---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 13336"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "13336"
heading: "Coalbed methane recovery"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/13336"
units:
  - "Chapter 134 — Energy Policy"
  - "Subchapter VI — Coal"
  - "Part A — Research, Development, Demonstration, and Commercial Application"
---

# §13336. Coalbed methane recovery

- (a) **Study of barriers and environmental and safety aspects—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2), in consultation with the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) of the Environmental Protection [Agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) and the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of the Interior, shall conduct a study of—
  - (1) technical, economic, financial, legal, regulatory, institutional, or other barriers to coalbed methane recovery, and of policy options for eliminating such barriers; and
  - (2) the environmental and safety aspects of flaring coalbed methane liberated from coal mines.

  Within two years after October 24, 1992, the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall submit a report to the Congress detailing the results of such study.

- (b) **Information dissemination—** Beginning one year after October 24, 1992, the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2), in consultation with the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) of the Environmental Protection [Agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) and the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of the Interior, shall disseminate to the public information on [state](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14)-of-the-art coalbed methane recovery techniques, including information on costs and benefits.
- (c) **Demonstration and commercial application program—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2), in consultation with the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) of the Environmental Protection [Agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) and the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of the Interior, shall establish a coalbed methane recovery demonstration and commercial application program, which shall emphasize gas enrichment technology. Such program shall address—
  - (1) gas enrichment technologies for enriching medium-quality methane recovered from coal mines to pipeline quality;
  - (2) technologies to use mine ventilation air in nearby power generation facilities, including gas turbines, internal combustion engines, or other coal fired powerplants;
  - (3) technologies for cofiring methane recovered from mines, including methane from ventilation systems and degasification systems, together with coal in conventional or clean coal technology boilers; and
  - (4) other technologies for producing and using methane from coal mines that the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) considers appropriate.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 102–486, title XIII, § 1306, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2974.)