SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE REGULATION OF THE COAL BED METHANE INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED STATES

摘要

To what extent does the United States coal bed methane regulatory system promote sustainable development, and are there elements of the system that would be useful to other governments planning for coal bed methane development? Currently, the United States is the world leader in the development and production of coal bed methane (CBM). Other governments are evaluating the potential for CBM production, and, as U.S. regulators have recently analyzed and approved the largest CBM exploration and development program of its type in the world, administrative agencies in other countries may be interested in the U.S. regulatory experience.