On July 6, Joseph Pizarchik was nominated to head the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM). OSM is charged with state oversight of mining operations and reclamation.

Earlier in the year, WORC had advocated for two candidates director who have many years of experience outside of government bureaucracy and would have made an excellent choice as director. Unfortunately Mr. Pizarchik received the nomination.

WORC has joined with groups across the nation opposing his nomination, and have urged Senators to not confirm him and the President to withdraw the nomination.

Pizarchik’s record is not one that gives much hope to landowners in coal country, nor did his answers to questions during his confirmation hearing. The Environmental Integrity Project and Citizen’s Coal Council have put together some great factsheets linked below.

• Environment Integrity Project factsheet
• Citizen's Coal Council factsheet
• Read letter requesting a meeting with a citizen’s panel before his confirmation
• Read "Obama's OSM pick dodges questions about mountaintop removal" by the Charleston Gazette