"President Trump’s nominee to lead a mining industry regulator withdrew his name from consideration Thursday, citing frustration over the ethics review process.

J. Steven Gardner, a coal industry consultant, said in a statement that he was “saddened by the necessity” of his withdrawal from consideration to lead the Interior Department’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE).

“The decision was very difficult for me and comes after almost a year of back and forth with the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) over the conditions for an Ethics Agreement,” Gardner said."

Timothy Cama reports for The Hill September 6, 2018. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Climate Denier Tapped To Lead Interior Department Mining Agency Withdraws Nomination" (Think Progress) [3]