Coal

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-005361",
  "term": "Coal",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. Coal is formed from plant and animal matter that has been subjected to geologic heat and pressure, transformed over millions of years into hard black solids. Because coal is a readily available resource in the United States, coal power plants provide about half of the nation's electricity. However, coal-fired power plants generally cause more pollution per unit of electricity than any other fuel. Most coal plants are required to have several pollution control devices to reduce the amount of pollutants that are released into the air from burning the coal. These controls have played an important role in cleaning up air quality in many areas of the country.\n\n2. A dark-colored solid fossil fuel that can be mined from the Earth. Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel produced in the United States.\n\n3. A black or brownish black solid, combustible substance formed by the partial decomposition of vegetable matter without access to air. The rank of coal, which includes anthracite, bituminous coal, subbituminous coal, and lignite, is based on fixed carbon, volatile matter, and heating value. Coal rank indicates the progressive alteration, or coalification, from lignite to anthracite. See anthracite, bituminous coal, subbituminous coal, lignite.\n\n4. A readily combustible black or brownish-black rock whose composition, including inherent moisture, consists of more than 50 percent by weight and more than 70 percent by volume of carbonaceous material. It is formed from plant remains that have been compacted, hardened, chemically altered, and metamorphosed by heat and pressure over geologic time [Original source: https://www.eia.gov/tools/glossary/].\n\n5. A black or brownish black solid, combustible substance formed by the partial decomposition of vegetable matter without access to air. The rank of coal, which includes anthracite, bituminous coal, subbituminous coal, and lignite, is based on fixed carbon, volatile matter, and heating value. Coal rank indicates the progressive alteration, or coalification, from lignite to anthracite.\n\n6. A readily combustible black or brownish-black rock whose composition, including inherent moisture, consists of more than 50 percent by weight and more than 70 percent by volume of carbonaceous material. It is formed from plant remains that have been compacted, hardened, chemically altered, and metamorphosed by heat and pressure over geologic time.\n\n7. A solid, brittle, more or less distinctly stratified, combustible carbonaceous rock, formed by partial to complete decomposition of vegetation; varies in color from dark brown to black; not fusible without decomposition and very insoluble. The boundary line between peat and coal is hazy (see brown coal) as is the boundary line between coal and graphite and the boundary line between carbonaceous rock and coal. In the formation of coal, the vegetable matter appears to have been very largely moss and other low forms of plants, but in places, coal contains much wood; the vegetal matter seems to have first taken the form of peat, then lignite, and then bituminous coal. The latter by the loss of its bitumen has in some places been converted into anthracite (hard coal) and finally into graphite.\n\n8. All solid fuels classifiable as anthracite, bituminous, sub-bituminous, or lignite by the American Society for Testing and Materials in ASTM D388 (incorporated by reference, see § 63.14), coal refuse, and petroleum coke. For the purposes of this subpart, this definition of “coal” includes synthetic fuels derived from coal including, but not limited to, solvent-refined coal, coal-oil mixtures, and coal-water mixtures. Coal derived gases are excluded from this definition.Coal subcategory includes any boiler that burns any solid fossil fuel and no more than 15 percent biomass on an annual heat input basis.\n\n9. All solid fuels classified as anthracite, bituminous, subbituminous, or lignite by ASTM D388 (incorporated by reference, see § 60.17).\n\n10. For units constructed, reconstructed, or modified after May 27, 2009, all solid fossil fuels classified as anthracite, bituminous, subbituminous, or lignite by ASTM D388 (incorporated by reference - see § 60.17), and coal refuse.\n\n11. All solid fuels classified as anthracite, bituminous, subbituminous, or lignite by the American Society for Testing and Materials Designation ASTM D388-92 “Standard Classification of Coals by Rank” (as incorporated by reference in § 72.13).\n\n12. For units constructed, reconstructed, or modified on or before May 27, 2009, all solid fossil fuels classified as anthracite, bituminous, subbituminous, or lignite by ASTM D388 (incorporated by reference - see § 60.17).[40 CFR 60.251]Any solid fuel classified as anthracite, bituminous, subbituminous, or lignite. [40 CFR 97.202 (CFR 2013)].\n\n13. All solid fuels classifiable as anthracite, bituminous, sub-bituminous, or lignite by ASTM Method D388-05, “Standard Classification of Coals by Rank” (incorporated by reference, see § 63.14), and coal refuse. Synthetic fuels derived from coal for the purpose of creating useful heat including but not limited to, coal derived gases (not meeting the definition of natural gas), solvent-refined coal, coal-oil mixtures, and coal-water mixtures, are considered “coal” for the purposes of this subpart.\n\n14. All fuels classified as anthracite, bituminous, sub-bituminous, or lignite by ASTM International in ASTM D388-99 (Reapproved 2004)e1, Standard Classification of Coals by Rank (incorporated by reference, see § 49.123(e)).\n\n15. All solid fuels classified as anthracite, bituminous, sub-bituminous, or lignite by the American Society for Testing and Materials Designation ASTM D388-05 Standard Classification of Coals by Rank (incorporated by reference, see § 98.7).\n\n16. “Coal” as defined in § 72.2 of this chapter. [40 CFR 97.402 (CFR 2013)].[40 CFR 97.502 (CFR 2013)][40 CFR 97.602 (CFR 2013)]\n\n17. Any solid fuel classified as anthracite, bituminous, subbituminous, or lignite. [40 CFR 97.102 (CFR 2013)]Solid fuel classified as anthracite, bituminous, subbituminous, or lignite. [40 CFR 96.202 (CFR 2018)][40 CFR 96.302 (CFR 2018)]\n\n18. All solid fuels classified as anthracite, bituminous, subbituminous, or lignite by the American Society of Testing and Materials in ASTM D388 (incorporated by reference, see § 60.17) and coal refuse. Synthetic fuels derived from coal for the purpose of creating useful heat, including but not limited to solvent-refined coal, gasified coal, coal-oil mixtures, and coal-water mixtures are included in this definition for the purposes of this subpart. [40 CFR 60.41a (CFR 2013)] [40 CFR 60.41b (CFR 2013)].[40 CFR 60.41c (CFR 2013)].",
  "subject": "Climate change",
  "references": [
    "Clean Energy Glossary",
    "Student's Guide to Global Climate Change",
    "Greenhouse Gas Emissions",
    "Federal LCA Commons Elementary Flow List for Life Cycle Assessment",
    "Greenhouse Emissions Glossary",
    "DOE Energy Information Administration Glossary",
    "IRS Coal Excise Tax - Appendix I, Glossary of Mining Terms",
    "40 CFR 63.11237 (CFR 2013)",
    "40 CFR 60.41 (CFR 2013)",
    "40 CFR 60.251 (CFR 2013)",
    "40 CFR 72.2 (CFR 2013)",
    "40 CFR 97.302 (CFR 2013)",
    "40 CFR 63.10042 (CFR 2013)",
    "40 CFR 49.123 (CFR 2013)",
    "40 CFR 98.6 (CFR 2013)",
    "40 CFR 97.702 (CFR 2013)",
    "40 CFR 96.102 (CFR 2018)",
    "40 CFR 60.41Da (CFR 2013)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/coal/"
}