Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73not60

§16294 Research and Development for Coal Mining Technologies

Title 42 › Chapter 149— NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY AND PROGRAMS › Subchapter IX— RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › Part F— Fossil Energy › § 16294

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must run a program to research and improve coal mining technologies. The Secretary must work with federal agencies, coal producers, trade groups, equipment makers, colleges with mining engineering, and other relevant partners. Research must follow priorities from the Mining Industry of the Future Program and advice in National Academy of Sciences reports. Work will look for ways to cut contaminants in mined coal, including using electromagnetic waves to image ahead of mining. It will develop and demonstrate coal-bed electromagnetic imaging, spectroscopic reservoir analysis, and horizontal drilling to find high coal-gas areas, raise methane recovery efficiency, prevent spoilage of coal reserves, and reduce water disposal from methane extraction. The program must also expand mining research at colleges and universities.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §16294

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary shall carry out a program for research and development on coal mining technologies.

(b)In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall cooperate with appropriate Federal agencies, coal producers, trade associations, equipment manufacturers, institutions of higher education with mining engineering departments, and other relevant entities.

(c)The research and development activities carried out under this section shall—

(1)be guided by the mining research and development priorities identified by the Mining Industry of the Future Program and in the recommendations from relevant reports of the National Academy of Sciences on mining technologies;

(2)include activities exploring minimization of contaminants in mined coal that contribute to environmental concerns including development and demonstration of electromagnetic wave imaging ahead of mining operations;

(3)develop and demonstrate coal bed electromagnetic wave imaging, spectroscopic reservoir analysis technology, and techniques for horizontal drilling in order to—

(A)identify areas of high coal gas content;

(B)increase methane recovery efficiency;

(C)prevent spoilage of domestic coal reserves; and

(D)minimize water disposal associated with methane extraction; and

(4)expand mining research capabilities at institutions of higher education.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 16294

Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60