Ethics Rules for Scientists Emeriti

Your position as a USGS Scientist Emeritus brings with it significant visibility and responsibility. A SE must continue to avoid financial conflicts of interest prohibited by 18 U.S.C. 208, but you are not subject to the investment restrictions of the Organic Act or the USGS Conflict of Interest Policy, and you are not required to file financial conflict of interest reports. However, there are numerous ethics rules that you must continue to follow as a condition your receiving and/or retaining scientist emeritus status. These rules are listed below.

• You must keep the USGS personnel with whom you are associated as a Scientist Emeritus informed as to your employment status. This enables USGS personnel to determine whether there are projects on which you should not work and to assist you in avoiding conflicts of interest.
• You must avoid any conflicts of interest between your Scientist Emeritus status and your personal financial interests or those interests imputed to you. When performing Scientist Emeritus work, you may not take any official actions (including providing recommendations and advice to USGS personnel) that could financially benefit you, your spouse, any entity with whom you work, with whom you are engaged in employment negotiations, or with whom you have financial interest. 18 U.S.C. 208.
• You must not violate post-Government employment restrictions, as set forth in 18 U.S. Code 207. All USGS retirees are subject to post-Government representational restrictions, and some personnel have more restrictions than others. The basic restriction is that for two years after your retirement, you may not contact Federal personnel with the intent to influence them regarding particular matters involving specific parties that were your official responsibility during your last year of your USGS employment. For further information on post-Government employment restrictions, contact the USGS Ethics Office.
• You may not use your Scientist Emeritus status for your personal financial gain. If you have a consulting business, there must be a clear distinction between your Scientist Emeritus status and your consulting business. This restriction does not prevent you from accepting honoraria for speeches or presentations you are invited to give because of your scientific experience and expertise. If such honoraria are proposed or accepted, you should inform the USGS personnel with whom you perform your Scientist Emeritus duties.
• You must protect and conserve Government resources. Government resources may only be used for authorized purposes and in furtherance of the USGS mission. Government resources may not be used for commercial activities. If you are engaged in post-Government employment, you may not use your USGS e-mail account in association with that employment. You may utilize USGS computer resources in accordance with the USGS Limited Use Policy, so long as the use does not impact the USGS mission.

You may not release non-public information to unauthorized entities.

You may not testify or provide a deposition as an expert witness in matters concerning your Scientist Emeritus work, or concerning the USGS work of the project/Team with which you are associated, without prior authorization from the Ethics Office.

If you have questions or concerns regarding these rules, please contact the USGS Ethics Office by phone (703) 648-7474, 7439, or 7422 or e-mail to EthicsOffice@usgs.gov.