Environmental Research and Technology, Inc. is conducting investigations and research for the purpose of contributing to the comprehensive health and environmental data base currently being developed for surface coal gasification. One of the key elements of the work is concerned with the development of a fundamental understanding of pollutant formation and distribution with gasification process and assessment of environmental control technologies for the control of these pollutants. This report focuses on the results and findings of initial efforts conducted to define baseline gasification plant configurations; the production, fate and distribution of hydrocarbons, sulfur and nitrogen-bearing compounds within the configurations; and baseline plant discharge inventories and control technology evaluations. For this study, the definition of baseline plants included the matrix of three principal process types (fixed bed, fluidized bed and entrained flow) and major product and uses categories (low/medium Btu gas, synthetic natural gas (SNG) and liquid products). An integral part of this baseline plant definition included an inventory of unit operations and sources of uncontrolled discharges. Within each of the gasification process types, the production of hydrocarbons, sulfur and nitrogen-bearing species/pollutants is characterized. Subsequently, the fate and distribution during downstream gas processing is also described. Preliminary analyses of control technologies for management of air, water and solid waste discharges for the baseline plant configurations have been initiated and are presented herein. 22 figures, 1 table.