There are times when simple actions we take now may be especially consequential for the future. For those of us involved in mining reclamation activities (a majority of this readership), I believe this is one of those times.

The answer to "Who will become the federal Office of Surface Mining's (OSM's) next director?" will be very consequential at the national and state levels during the Obama administration.

You have an opportunity to support an eminently qualified and suited individual for that position in Joseph G. Pizarchik, currently the director of Pennsylvania DEP's Bureau of Mining and Reclamation. I'll save for later how best to support his candidacy. First, some background.

Pennsylvania DEP's Joe Pizarchik is President Obama's choice (nominee) for the new Director of OSM. As it currently stands, Joe is part way through the confirmation process, having recently testified before the U.S. Senate's Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee. (You can watch the video of his hearing by clicking here. Note: Advance the program slider to about 16 minutes to avoid a long viewing of the opening screen!)

When the Senate returns from summer recess after Labor Day, the Senate ENR Committee will vote on forwarding Joe's candidacy to the entire Senate. If it reaches the Senate floor, a simple majority vote will decide the fate of his nomination. An affirmative Senate vote means Joe Pizarchik would be sworn in as OSM's new Director.

My first hand experience with Joe have been nothing but positive. I believe him to be fair and open-minded with everyone (which includes the environmental community and coal operators). He makes himself easily available and goes out of his way to provide information. Joe is smart and well spoken, although you can sometimes tell he's an attorney :-). (I won't hold that against him.)

With his years of experience, Joe knows the issues and the law regarding mining and reclamation. Joe has the right stuff to make an outstanding, effective OSM director for the entire nation.

I don't expect PA to receive any favored treatment... but am confident Joe will act as he does in his current position at DEP: fairly, thoughtfully, consistently and within the boundaries of the law.

Pennsylvania watershed groups and conservation districts know of and have benefited from Joe's work and experience in Harrisburg. Here are examples:

-- Being able to use co-gen ash as a beneficial material in mining reclamation projects for both land reclamation and acid mine drainage (AMD) remediation projects. (See WPCAMR brochure "Burning Waste Coal in CFB Power Plants")

-- Enabling the coal industry to do remining as a no-cost-to-taxpayers way of reclaiming mine-scarred lands and eliminating or improving AMD discharges. (See WPCAMR brochure on "Remining")

-- Co-authoring the Pennsylvania's Good Samaritan Act, which gives land owners and non-profit groups participating in reclamation projects legal protection statewide.

Joe was instrumental and a driving force for each of these. Behind each are laws, regulations, and policies that have enabled many environmental successes in reclaiming abandoned mine sites and improving streams degraded by AMD.

Pennsylvania has been a leader and innovator in meeting our nation's energy challenges while addressing environmental impacts.

The pragmatic approach of industry, government and environmental groups working together and cooperatively has proven to be very effective for enabling Pennsylvania's watershed movement to make great environmental strides over the past decade. Joe is one of those behind-the-scenes, unsung heroes that made that possible.

An important part of the Senate confirmation process is the ability for citizens to speak their minds. Since his nomination, Joe has drawn considerable ire from those opposed to the use of ANY coal ash for just about ANY purpose.

Joe's role in the implementation of Pennsylvania's beneficial ash placement program appears to be the lightning rod that's attracted such a fervent opposition as expressed in several internet blogs and newspaper articles.

Based on supposition and misinformation, Joe's detractors have, in my opinion, inappropriately and unfairly drawn a host of false conclusions on the policies he supports and his own motivations. An inference that the environmental community is united in opposing Joe and Pennsylvania's underlying policies couldn't be further from the truth.

I certainly don't challenge anyone's right to their opinions or the right to express them, but I do challenge the basis on which they are drawn. Unfortunately, the suppositions raised in a concerted campaign to the Senate ENR Committee appear to have gained some traction, at least enough to have influenced questioning at Joe's confirmation hearing.

Joe's supporters also have the right to express themselves. The current contentious atmosphere makes that particularly important. Politicians do pay attention to issues raised by the public. Those decision makers would benefit from hearing another view.

Fax or email your support to: Senator Jeff Bingaman, Chairman, Energy and Natural Resources Committee Office, 304 Dirksen Senate Building, Washington, DC 20510 by fax to:: 202-224-9026 or email to: sam_fowler@energy.senate.gov and contact Pennsylvania's two U.S. Senators Robert P. Casey and Arlen Specter.

Bruce Golden is the Regional Coordinator with the Western PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation