President Trump Nominates J. Steven Gardner For Federal Office Of Surface Mining

President Donald J. Trump Thursday announced the nomination of J. Steven Gardner to be the Director of the federal Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation & Enforcement at the U.S. Department of the Interior.

“I am beyond humbled and honored to be nominated by President Trump for the Director of OSMRE,” said Gardner. “My whole life, I have been involved with mining on multiple levels and I understand the importance of these issues to the communities we serve. I pledge to work every day on behalf of the men and women across this country who look to the OSMRE office as a partner in bettering life for all people on mining lands.”

Steve Gardner is currently serving as the President and CEO of ECSI, LLC, a consulting practice where he focused on natural resources, mining, reclamation, energy, environmental, health and safety issues.

As a Licensed Professional Engineer, Gardner has worked on projects throughout the U.S. and internationally. Gardner was the 2015 President of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME) and is recognized as a Distinguished Member.

“It is very welcome news to learn that President Trump has nominated Steve Gardner to OSMRE as its next Director,” said SME Executive Director David L. Kanagy. “Steve’s more than 40 years in the mining industry gives him the needed understanding of today’s mining operations and underscores his ability to lead this bureau in a changing industry. Steve has run his own engineering consultancy business where he has worked with a wide range of mining companies and a variety of commodities and fuels. He is very well respected in the industry as evidenced by his election to serve as the SME President in 2015 and his recognition as an SME Distinguished Member.”

Greg Conrad, Executive Director of the Interstate Mining Compact Commission, also expressed his personal support for Steve Gardner noting his outstanding credentials and his knowledge of the intricacies of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, in particular the importance of state primacy under the Act as well as the state/federal relationship envisioned by the Act.

Mr. Gardner has an MS in Mining Engineering with a Graduate Certification in Environmental Systems and a BS in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Kentucky.

In 2011, he was inducted into the College of Engineering Hall of Distinction. He has previously served on the University of Kentucky Mining Engineering Foundation, Kentucky Geological Survey, Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering Advisory Boards, and was a member of the Kentucky Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors.

The Bureau of OSMRE is responsible for establishing a nationwide program to protect society and the environment from the adverse effects of surface coal mining operations, under which OSMRE is charged with balancing the nation’s need for continued domestic coal production with protection of the environment. 

OSMRE provides critical support to Pennsylvania in the regulation of active coal mines and in the reclamation of abandoned mines.
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