the steel mills in Ontario and Ontario Hydro have found it advantageous to import most of their coal from nearby mines in the US. The 2 major railways that carry western coals to Pacific tidewater also carry potash, sulphur, grain, petrochemicals and forest products. Huge capital investments are being made to increase rail capacity, thus enabling the railways to meet projected offshore demand for these products. Environmental Impact The production and use of coal can create certain environmental problems. In Canada, environmental protection is addressed at all stages of coal production. Environmental assessments are an integral part of provinces' process of approving new mining operations. Activities associated with coal mining, such as the removal of vegetation, relocation of overburden, construction of roads, blasting and reclamation of previously mined areas are carried out to minimize any negative effect on the ENVIRONMENT . Several Canadian coal mining companies have been recognized for their successful environmental mine management programs. In Canada, only relatively small areas in the West are being disturbed at any one time for the purpose of coal mining. Land disturbed annually by operating mines includes 182 ha in mountainous regions of BC, 174 ha in Alberta, and 130 ha in plains areas of Saskatchewan. Using technology now available, coal can be mined, transported and used in most parts of the world in conformity with high standards of health, safety and environmental protection without unacceptable increases in cost. At the coal utilization stage, air emissions are a concern ( see AIR