---
kind: "section"
citation: "30 U.S.C. § 1311"
title: "30"
title_heading: "Mineral Lands and Mining"
number: "1311"
heading: "Establishment of university coal research laboratories"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/30/1311"
units:
  - "Chapter 25 — Surface Mining Control and Reclamation"
  - "Subchapter VIII — University Coal Research Laboratories"
---

# §1311. Establishment of university coal research laboratories

- (a) **Designation by Secretary of Energy—** The [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) of Energy, after consultation with the National Academy of Engineering, shall designate thirteen institutions of higher education at which university coal [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1) laboratories will be established and operated. Ten such designations shall be made as provided in [subsection (e)](#e) and the remaining three shall be made in fiscal year 1980.
- (b) **Criteria—** In making designations under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) of Energy shall consider the following criteria:
  - (1) Those ten institutions of higher education designated as provided in [subsection (e)](#e) shall be located in a [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) with abundant coal reserves.
  - (2) The [institution of higher education](/usc/30/1291.md?p=32) shall have experience in coal [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1), expertise in several areas of coal [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1), and potential or currently active, outstanding programs in coal [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1).
  - (3) The [institution of higher education](/usc/30/1291.md?p=32) has the capacity to establish and operate the [coal laboratories](/usc/30/1291.md?p=31) to be assisted under this subchapter.
- (c) **Location of coal laboratories—** Not more than one [coal laboratory](/usc/30/1291.md?p=31) established pursuant to this subchapter shall be located in a single [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) and at least one [coal laboratory](/usc/30/1291.md?p=31) shall be established within each of the major coal provinces recognized by the United States Bureau of Mines, including Alaska.
- (d) **Period for submission of applications for designation; contents—** The [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) of Energy shall establish a period, not in excess of ninety days after August 3, 1977, for the submission of applications for designation under this section. Any [institution of higher education](/usc/30/1291.md?p=32) desiring to be designated under this subchapter shall submit an application to the [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) of Energy in such form, at such time, and containing or accompanied by such information as the [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) of Energy may reasonably require. Each application shall—
  - (1) describe the facilities to be established for coal energy resources and conversion [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1) and [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1) on related environmental problems including facilities for interdisciplinary academic [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1) projects by the combined efforts of specialists such as mining engineers, mineral engineers, geochemists, mineralogists, mineral economists, fuel scientists, combustion engineers, mineral preparation engineers, coal petrographers, geologists, chemical engineers, civil engineers, mechanical engineers, and ecologists;
  - (2) set forth a program for the establishment of a test laboratory for coal characterization which, in addition, may be used as a site for the exchange of coal [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1) activities by representatives of private industry engaged in coal [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1) and characterization;
  - (3) set forth a program for providing [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1) and development activities for students engaged in advanced study in any discipline which is related to the development of adequate energy supplies in the United States. The [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1) laboratory shall be associated with an ongoing educational and [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1) program on extraction and utilization of coal.
- (e) **Time limit—** The [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) of Energy shall designate the ten institutions of higher education under this section not later than ninety days after the date on which such applications are to be submitted.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 95–87, title VIII, § 801, Aug. 3, 1977, 91 Stat. 526; Pub. L. 95–617, title VI, § 604(a), (c), Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3166, 3167; Pub. L. 102–285, § 10(b), May 18, 1992, 106 Stat. 172.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1978—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–617, § 604(a), substituted “The Secretary of Energy” for “The Administrator, Energy Research and Development Administration (hereafter referred to as ‘Administrator’ in this subchapter)” and “shall designate thirteen institutions” for “is authorized and directed to designate ten institutions” and inserted provision that ten such designations be made as provided in subsection (e) of this section and the remaining three be made in fiscal year 1980.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–617, § 604(a), (c), substituted in provisions preceding par. (1) “Secretary of Energy” for “Administrator” and in par. (1) “Those ten institutions of higher education designated as provided in subsection (e)” for “The institution of higher education”.

Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 95–617, § 604(c), substituted “Secretary of Energy” for “Administrator” wherever appearing.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

“United States Bureau of Mines” substituted for “Bureau of Mines” in subsec. (c) pursuant to section 10(b) of Pub. L. 102–285, set out as a note under section 1 of this title. For provisions relating to closure and transfer of functions of the United States Bureau of Mines, see Transfer of Functions note set out under section 1 of this title.