(1) The executive director is hereby given authority to:
(a) Enter into contracts with the Colorado school of mines to develop and conduct research concerning:
(I) New and more efficient methods of mining, preparing, and utilizing coal;
(II) Markets for coal of the western United States and especially that of Colorado;
(III) Development in the scientific, technical, and economic fields related to the coal industry;
(b) Accept grants from, contract with, and otherwise cooperate with the office of coal research of the United States department of the interior.