The objective of these regulations is to provide methods for exchange of coal resources when it would be in the public interest to shift the impact of mineral operations from leased lands or portions of leased lands to currently unleased lands to preserve public resource or social values, and to carry out Congressional directives authorizing coal lease exchanges.

[44 FR 42628, July 19, 1979, as amended at 47 FR 33144, July 30, 1982]