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OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT
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OSM Director Joe Pizarchik Visits Kentucky
On February 9th, with snow locking in much of the Federal government, OSM Director Joe Pizarchik caught one of the last flights out of Washington, D.C. to continue his listening tour for 2010, this time to get a firsthand look at mining operations in Kentucky. While in the Bluegrass State, Director Pizarchik met with OSM staff and state officials, and toured a couple of active and reclaimed sites.
Director Joe Pizarchik Meets with the West Virginia Coal Association
As part of his West Virginia listening tour, Director Pizarchik also set aside time to hear directly from the industry itself. The meeting with the West Virginia Coal Association (which happened immediately after the aerial mine tour), provided a useful perspective on how OSMRE should continue its effort in developing new rules, re-evaluate its oversight duties, and act as a better conduit between the regulated community and coalfield citizens.
Director Joe Pizarchik's Aerial Tour of West Virginia Coalfields
While in West Virginia, Director Joe Pizarchik took part in a two-hour flyover of many of the area's mountaintop mining sites. All of the stakeholders stressed the importance of seeing the size and scope of the industry from the air, saying that would provide an important backdrop to the discussions about employment, economic activity, environmental impact and reclamation. The 21 photos in this essay were taken from the helicopter that trailed Director Pizarchik's. Select the image to enlarge.
A New Appalachian Region Website is Coming Soon
A new Appalachian Region website is coming soon to OSM. The website’s name will remain the same http://www.arcc.osmre.gov, but the site will have a new look and will be easier to navigate. Here is a preview into the new AR Website. Stay tuned.
OSM Director Joe Pizarchik Continues Fact Finding and Listening Tour in WV.
The final day of OSMRE Director Joe Pizarchik’s West Virginia listening tour. At the request of several citizens groups representing several states, Director Pizarchik met them at a local hotel conference room to hear their concerns first hand. Then, with no prior knowledge of where he was going, the director traveled by van to meet with people who live in the coalfields and are directly affected by mountaintop mining. Here are some of the most memorable parts of that day.
OSM Director Joe Pizarchik Visits West Virginia on Fact Finding and Listening Tour.
OSM Director Joe Pizarchik is spending a few days in the nation’s second largest coal producing state, West Virginia. While there, he is meeting with OSM field officials, state and federal officials and interested parties. What follows are a few photos from his travels during the week of January 18th.
OSM Director Joe Pizarchik Meets With Environmental Groups in Washington, D.C.
OSM Director Joe Pizarchik met with several interested environmental representatives in Washington, D.C. on Friday, January 15, 2010, to discuss OSM’s outlook on the disposal of coal combustion byproducts (CCBs), also known as coal waste or ‘fly ash.’ The meeting is part of Director Pizarchik’s intent to gather a wide range of input from interested parties before moving forward with any new policies.
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Director Meets with Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe Officials
OSM Director Joe Pizarchik spent January 8-11 in northern Arizona, touring both active mines and reclaimed mine lands on the Navajo and Hopi reservations, and holding meetings with tribal leaders and citizens.
Getting To Know Joe
For the first time since joining OSM, Director Joe Pizarchik was interviewed by reporters from the coalfield areas the week of December 7, 2009. Their insightful questions will also provide the public — as well as OSM employees — a chance to get to know Joe a little better. What follows is a partial transcript of a few of the questions he answered. We’ll add more as the sessions are transcribed.