Federal Position Descriptions
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Director of the Office of Surface Mining

Director of the Office of Surface Mining, Department of the Interior
Responsibility
Management Scope

In fiscal 2015, the Office of Surface Mining had $116 million in budget outlays and 294 employees.3 Employee numbers for the office have been declining for several years.

Primary Responsibilities

• Oversees and assists state mining regulatory and abandoned-mine reclamation programs; regulates mining and reclamation activities on federal and Indian lands, and in those states opting not to assume primary responsibility for regulating coal mining and reclamation activities
• Establishes national policy for the surface mining control and reclamation program; reviews and approves amendments to previously approved state programs; and reviews and recommends approval of new state program submissions
• Manages the collection, disbursement and accounting of abandoned-mine land reclamation fees; administers civil penalties programs; establishes technical standards and regulatory policy for reclamation and enforcement; and monitors and evaluates state and tribal regulatory programs, cooperative agreements and abandoned-mine land reclamation programs4

Strategic Goals and Priorities
[Depends on the policy priorities of the administration.]
Requirements

• Established subject matter expert
• Prior government experience, either from Capitol Hill or a similar state function (helpful)
• Prior agency experience (a plus)

Competencies

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Good leadership skills

Past Appointments
  • Joseph G. Pizarchik (2009 to 2017): Director of the Bureau of Mining and Reclamation, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection; Assistant Director, Bureau of Regulatory Counsel, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection; Legal Counsel, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation5
  • Brent T. Wahlquist (2007 to 2009): Regional Director, Appalachian Region; Regional Director, Denver, Colorado, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement; Regional Director, Mid-Continent Region, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement6
  • Jeffrey D. Jarrett (2002 to 2006): Deputy Secretary, Mineral Resources Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection; Deputy Assistant Director, Regional Office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement; Director, Bureau of District Mining Operations, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection7
AGENCY

Department of the Interior

Mission: The Department of the Interior protects and manages the nation's natural resources and cultural heritage; provides scientific and other information about those resources; and honors its trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives and affiliated island communities.

COMPENSATION

Level V $145,700 (5 U.S.C. § 5316)1

REPORTS TO

Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management2

SENATE COMMITTEE

Energy and Natural Resources

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Footnote
  1. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31, May 5, 2017), contains a provision that continues the freeze on the payable pay rates for certain senior political officials at 2013 levels during calendar year 2017.
  2. https://www.doi.gov/whoweare/orgchart
  3. Leadership Directories:https://lo.bvdep.com/OrgDocument.asp?OrgId=-1&LDIBookId=19&LDIOrgId=153483&LDISecId=180&FromRecent=0&Save=1&Position=-1#O153483
  4. OPM
  5. http://www.emlf.org/clientuploads/past_events/Past%20Events/1-Bios.Winters.2011.pdf
  6. http://www.allgov.com/officials/wahlquist-brent?officialid=28535
  7. https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/archive/news/archive/05_News_Releases/050901b.htm
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