Contact the Departmental Ethics Office:
Email Address: DOI_Ethics@ios.doi.gov
Phone: (202) 208-7960

• 2011 Holiday Guidance
• Ethics Express Newsletter
  Issue 4, November 9, 2011
• Secretarial Order: Enhancing and Promoting an Ethical Culture within the Department of the Interior
  The purpose of this order is to enhance and promote an ethical culture throughout the Department of the Interior by clarifying the roles and responsibilities of Department Employees, Deputy Ethics Counselors, Bureau Heads, the Designated Agency Ethics Official (DAEO), and Assistant Secretaries with respect to ethics.
  • View the News Release
• Combined Federal Campaign
• Hatch Act and Federal Employees
• Hatch Act Cards
  • Hatch Act Information for GS and WG Employees
  • Hatch Act Information for Career SES, Administrative Law Judges, Contract Appeal Board Members, and Administrative Appeals Judges
  • Hatch Act Information for Non-Career SES and Schedule C Employees
  • Hatch Act Information for Appointees Confirmed by the Senate (PAS Officials)
  Additional information is available at www.osc.gov, or please feel free to contact the Departmental Ethics Office at (202) 208-7960.
• The Foundation For Ethical Behavior
• Common Ethics Issues

Opinion on Attendance of Events in Skyboxes

The Office of Government Ethics has recently provided guidance to
Designated Agency Ethics Officials on the valuation of gifts of attendance to an event in a skybox or private suite. As the ethics
regulations state, employees generally may not accept any gifts from a prohibited source (that is anyone who does business with your agency, seeks to do business with your agency, is regulated by your agency, or could be affected by the performance or non-performance of your official duties) or if the gift is given to the employee due to their official duties. However, if an employee were to pay fair market value for the gift, the employee may accept it. The Office of Government Ethics notice states that fair market value for attendance at an event in a skybox or private suite would be the sum value of all incidentals offered (food, parking, etc.) as well at the price of the most expensive ticket to the event available to the general public. In this case, if an employee is offered attendance to an event in a skybox or private suite from a prohibited source or because of the employee’s official position, in order to accept the gift the employee would have to pay whoever offers the gift, the equivalent cost of all incidentals as well as the value of the most expensive ticket to the event open to the general public. Additionally, if you receive a gift that is not from a prohibited source or offered to you due to your official position, you may have reporting requirements for the gift on your financial disclosure form. If you have any questions regarding this notice, please contact your relevant ethics counselor. http://www.usoge.gov/pages/daeograms/dgr_files/2007/do07003.html

Melinda Loftin new DAEO

Matt Parsons, Attorney Advisor for Ethics, Denver, CO

The Departmental Ethics Office has a branch satellite office located in Denver, Colorado, which is available to serve our clients in the western U.S..  Matt Parsons serves as an Attorney Advisor for Ethics and is co-located with the Rocky Mountain Regional Solicitor’s office in Denver.

Matt was raised in the Rocky Mountain west and attended the University of Colorado as an undergraduate.  He attended the University of Iowa, College of Law and is licensed to practice law in the State of Iowa.

Matt is a former career Army Judge Advocate.  As a Judge Advocate he served as a trial defense counsel, prosecutor, operational law attorney, and in a series of administrative and civil law positions.  He served as the senior supervisory attorney at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin and later as the Chief of Administrative Law, and then Chief of Criminal Law for the U.S. Army Reserve. His last assignment before retiring as a Colonel was as the Inspector General for the U.S. Army Reserve.  He has worked in the area of government ethics in various capacities for the past 17 years.  Please take advantage of Matt as a resource for assistance, advice, and support on ethics issues and training.  He can be reached at (303) 231-5353, Ext. 445, or matthew.parsons@sol.doi.gov.