OSM still reviewing Caperton’s financial disclosure for DEP.
Caperton, a lawyer and a mining engineer, filed two separate financial disclosures with Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, each listing different financial interests or business holdings.
Caperton marked that he was a consultant to the company and received a retainer.
Caperton also marked on the form that none of the financial interests he listed “represents an interest in an underground or surface coal mining operation.” Then, on Feb. 6, Caperton filed a second OSM 23 form with the federal agency.
The OSM blacked out the part of the form that described his interest in the company, but a separate blank on the form listed the nature of his employment or financial interest as “salary.” Caperton again marked that none of the financial interests he listed “represents an interest in an underground or surface coal mining operation.” Two days after filing his second financial disclosure with the OSM — and more than a week after the state’s legal deadline — Caperton filed a required financial disclosure Feb. 8 with West Virginia’s state Ethics Commission.
On his Ethics Commission form, Caperton reported at least 20 percent of his income last year came from the mining equipment sector.
Under DEP’s water pollution rules, the agency secretary cannot be someone who receives or has received during the previous two years a significant portion of income directly or indirectly from permit holders or applicants for permits.
Urtso said that Caperton also assisted last year when A.L.
Urtso is continuing to work with Strata as a consultant.
It’s important that you look the part like we do in the military.” Justice has caused a stir with repeated comments about the way he believes DEP inspectors dress, saying they wear “T-shirts and old jeans” or “show up in a tank top and flip-flops.” Urtso said that when he spoke with Caperton prior to the DEP training event, Caperton told him he had not seen any problems with the way DEP inspectors dress on the job.