Naasz out at National Mining Association

Kraig Naasz is out as president and CEO of the National Mining Association after three years running the group.

NMA spokesman Luke Popovich said Naasz is on an “extended leave of absence.” But industry sources said the departure was permanent.

{mosads}The reason for the split was not immediately clear, although some board members were apparently unhappy with Naasz’s leadership.

His departure comes at a time when the mining industry faces a number of legislative challenges with Democrats expected to take firmer majorities in Congress. NMA represents both coal and mineral mining interests.

Coal companies, for example, could be hurt by efforts to curb greenhouse gases. Coal emits more carbon dioxide than other fuels used to produce electricity.

Congressional Democrats have also pushed for new fees on  mine operations to pay for additional safety regulations.

Mineral miners, meanwhile, face the prospect of a rewrite of the 1872 Mining Act that would impose royalty fees for the first time in history.

Since Democrats took over Congress in 2007, Naasz had sought to increase the group’s lobbying budget and spend more money on Democratic candidates for office.

The association has spent $2.2 million on lobbying so far this year. It spent around $4 million in all of 2007, $2.3 million in 2006, and $3.4 million in 2005.

And NMA has shifted more money to Democrats this cycle, although not as significantly as other business groups  have since 2007.

NMA’s two political action committees (PACs), Minepac and Coalpac, have donated $380,000 to federal candidates, with just over 30 percent going to Democrats, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. In 2004, the split was around 15 percent-85 percent in favor of the Republican Party.

Naasz was hired to replace Jack Gerard as president and CEO of the NMA in August of 2005. Naasz had previously led the Fertilizer Institute and the U.S. Apple Association. He is also a former aide to former Sen. Slade Gorton (R-Wash.).

Naasz came to NMA after Gerard left to run the American Chemistry Council. He has since accepted an offer to run the American Petroleum Institute, which represents large oil and gas companies in Washington.