President Obama has nominated William Ira Althen to be a member of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, a key panel tasked with overseeing mine safety enforcement, the White House announced on May 28.

Althen founded a consulting company, William I. Althen Consulting, which specializes in legal issues dealing with worker health and safety.

Althen has also been an attorney with labor and employment firm Ogletree Deakins. He also helped found Heenan, Althen & Roles, a firm that later merged with Ogletree Deakins.

The five-member Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission reviews disputes dealing with Mine Safety and Health Administration enforcement of safety laws, including company violations. Members can review decisions by the commission's administrative law judges.

If confirmed, Althen's term would expire in six years. He would replace Michael Duffy, whose term has expired.