You are prohibited forever from representing a third party in an appearance before or communication to, with the intent to influence, any member of the United States government on a particular matter involving specific parties in which you participated personally and substantially.

This means that if you worked on a specific party matter, then you cannot represent another entity back the the Government on the same matter. Examples of specific party matters include investigations, applications, requests for a ruling or determination, contract, controversy, claim, charge, accusation, arrest, or judicial or other proceeding.

The ban does not include a rulemaking or other particular matter of general applicability, but would include a notice of intent that is specific to one chemical. Also note that even if a post-employment communication or appearance concerns the same particular matter, the representational bar does not apply unless the United States is a party or has a direct and substantial interest in that matter at the time of the post-employment representation.

Also note that the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) interprets "personal" participation to include the direction or control of a subordinate employee's participation. Your participation is considered substantial if your involvement at the time was of significance to the matter. This includes decision-making, review, or recommendation as the action to be taken.