Technology assessment of coal slurry pipelines

Technical Report · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:6888491

This assessment analyzes the costs and potential economic, social, and environmental impacts of coal slurry pipelines, and it represents the results of a project undertaken in mid-1976 at the request of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; and the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. In addition to aiding in congressional deliberation on several bills that propose granting Federal eminent domain to coal slurry pipeline enterprises, the study should contribute to resolving broader questions of transportation policy, western water allocation, and regional conflicts over energy development. The report includes a discussion of the possible effects on society of coal slurry pipeline development, a comparison of pipeline and unit train costs, and an analysis of relevant legal and regulatory issues. Findings address conditions under which slurry pipelines may be attractive in terms of cost and the influence of transportation regulatory policy. Also evaluated are the potential impacts of slurry pipeline development on the rail industry, consequences of pipeline water use as contrasted with community impacts of increased coal train traffic, and implications of the power of eminent domain at the Federal, as opposed to State, level.

• Research Organization: Office of Technology Assessment (U.S. Congress), Washington, D.C.
• OSTI ID: 6888491
• Report Number(s): OTA-E-60
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
013000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290700 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Transport & Storage
293000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ECONOMICS
ENERGY POLICY
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FOSSIL FUELS
FREIGHT PIPELINES
FUELS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
LEGAL ASPECTS
LEGISLATION
NORTH AMERICA
PIPELINES
RAIL TRANSPORT
RAILWAYS
REGULATIONS
SLURRY PIPELINES
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
TAXES
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TRANSPORT
USA
WATER REQUIREMENTS