"The Laramie Energy Technology Center, starting in 1971, became the lead Center for government activities in tar sand. Three field projects, two processes in direct combustion and one in a steam drive, have been conducted in situ near Vernal, Utah, The objectives of environmental work at LETC in addition to petroleum research and process technology are: 1. To conduct Process/Project Monitoring of tar sand experiments, and develop monitoring research to characterize air, water, and waste streams. 2. To experiment with Control Technology development to control and mitigate pollution. These objectives are structured to satisfy needs to understand and predict control requirements and to assure that information is collected to assess environmental impact of a tar sand operation. Applicable state and federal laws are also considered since fossil energy programs are designed to develop environmental acceptability. A developing tar sand industry has to comply with regulations in EPA Region VIII and the State of Utah. Thus, legislative and legal evaluation from a technical base is performed. The technical data base on emissions and effluent from tar sand processes is small. Other research appropriate to a federal programmatic role in the national interest is conducted with industry, the academic community and Canada."