(a) Designated Agency Ethics Official refers to the official designated under 5 CFR 2638.201 to coordinate and manage the Department's ethics program.

(b) The head of each bureau is the “Ethics Counselor” for that bureau, except that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy is the Ethics Counselor for employees in the Office of the Secretary and related offices. The Solicitor is the Ethics Counselor for the Office of the Solicitor and the Inspector General is the Ethics Counselor for the Office of Inspector General.

(c) The personnel officer for each bureau or other qualified employee who has been delegated responsibility for the operational duties of the Ethics Counselor for the bureau, it the “Deputy Ethics Counselor” for that bureau.

(d) A bureau, regional, or area personnel officer or other qualified employee may be assigned to serve as an “Associate Ethics Counselor” or “Assistant Ethics Counselor,” with delegated responsibility to perform the operational duties of the Ethics Counselor at the field level. Associate Ethics Counselors or Assistant Ethics Counselors may also be designated within the bureau headquarters.

[62 FR 53720, Oct. 16, 1997, as amended at 63 FR 34259, June 24, 1998]