Restrictions on Holding Oil, Gas and Mineral Leases

It has come to the attention of the Ethics Office that some USGS employees have signed leases or may be considering signing leases of the oil, gas or mineral rights on property they own. 

The purpose of this memorandum is to remind all USGS employees that they, their spouses and minor children are restricted by a Department of the Interior (DOI) supplemental ethics regulation [5 C.F.R. § 3501.104(b)] from holding direct or indirect financial interests related to private mining activities in the United States.  This restriction is in addition to the supplemental ethics regulation [5 C.F.R. § 3501.103] that prohibits USGS employees from holding financial interests in companies that have substantial coal, oil and gas leases on Federal lands.