Restrictions on coal cut against U. S. energy goals

The coal industry suffers from a lack of public understanding and restrictive legislation that is preventing the full development of coal that is needed to reduce U.S. dependence on imported oil. The Surface Mining Bill, for example, is criticized for emphasizing restrictions on coal mining rather than setting goals and standards for land reclamation. The Clean Air Act, by setting unrealistic deadlines, has made it impossible for half the utility-fired coal to meet environmental standards. There seems to be little chance that coal production will have doubled by 1985 as proposed by the Energy Independence Project, while the Administration's stated policy of increasing coal production is not accompanied by a national commitment to resolve coal's complex economic and environmental problems. The recent establishment of a National Coal Policy Project by industrial leaders is an encouraging shift away from name calling toward cooperation. (DCK)