49-404. Employment of inspectors and other personnel; contracts for technical services authorized; financial interest in coal mining operation prohibited; penalties for violation of prohibition; rules
49-404
49-404. Employment of inspectors and other personnel; contracts fortechnical services authorized; financial interest in coal mining operationprohibited; penalties for violation of prohibition; rules and regulationsfor enforcement; reports to congress.Within the limits ofappropriations therefor, the secretary may employ inspectors, clerical helpand other personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of administeringand enforcing the provisions of the mined-land conservation andreclamation act. Within the limits of appropriations therefor, the secretarymay enter into contracts with consultants for services of a technicalnature which may be required in the administration of the mined-landconservation and reclamation act. No employee of the department who performsany functionor duty under this act shallhave a direct or indirect financialinterest in any underground or surface coal mining operation. The secretaryshall prescribe by regulations, methods for filing employee statements toaid in enforcement of this provision. Whoever knowingly violates the provisionsof the prohibition against financial interests shall, upon conviction, bepunished by a fine of not more than $2,500, or by imprisonment of not morethan one year, or both. The secretary shall adopt rules and regulations toestablish methods by which this prohibition shall be monitored and enforced,to provide for filing by employees and review of statements and supplementsthereto concerning any financial interest which may be affected by thisprohibition, and to make such reports to congress related thereto that maybe required by the national surface mining control and reclamation act of1977 (public law 95-87).
History: L. 1968, ch. 395, § 4; L. 1974, ch. 348, § 23; L.1974, ch. 229, § 1; L. 1978, ch. 208, § 3; L. 1979, ch. 169, § 2;L. 1988, ch. 192, § 8; July 1.