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<br />2-25 <br /> <br /> <br />~ .. t"\ I, <br /> <br />2.3.4 Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) <br />Enacted in the National Energy Act in 1978, Title III of PURPA gives <br />the Secretary of Energy authority to intervene in natural gas rate making <br />proceedings.68 This provision allows the Secretary to advocate policies <br />and methods regarding retail rate design to achieve energy conservation, <br />optimal use of facilities and resources, and equitable rates.68 <br />PU RPA also authorizes FERC and the Energy Secretary to conduct a <br />study on natural gas utility rate design to develop recomendations for <br />Congressional consideration. <br /> <br />2.4 COAL <br />The US government has had little, if any, direct influence on the <br />operation of coal markets, except for production from Federally-owned <br />lands. While natural gas and petroleum products were end-use commodities <br />which clearly affected the economic well being of the nation, coal has only <br />recently been recognized as a major factor in the environmental and future <br />economic health of the country. <br />The mine safety and reclamation laws of 1969 and 1977 have had <br />direct impacts on coal production practices and costs; other recent legisla- <br />tion has been directed toward increasing the utilization of coal to replace <br />petroleum and natural gas fuels. <br /> <br />2.4.1 Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 <br />This legislation established a comprehensive nationwide program for <br />improving the disease and accident record of the coal mining industry. <br />The Act authorized the development of regulations in three basic areas, <br />which together, comprise an overall program for upgrading and maintaining <br />safe, healthy working conditions.69 The three areas are as follows. <br />. Establishment and enforcement of mandatory health and safety <br />standards. <br />. Expansion of health and safety education and training for miners. <br />. Development of research programs to advance health and safety <br />technologies in the coal industry. 70 <br />