Western Coal Planning Assistance Project. A guide to methods for impact assessment of Western coal/energy development. [Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming]
The Western Coal Planning Assistance Project (WCPAP) was designed to help state and local planners and decision-makers develop the technical methods and information needed to cope with the problems associated with coal/energy development. Since the United States has begun to move toward conversion of industrial energy resources from oil and natural gas to coal in order to become less dependent on foreign energy sources and with a concurrent commitment to reduce air pollution, development of strippable, low sulphur coal reserves is accelerating. The impacts of this movement are already being felt in the Northern Great Plains and adjacent portions of the Rocky Mountain and Midwestern States, where the Nations largest proven reserves of coal are found. The project encompasses the major coal areas of Montana, North Dakota,, and Wyoming. Funding is being provided by the US Geological Survey's Resource and Land Investigation (RALI) Program through the Missouri River Basin Commission which is responsible for conduct of the project. The project consists of two major tasks: (1) the development of a Planning Reference System for planners and decision-makers, and (2) a detailed assessment of planning problems and needs in the three states. The latter appears in WCPAP's final report (February, 1979). The Guide to Methods for Impact Assessment surveys valuable methodologies for predicting environmental, social and fiscal impacts. The document's presentation of a definitive method to estimate population changes induced by increased employment is especially valuable for local planners. Throughout this document, the applicability of the various methods is emphasized.
- Research Organization:
- Mountain West Research, Inc., Billings, MT (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5684920
- Report Number(s):
- NP-2902300; ON: DE82902300
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Western Coal Planning Assistance Project. Source book for Western coal/energy development. [Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming]
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Related Subjects
POLICY AND ECONOMY
COAL RESERVES
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
MONTANA
NORTH DAKOTA
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
WYOMING
AIR QUALITY
CALCULATION METHODS
DECISION MAKING
FORECASTING
LAND REQUIREMENTS
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
PLANNING
STATE GOVERNMENT
SURVEYS
WATER QUALITY
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
NORTH AMERICA
RESERVES
RESOURCES
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION
USA
294001* - Energy Planning & Policy- Coal
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290200 - Energy Planning & Policy- Economics & Sociology
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