Okla. Stat. tit. 45, § 45-3: Chief Mine Inspector - Assistant Mine Inpectors

The Chief Mine Inspector shall be a citizen of the United States

and shall have been a resident of the State of Oklahoma for the

three (3) years prior to his appointment to office. In addition,

the Chief Mine Inspector shall have had eight (8) years' actual

experience as a practical miner. For the purposes of this section

employment as an inspector for the Department of Mines shall be

considered practical mining experience. The Chief Mine Inspector

shall be appointed by the Governor by and with the consent of the

Senate for a term of four (4) years to run concurrently with the

term of the Governor. At any time that such office becomes vacant,

the Governor shall appoint with the consent of the Senate a

successor to complete the unfinished term of office.

The Deputy Chief Mine Inspector shall possess the same residency

requirements necessary for the Chief Mine Inspector. The Deputy

Chief Mine Inspector shall be appointed by and shall serve at the

pleasure of the Governor and shall be under the direction of the

Chief Mine Inspector. The Deputy Chief Mine Inspector shall assume

all of the duties and responsibilities of the Chief Mine Inspector

in the absence of the Chief Mine Inspector.

The assistant mine inspectors shall be appointed by and at all

times be under the direction of the Chief Mine Inspector. The

assistant mine inspectors appointed to inspect underground mining

operations shall have a minimum of three (3) years' practical mining

experience, and shall have obtained as a minimum a certificate of

competency as a mine foreman.