By Ken Ward Jr.
Charleston Gazette
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- As a U.S. Senate committee prepares for a confirmation hearing on President Obama's nominee to run the U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, coalfield citizen groups are urging lawmakers to reject nominee Joseph G. Pizarchik of Pennsylvania.
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources scheduled a hearing for Thursday morning to consider Pizarchik's nomination.
But the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, the Citizens Coal Council and the Environmental Integrity Project are asking coalfield citizens and environmentalists to call and write lawmakers to oppose Pizarchik.
The groups said they were "deeply disappointed and concerned" by Obama's nomination and said confirmation of Pizarchik would be "a direct blow to the heart of all citizens living in the coalfields ... and a victory for coal operators."
Since 2002, Pizarchik has been director of the Bureau of Mining and Reclamation within Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection. Before that, he was assistant director and general counsel for the agency for 11 years.
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