This report summarizes the first part of a program to develop an experimental facility to test sulfur dioxide scrubbing equipment and to prepare descriptions of the proposed tests. The purpose of the work described in this report is to prepare a preliminary engineering design and cost estimate of a facility that can be used to test large-scale equipment under the variety of operational conditions that can be encountered in an actual plant. The basis of this design is the use of three parallel systems, each consisting of a different scrubber design, which will be integrated into the flue gas ductwork of an existing coal-fired boiler. Alkalinity will be supplied by injecting pulverized limestones or dolomites into the boiler. Heat from coal combustion will calcine these materials to produce calcium oxide or a combination of calcium oxide and magnesium oxide as the active agent for neutralization of sulfur oxides. (Author)