Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 68 Part 1.djvu/1041

 68 S T A T. ]

PUBLIC LAW 738-AUG. 31, 1954

1009

United States, including its Territories and possessions, when the employee has acquired eligibility for such transportation or when the public interest requires the return of the immediate family for compelling personal reasons of a humanitarian or compassionate nature, such as may involve physical or mental health, death of any member of the immediate family, or obligation imposed by authority or circumstances over which the individual has no control: And provided further, That when an employee returns his immediate family and household goods to the United States, including its Territories and possessions, at his own expense prior to his return and for other than reasons of public interest, the Government shall reimburse him for proper transportation expenses at such time as he acquires eligibility therefor." Approved August 31, 1954. Public Law 738

CHAPTER 1156

AN ACT To provide for the control and extinguishment of outcrop and underground fires in coal formations, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled-) That it is hereby I'ecognized that outcrop and underground fires in coal formations involve serious wastage of the fuel resources of the Nation, and constitute a menace to the health and safety of the public and to surface property. I t is therefore declared to be the policy of the Congress to provide for the control and extinguishment of outcrop and underground coal fires and thereby to prevent injuries and loss of life, protect public health, conserve natural resources, and to preserve public and private surface property. SEC. 2. As used in this Act: "Coar* means any of the recognized classifications and ranks of coal, including anthracite, bituminous, semibituminous, subbituminous, and lignite. •'Outcrop'* means any place where a formation is visible or substantially exposed at the surface. "Formation"' means any vein, seam, stratum, bed, or other naturally occurring deposit. •'Coal mine'' means any underground, surface, or strip mine from which coal is obtained. •'State" means any State or Territory of the United States, or any political subdivision thereof. "Person" means an individual, partnership, association, corporation, business trust, legal representative, or any organized group of persons. SEC. 3. The Secretary of the Interior, in order to effectuate the policy declared in section 1 of this Act, is hereby authorized— (a) to conduct surveys, investigations, and research 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; and to disseminate information concerning such method; and (b) to plan and execute projects for control or extinguishment of fires in coal formations. SEC. 4. The acts authorized in section 3 of this Act may be performed—

30777 O—55—pt. 1-

-6G

August 31, 1954 p l. R. 270]

F i r e s I n coal mines, etc* Control.

Definitions.

Surveys, etc.

Projects.

�