Coal Development Act, 1976.

The purposes of this Act are to promote and accelerate the exploration, development, exploitation, production and utilization of coal resources. The Act consists of 21 sections and of rules and regulations implementing the Act.
A coal development program shall be established as provided for in section 3. The Government, through the Energy Development Board, shall be responsible for the exploration, development and production of coal resources (sect. 4). The Energy Development Board shall establish coal regions, and in each region it shall establish areas available for coal operating contracts (sects. 5 and 6). Section 7 gives provisions on existing permittees and lessees. Obligations of operators under coal operating contracts and minimum terms and conditions are defined in sections 9 and 11. Incentives shall be granted to operators, and to enterprises or industries which will convert their existing oil fired plant facilities into coal burning facilities (sects. 16 and 17).