The state's chief environmental regulator has quietly begun a year-long study of fugitive methane emissions in a bid to calm community concerns about the coal seam gas industry.

Believed to be the first of its kind, the CSIRO study is tracking methane emissions across the seasons from 12 NSW sites, ranging from wetlands and landfills to the three main CSG gas fields and coalmines.

The CSIRO has begun its first study of rogue methane leaks. Credit:Ryan Osland

"We're hoping to contribute another piece of the puzzle to the debate on methane," said Carmen Dwyer, CSG project manager at the Environment Protection Authority, which commissioned the CSIRO work. "It is not a regulatory study – it is not going to say, 'you need to do more'."

The CSIRO began monitoring the emissions in June, with the results likely to be completed by early 2016. Fugitive emissions are unintended gas leaks.