US intentions murky on natural gas policy

The administration is sending mixed signals on its intentions toward a natural gas windfall-profits tax and decontrol.

Treasury Secretary Donald Regan told the National Press Club Tuesday that President Reagan has no immediate plan to seek a decontrol bill from Congress. Later Mr. Regan's office issued a clarification of the secretary's statement, saying Regan did not mean to rule out decontrol legislation but was only ruling out a windfall-profits tax.

Deputy press secretary Larry Speakes told reporters Wednesday the President was reviewing a number of options on decontrol, but has made no decision.