and expert consultants. This group of stakeholders reviewed and commented on early versions of the protocol, and helped ensure that the Reserve produced a high quality GHG reduction protocol for coal mine methane reduction activities.

Resources

• Development of a Common Practice Standard for a U.S. Coal Mine Methane Protocol (May 21, 2009)
• Scoping Meeting Agenda
• Scoping Meeting Presentation

Please contact the Reserve with questions or comments.