(a) Definitions. As used in this section:

(1) Direct financial interest in underground or surface coal mining operations means ownership or part ownership by an employee of lands, stocks, bonds, debentures, warrants, partnership shares, or other holdings and also means any other arrangement where the employee may benefit from his or her holding in or salary from coal mining operation. Direct financial interests also include employment, pensions, creditor, real property and other financial relationships.

(2) Indirect financial interest in underground or surface coal mining operations means the same financial relationships as for direct ownership, but where the employee reaps the benefits of such interests including interests held by his or her spouse, dependent child and other relatives, including in-laws, residing in the employee's home. The employee will not be deemed to have an indirect financial interest if there is no relationship between the employee's functions or duties and the coal mining operation in which the spouse, dependent child or other resident relative holds a financial interest.

(3) Coal mining operation means the business of developing, producing, preparing or loading bituminous coal, subbituminous coal, anthracite or lignite or of reclaiming the areas upon which such activities occur.

(4) Performing any function or duty under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 means those decisions or actions, which if performed or not performed by an employee, affect the programs under the Act.

(b) Prohibitions.

(1) Neither the Director nor any other employee of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement or any other employee who performs functions or duties under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, 30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq., shall have a direct or indirect financial interest in underground or surface coal mining operations.

(2) The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, at 30 U.S.C. 1211(f), provides that anyone who knowingly violates the prohibitions in that Act shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than $2,500, or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.

(c) Employees are encouraged to review regulations contained in 30 CFR part 706 which pertain to the prohibitions restated in this section.