Arizona State Mine Inspector

{{Short description|State agency}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2016}}

{{Infobox Political post

|post = State Mine Inspector

|body = Arizona

|insignia =

|insigniasize =

|insigniacaption = Seal of the Attorney General of Arizona

|imagesize =

|image = Paul Marsh by Gage Skidmore.jpg

|alt= =

|incumbent = Paul Marsh

|incumbentsince = October 29, 2021

|style =

|termlength = Four years, can serve four terms

|inaugural =

|residence = Phoenix, Arizona

|formation =

|deputy = Tim Evans

|salary =

|website = [https://asmi.az.gov Arizona State Mine Inspector]

}}

The Arizona State Mine Inspector is responsible for overseeing the safety and regulation of active and inactive mines in the state of Arizona in the United States. It is an independent, constitutionally-mandated office, elected to a four-year term. Arizona is the only state which fills this position through direct election.{{cite web|url=http://kjzz.org/content/5178/arizona-mine-inspectors-office-tries-climb-out-deep-financial-hole|title=Arizona Mine Inspector's Office Tries To Climb Out Of Deep Financial Hole|author=|date=2013-10-04|publisher=KJZZ|accessdate=2019-10-25}}

Arizona has 600 working mines and an estimated 120,000 abandoned mines.{{cite web|last=Ducote |first=Richard |url=http://tucson.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/race-for-state-mine-inspector-open-for-first-time-in/article_f430a4a8-8949-5951-ab13-08e5758c64ef.html |title=Race for state mine inspector open for first time in 18 years | Govt-and-politics |publisher=tucson.com |date=2006-08-18 |accessdate=2019-10-25}} Owing to a lack of funding, the department employed just two abandoned-mine supervisors as of 2019.{{cite web | url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2019/01/02/arizonas-2-abandoned-mine-inspectors-face-daunting-task/2460768002/ | title='We're all by ourselves': Arizona's two abandoned-mine inspectors face daunting task }}

Arizona House Representative Randall Friese introduced a bill in 2016 to change the position from elected to appointed. The bill failed to move out of committee.{{cite web|url=http://www.azleg.gov//FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/52leg/2r/bills/hcr2003o.asp&Session_ID=115 |title=Format Document |publisher=Azleg.gov |date= |accessdate=2019-10-25}}

In 2007, former inspector Douglas K. Martin was convicted of a felony conflict of interest from the illegal use of state vehicles and theft.{{cite web|agency=Associated Press |url=http://tucsoncitizen.com/morgue/2007/03/15/45055-former-state-mine-inspector-pleads-guilty-to-felony-charge/ |title=Former state mine inspector pleads guilty to felony charge - Tucson Citizen Morgue, Part 1 (2006-2009) |publisher=Tucsoncitizen.com |date=2007-03-15 |accessdate=2019-10-25}}