OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING

For Release September 25, 1997               Jerry Childress (202) 208-2719
                                                            Jchildre@osmre.gov

        GAINER NAMED OSM ALBUQUERQUE FIELD OFFICE DIRECTOR

     Richard J. Seibel, Regional Director of the Interior Department's Office of Surface
Mining (OSM) Western Regional Coordinating Center, recently announced the appointment of 
Willis L. Gainer as Director of the Agency's field office in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

     Gainer, who comes to Albuquerque from OSM's Knoxville, Tennessee Field Office
where he served as supervisor of the office's Technical Group, will be in charge of all OSM
activities in New Mexico's coal regions, and be responsible for direct inspection and
enforcement activities of coal mining and reclamation activities on Indian tribal lands in New
Mexico and Arizona.      

     "OSM benefits greatly from Willis Gainer's professional expertise and managerial
experience," Seibel said.  "His appointment will ensure the Albuquerque Field Office the
continuing strong, dependable leadership that our employees and customers in New Mexico and
Arizona have come to rely upon."

     According to Seibel, Gainer has 18 years experience working for OSM in Knoxville,
Pittsburgh, and Denver, and has worked with coal mining and reclamation operations in 18
different coal producing states.   "He has served on several national task  forces, and brings
extensive experience with the implementation of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation
Act to his new position," Seibel said.

     While assigned to OSM's regional office in Denver in the mid-1980's, Gainer served as
Senior Project Manager for Federal Programs and Indian Lands, gaining experience working with
coal mining operations on Indian lands in New Mexico and Arizona.          

     Gainer began his federal government career in 1970 as a student trainee with the Soil
Conservation Service (SCS) in West Virginia.  Prior to joining OSM in 1979, he worked for the
Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly the SCS) in both West Virginia and
Tennessee.  

     He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Wildlife Management from West Virginia
University and is a recipient of the Department of the Interior Meritorious Service Award, and
the National Performance Review" s  "Hammer Award." 



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