J. Steven Gardner
J. Steve Gardner | |
|---|---|
| Born | Green County, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Occupation | Consultant specializing in the coal sector |
| Years active | Since 1970s |
| Known for | Nominee for Administrator of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) |
J. Steve Gardner is a consultant specializing in the coal sector and was previously nominated to serve as the Administrator of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE).
Coal Industry Experience
Gardner's career commenced as a project engineer at Bethlehem Coal. In 1979, he transitioned to Big K Operating Company, a subsidiary of U.S. Coal Company (now defunct), and subsequently held a position at Kenwill Inc. located in Maryville, Tennessee.
Engineering Consulting Services, Inc. (ECSI, LLC)
ECSI, headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, operates as an engineering consultancy. In 2010, the Department of the Interior expressed concerns regarding the quality of ECSI's reports. A confidential 2011 ECSI report forecasted a reduction of 7,000 jobs attributed to the Stream Protection Rule. This led to the government discontinuing its contracts with ECSI. Both the company and the Stream Protection Rule became subjects of debate within Congress. Gardner has described regulatory efforts as a "war on coal."
Office of Surface Mining
President Donald Trump put forward Gardner’s nomination for OSMRE Administrator on October 26, 2017. The nomination was sent to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources but was returned to the President on January 3, 2018. Gardner was renominated on January 8, 2018; however, his nomination was withdrawn on September 12, 2018 after not securing a committee hearing.
Background and Education
Born in Green County, Kentucky, Gardner holds a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural engineering (1975) and a Master of Science degree in mining engineering (1991), both from Kentucky University.