Western Coal Survey: A Survey of Coal Mining Capacity in the West

摘要

The Western Coal Survey (WCS) is a periodic survey of all known operators of existing and planned large (200,000 tons or more annual production) coal mines in the Western United States. The purpose of the survey is to track progress and changes in productive capacity. Specifically, the survey seeks estimates of current and future productive capacity, of amounts of coal currently under contract, and of potential constraints to higher production. The report identifies 116 western mines producing 200,000 tons or more in 1980, 209 such mines in 1985 and 221 in 1990. All but 29 of the future operations are expected to be producing by the end of 1985. Of these 29, 12 begin production in 1986 and 9 in 1987. Six existing mines are expected to be mined out or abandoned by 1990. (ERA citation 06:006913)