Enviros seek limits on methane from coal mines

In a petition filed Wednesday four environmental groups called for the Environmental Protection Agency to begin regulating emissions of methane from coal mines. The petition seeks standards for emissions of methane, which is a much more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, from all new mines. "Existing mines that wanted to expand or modify their operations also would be subject to the new standards," Patrick Reis of Environment & Energy Daily reports. The petition was filed by WildEarth Guardians, Earthjustice, the Sierra Club and the Center for Biological Diversity.

"The petition also asks EPA to set pollution standards for non-greenhouse gas pollutants such as particulate matter and nitrogen oxide gases," Reis reports. An EPA spokeswoman told Reis the agency is reviewing the petition and would respond at a later date. The groups said they hoped EPA's "endangerment" finding last year that declared methane, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases a threat to human health would help their cause. "Let's put that endangerment finding to use now," Jeremy Nichols of WildEarth told Reis. "Let's not just say it's an endangerment, let's work to minimize that endangerment." (Read more, subscription required)