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 and regulations for enforcement; reports to congress. Within the limits of appropriations therefor, the secretary may employ inspectors, clerical help and other personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of administering and enforcing the provisions of the mined-land conservation and reclamation act. Within the limits of appropriations therefor, the secretary may enter into contracts with consultants for services of a technical nature which may be required in the administration of the mined-land conservation and reclamation act. No employee of the department who performs any function or duty under this act shall have a direct or indirect financial interest in any underground or surface coal mining operation. The secretary shall prescribe by regulations, methods for filing employee statements to aid in enforcement of this provision. Whoever knowingly violates the provisions of the prohibition against financial interests shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than $2,500, or by imprisonment of not more than one year, or both. The secretary shall adopt rules and regulations to establish methods by which this prohibition shall be monitored and enforced, to provide for filing by employees and review of statements and supplements thereto concerning any financial interest which may be affected by this prohibition, and to make such reports to congress related thereto that may be required by the national surface mining control and reclamation act of 1977 (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.