WHAT ARE THE ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS OF AN ACCELERATED SYNFUELS COMMERCIALIZATION PROGRAM? Although the technology for producing liquid fuels from coal

For example, biomedical research on the carcinogenity of synthetic fuels mixtures is primarily sponsored by the DOE and conducted through its national laboratories, which are viewed by some groups as proponents of synthetic fuel development. Although the technology for producing liquid fuels from coal was first demonstrated by Germany during the 1920's, coal lique-faction is still in an early state of development in this country; no commercial-scale plants exist or are under construction in the Us. A " crash " or " accelerated " commercialization program to reduce dependence on foreign oil will involve substantial technical, economic, and environmental risks. Indirect coal liquefaction is closer to commercialization than direct processes. However, rapid deployment of indirect processes will require the use of currently commercial gasifiers such as Lurgi and Koppers-Totzek. More advanced technologies such as the Texaco coal gasifier and the pressurized Shell-Koppers and Winkler gasifiers are not yet in advanced pilot plant stages and need to go through the commercial module demonstration stage before commer-cialization. Figure 5-1 illustrates the time required for the development of a commercial plant for two direct processes, EDS and H-Coal, under a " normal " development schedule as projected by the licensing firm (developers). Development is estimated to take 17 years for the 86