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The Obama administration’s selection of Joseph G. Pizarchik to direct the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement continues to draw the ire of environmentalists. When the nominee was named this summer on July 6th, detractors were quick to scrutinize his tenure at Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Mining and Reclamation. They pointed to Pizarchik’s supportive positions on industry practices such as acid mine drainage and coal ash dumping. A month later, when he went before a U.S. Senate Committee hearing regarding his nomination, Pizarchik angered environmentalists further by dodging questions relating to the controversial coal-mining practice known as “mountaintop removal.” In response to the line of questioning by Senator Robert Menendez, the would-be top strip-mining regulator said that he would have to be confirmed before looking into all the details surrounding the practice. Aside from selecting Pizarchik, the Obama administration has also decided to keep on a Bush appointee, Glenda Owens, as Deputy Director of the Office of Surface Mining. The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources has yet to vote on Pizarchik’s confirmation to his nominated post.

GUEST Jeff Ruch, Executive Director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility

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