Take Action Now on Two Major U.S. Coal Mine Methane Sources

I am writing to ask you to use your influence to ensure that the Environmental Protection Agency and the Mine Safety and Health Administration take prompt action regarding two major coal mine methane sources identified by the United Nations Environment Programme’s Methane Alert and Response System, or MARS. The MARS Top 50 snapshot for August 2026 (https://methanedata.unep.org/downloads/top50_emitters/latest/mars_snapshot_latest.pdf) identifies two U.S. coal mine venting shafts among the world’s 50 largest persistent point sources detected by satellites. The source labeled USA_S_422 in the fact sheet is ranked as the 31st largest methane emitter globally. It is located near Farmington and Mannington in West Virginia, in the northern Appalachian coalfield, according to the geo-coordinates in the fact sheet. This mine vent shaft is estimated to emit 24,615 tonnes of methane annually. The source appears to be associated with the Marion County coal-mining area, where the relevant mine has historically been operated by Marion County Coal Company and controlled by Murray Energy’s successor, American Consolidated Natural Resources. The area also contains numerous former Consol properties and legacy mine workings which may be controlled Core Natural Resources. I request that MSHA and the West Virginia regulatory authorities verify the current operator and responsible permit holder. The mine vent shaft identified as USA_S_1109 is ranked as the 47th largest methane emitter globally. It is located near Benton, Illinois in the southern Illinois coalfield, according to the geo-coordinates in the fact sheet. It is estimated to emit 14,191 tons of methane annually. The most likely source for this appears to be the Sugar Camp Mine complex, controlled by Foresight Energy, a subsidiary of the aforementioned American Consolidated Natural Resources. I request that MSHA and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources verify the current operator and responsible permit holder. Together, these two sources release approximately 38,806 tonnes of methane each year. Based on methane’s climate impact, this is equivalent to approximately 2.6 billion miles driven by an average passenger car, or the annual emissions of about 230,000 passenger vehicles. The MARS fact sheet is the authority for identifying these as the two U.S. sources appearing in the current global Top 50. It does not establish that they are the two largest methane sources in the United States overall, but it does identify them as exceptionally large, persistent satellite-detected sources requiring government attention. Please ask EPA and MSHA to investigate these shafts, determine whether the emissions can be reduced through improved capture, maintenance, or ventilation practices, and require appropriate corrective action consistent with mine safety and environmental law. I also ask you to coordinate with Senators representing West Virginia and Illinois so that the relevant state environmental agencies become involved if either source is not located on land leased from the federal government. Thank you for your attention to this significant public health, environmental, and climate concern.