Act. Means the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, Pub. L. 95-87.

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.

Direct financial interest. 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 operations. Direct financial interests include employment, pensions, creditor, real property and other financial relationships.

Director. Means the Director or Acting Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement within the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Employee. Means (a) any person employed by the State Regulatory Authority who performs any function or duty under the Act, and (b) advisory board or commission members and consultants who perform any function or duty under the Act, if they perform decisionmaking functions for the State Regulatory Authority under the authority of State law or regulations. However, members of advisory boards or commissions established in accordance with State law or regulations to represent multiple interests are not considered to be employees. State officials may through State law or regulations expand this definition to meet their program needs.

Indirect financial interest. 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, minor 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, minor children or other resident relatives hold a financial interest.

Office. Means the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Performing any function or duty under this Act. Means those decisions or actions, which if performed or not performed by an employee, affect the programs under the Act.

Prohibited financial interest. Means any direct or indirect financial interest in any coal mining operation.

Secretary. Means the Secretary of the Interior.

State Regulatory Authority. Means that office in each State which has primary responsibility at the State level for administering this Act. Until an office is established under the provisions of section 503 or section 504 of the Act, this term shall refer to those existing State offices having primary jurisdiction for regulating, enforcing, and inspecting any surface coal mining and reclamation operations within the State during the interim period between the effective date of the Act and the establishment of the State Regulatory Authority under section 503 or section 504.