THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

     THE PRESIDENT NAMES KATHY KARPAN AS DIRECTOR OF SURFACE MINING 
        RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

Today the President announced his intent to nominate Kathy Karpan as Director of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, U.S. Department of Interior.

Ms. Karpan, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, is the Manager of Karpan & White Law Offices and is the President of the Karpan & White Corporate Services. Ms. Karpan served as Secretary of the State of Wyoming from 1986 to 1994, serving two terms. Prior to serving in elected office, Ms. Karpan was the Director of Wyoming's Department of Health and Social Services from 1984 to 1986. She also served as Deputy Director, Office of Congressional Relations and later as Legal Counsel in the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce from 1978 to 1981 during the Carter Administration. During the late 1960's and early 1970's, Ms. Karpan served on the staff of U.S. Representative Teno Roncalio (D-WY) as Press Secretary and later as Chief of Staff. Ms. Karpan holds a B.S. in Journalism from the University of Wyoming, an M.A. in American Studies from the University of Wyoming and a J.D. from the University of Oregon.

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), U.S. Department of Interior, was created by the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. The primary objectives of the OSM's are to ensure that coal mines are operated cooperatively with States and Tribes, that the mines are operated in a manner that protects citizens and the environment during mining, that the land is restored to beneficial use following mining, and that the effects of past mining are mitigated by aggressively pursuing reclamation of abandoned mines.

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