In addition to the rules in this part, employees of the Department of the Interior also should refer to the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, at 5 CFR part 2635; the Department's regulations that supplement those executive branch-wide standards at 5 CFR part 3501; the employee responsibilities and conduct regulations at 5 CFR part 735; and the executive branch financial disclosure regulations at 5 CFR part 2634.

(a) The following terms are used throughout this part and have the following meanings:

(1) Department means the U.S. Department of the Interior and any of its components.

(2) Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

(3) Bureau means each major program operating component of the Department, the Office of the Secretary, the Office of the Solicitor, and the Office of the Inspector General.

(4) Employee means a regular employee, a special Government employee, and a contract education employee in the Office of the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs or the Bureau of Indian Affairs, unless the text of a particular subpart, section, or paragraph indicates that either regular employees or special Government employees are not intended to be covered by that subpart, section or paragraph. Volunteers in National Parks whose services are accepted pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 18g are not employees.

(b) Specific definitions. Additional definitions of terms specifically associated with a particular subpart, section, or paragraph are found in that subpart, section, or paragraph.

It is the responsibility of each employee:

(a) To be familiar with and to comply with all Federal statutes, Executive Orders, and regulations that govern his or her conduct. Employees are expected to consult with their supervisors and servicing ethics counselors on questions they may have regarding the applicability of any ethics or other conduct provision. Ethics advice may also be obtained from the Solicitor's Office and the Department Ethics Office.

(b) To report directly or through appropriate channels to the Office of Inspector General or other appropriate authority matters coming to their attention which do or may involve violations of law or regulation by employees, contractors, sub-contractors, grantees, subgrantees, lessees, licensees or other persons having official business with the Department.