---
kind: "section"
citation: "30 U.S.C. § 553"
title: "30"
title_heading: "Mineral Lands and Mining"
number: "553"
heading: "Duties of Secretary; surveys, research, etc.; proj­ects"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/30/553"
units:
  - "Chapter 13 — Control of Coal-Mine Fires"
---

# §553. Duties of Secretary; surveys, research, etc.; proj­ects


The [Secretary](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-2) of the Interior, in order to effectuate the policy declared in [section 551 of this title](/usc/30/551.md), is hereby authorized—

- (a) to conduct surveys, investigations, and [research](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1) relating to the causes and extent of outcrop and underground fires in coal formations and the methods for control or extinguishment of such fires; to publish the results of any such surveys, investigations, and [researches](/usc/30/661.md?p=b-1); and to disseminate information concerning such method; and
- (b) to plan and execute projects for control or extinguishment of fires in coal formations.

## Source credit

(Aug. 31, 1954, ch. 1156, § 3, 68 Stat. 1009.)