Evaluation of the Analysis Supporting President Ford's Veto of H.R. 25, the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1975

The rationale and methodology used by the Department of the Interior and the Federal Energy Administration to estimate the impact of the proposed Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1975 were evaluated. The analysis served as the basis for President Ford's veto of H.R. 25 on May 20, 1975. The reasons given for the veto were that: (1) coal production would be unnecessarily reduced by 40 to 162 million tons; (2) up to 36,000 people would lose their jobs; (3) the nation would be more dependent on foreign oil; and (4) consumers would pay higher electric bills.