Coal Inspector Rotation, Cross-training, Mentoring and Succession Planning

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
http://www.blm.gov

September 26, 2014

In Reply Refer To:
3486 (320) P

EMS TRANSMISSION 12/19/2014
Instruction Memorandum No. 2014-157
Expires:  09/30/2015

To:                   All Washington Office and Field Officials

From:               Assistant Director, Energy, Minerals, and Realty Management

Subject:           Coal Inspector Rotation, Cross-training, Mentoring and Succession Planning

Program Area:  Coal Management.

Purpose:  This Instruction Memorandum (IM) provides Bureau of Land Management (BLM) policy for using rotation, cross-training, and mentoring of mine inspectors to enhance professional development and ensure an effective inspection program, and sets out the policy to initiate succession planning for certified mineral mine inspectors (MMI).                                                                                                       

Policy/Action.  On June 2013 the Mineral Mine Inspector Certification Course 3400-02 was developed and became a requirement for all new inspectors.  State Directors (SD) will, within budgetary and other constraints, implement cross-training, mentoring and rotation of inspectors to different mining operations to enhance professional development and the inspection program.  Cross training includes working at a different field office from the home office.  Each Deputy State Director (DSD) will coordinate with the Washington office and the National Training Center in determining the specific training that will be needed  in meeting the annual refresher training requirement for certified MMI.  On-the-job cross-training will enhance the inspector’s knowledge of mining operations and safety conditions.

SDs will also encourage MMIs to perform inspection duties at different field offices as needed.  Experienced MMIs will mentor and assist new mine inspectors in becoming certified.  MMIs may be provided one Professional Development Training credit hour for each hour of cross-training by conducting an inspection at a different field office, or mentoring of new inspectors.  The DSDs are responsible for insuring that the inspection duties performed at other field offices, or the mentoring activities, are quality activities that are worthy of professional development credit.  The National Training Center may be consulted on the mentoring aspects as needed.

Although this policy encourages employees to perform inspections at other field offices in order to gain experience and for professional development, SDs will ensure that all active and inactive coal mine inspections are performed by an MMI.

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) reported that more than one-half of BLM’s solid minerals staff will be eligible for retirement by 2015; therefore, as part of the state workforce planning efforts, SDs should initiate succession planning for MMIs by closely reviewing current staffing levels and future program inspection needs and requirements, and should address these needs, to the extent possible given budget and other constraints

Timeframe:  Effective immediately.

Budget Impact: Will require minimal levels of funding for training and mentoring activities but should be implemented within existing budgets. 

Background:  Inspections are to be performed at least quarterly on active leases and annually on inactive leases or licensed lands.  In addition to inspections on Federal leased and licensed lands, the BLM assists the Bureau of Indian Affairs and/or Native American tribes and allottees with the management of coal resources that are held in trust for tribes or allottees.  The BLM’s certified mine inspectors perform these inspections.  This IM will ensure that the BLM provides mentoring and cross-training to ensure the BLM has a properly trained cadre of mineral inspectors, and that each SD initiates a succession plan for the recruitment and training of mineral inspectors as the situation in each office warrants. 

The OIG published the Coal Management program report (Report) on June 11, 2013.  The Report contained 13 recommendations.  This IM is in response to OIG Recommendation 13, to enhance the effectiveness of the BLM coal inspection program.  The BLM concurred with the recommendation, stating that it will evaluate policies and budget implications for the feasibility of rotating mine inspectors.

Manual/Handbook Sections Affected:  This additional policy will be incorporated into the 3486 Coal Inspection and Enforcement Handbook when next updated.

Coordination:  State, district, and field offices, and the Washington Office Solid Minerals Division evaluated the OIG’s recommendation 13 and coordinated the development of the Inspector Rotation and Cross-training Policy.

Contact:  If you have any questions concerning the content of this IM, please contact me at 202-208-4201, or your staff may contact Mitchell Leverette, Division Chief (WO-320) at 202-912-7113 or mleveret@blm.gov; or John A. Lewis, 202-912-7117, or j35lewis@blm.gov.

Signed by:                                                                   Authenticated  by:

Michael Nedd                                                             Ambyr Fowler

Assistant Director                                                       Division of IRM Governance (WO-860)

Energy, Minerals, and Realty Management