Shown dramatically by the recent crisis involving petroleum and natural gas shortages and rising prices foreshadows an end go unlimited consumption of natural resources at traditionally low prices. Alleviating these growing shortages of fossil fuels will require increased production from traditional sources and development of new sources. Thus the prime mission of the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) is to insure a timely supply of fossil fuels at the lowest possible economic, occupational, environmental and social costs. As part of this mission, ERDA is conducting research aimed at production on energy from several unconventional resources, including tar sands.