"Environmental and industry advocates say a proposed air emissions reporting permit issued last week for BHP Billiton Ltd.'s San Juan Coal Mine in northwestern New Mexico is the first -- or among the first -- ever proposed for a coal mine."

"Under new guidelines released in 2010, mines that release more than 100,000 tons per year of carbon dioxide equivalent -- typically in the form of methane -- are required to obtain a Clean Air Act Title V permit. The permit also requires them to disclose an array of air pollution releases.

Several dozen mines around the country, including the San Juan Mine, which EPA records show released more than 600,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent last year, currently meet the criteria."

Manuel Quiñones reports for Greenwire December 5, 2013. [2]