Title 43, Public LandsRelease 119-110

§1355 Restrictions on Employment of Former Officers or Employees of Department of the Interior

Title 43 › CHAPTER 29 — SUBMERGED LANDS › SUBCHAPTER III — OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF LANDS › § 1355

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Full-time Interior officials who had duties under this subchapter and who were paid under the Executive Schedule or at or above the GS‑16 rate during the twelve months before they left must not, within two years after leaving, knowingly represent, assist, or communicate to influence any U.S. department, agency, or court about a specific matter where the United States is a party or has a direct and substantial interest if that matter was under their official responsibility within the year before they left or they personally and substantially took part in it. They also must not, within one year after leaving, knowingly represent, assist, or communicate to influence the Department of the Interior on any matter pending before the Department or in which the Department has a direct and substantial interest. Representing the United States is allowed.

Full Legal Text

Title 43, §1355

Public Lands, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

No full-time officer or employee of the Department of the Interior who directly or indirectly discharged duties or responsibilities under this subchapter, and who was at any time during the twelve months preceding the termination of his employment with the Department compensated under the Executive Schedule or compensated at or above the annual rate of basic pay for grade GS–16 of the General Schedule shall—
(1)within two years after his employment with the Department has ceased—
(A)knowingly act as agent or attorney for, or otherwise represent, any other person (except the United States) in any formal or informal appearance before;
(B)with the intent to influence, make any oral or written communication on behalf of any other person (except the United States) to; or
(C)knowingly aid or assist in representing any other person (except the United States) in any formal or informal appearance before,
any department, agency, or court of the United States, or any officer or employee thereof, in connection with any judicial or other proceeding, application, request for a ruling or other determination, regulation, order, lease, permit, rulemaking, or other particular matter involving a specific party or parties in which the United States is a party or has a direct and substantial interest which was actually pending under his official responsibility as an officer or employee within a period of one year prior to the termination of such responsibility or in which he participated personally and substantially as an officer or employee; or
(2)within one year after his employment with the Department has ceased—
(A)knowingly act as agent or attorney for, or otherwise represent, any other person (except the United States) in any formal or informal appearance before; or
(B)with the intent to influence, make any oral or written communication on behalf of any other person (except the United States) to,
the Department of the Interior, or any officer or employee thereof, in connection with any judicial, rulemaking, regulation, order, lease, permit, regulation, or other particular matter which is pending before the Department of the Interior or in which the Department has a direct and substantial interest.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Executive Schedule, referred to in text, is set out in section 5311 et seq. of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

References in Other Laws to GS–16, 17, or 18 Pay RatesReferences in laws to the rates of pay for GS–16, 17, or 18, or to maximum rates of pay under the General Schedule, to be considered references to rates payable under specified sections of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, see section 529 [title I, § 101(c)(1)] of Pub. L. 101–509, set out in a note under section 5376 of Title 5.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

43 U.S.C. § 1355

Title 43, Public Lands

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110