Politics said to hamper coal-slurry lines

Journal Article · Fri Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · Electr. World; (United States)

OSTI ID:7345659

Politics and not technology is still thwarting development of coal-slurry pipelines throughout the western half of the US. And without the right of eminent domain--already granted to the existing 425,000-mile network of natural-gas and liquid-hydrogen pipelines--slurry legislation must wait. Representative Robert Eckhardt sponsored legislation in 1975 granting coal-slurry pipelines the right of eminent domain. The legislation was tabled. Eckhardt said his measure was opposed by railroads and railroad labor with some opponents claiming that the bill (HR 2553) should not be considered until the problem of the strip-mining bill was settled, two such bills having been vetoed by the President during the 94th Congress. ''In effect,'' said Eckhardt, ''let's plan how to get the coal before we plan on how to move it.'' The congressman also answered those critics who claim that, before any new slurry pipelines are built, feasibility studies should be conducted. He cited the 273-mile Black Mesa line, which delivers almost 5-million tons annually from Arizona to the Mohave power station in Nevada, as an example that has shown, since 1970, that coal pipelines are feasible. (It might be noted that there is also a now unused 108-mile line extending from Cadiz in southern Ohio to Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co.'s East Lake plant in northern Ohio.) ''What we need to do,'' said Eckhardt, ''is to let pipelines enter the marketplace like any other venture and see if people are willing to invest in them.'' (MCW)

• OSTI ID: 7345659
• Journal Information: Electr. World; (United States), Journal Name: Electr. World; (United States) Vol. 186:7; ISSN ELWOA
• 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
294001* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Coal
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
ENERGY SOURCES
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FOSSIL FUELS
FREIGHT PIPELINES
FUELS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
LEGISLATION
NORTH AMERICA
PIPELINES
SLURRY PIPELINES
TRANSPORT
USA