(a) General. (1) Communications made solely to furnish scientific or technological information are exempt from these prohibitions.

(2) A former Government employee may be exempted from the restrictions on post-employment practices if the Deputy Director of OMB, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Government Ethics, executes a certification that is published in the Federal Register. The certification shall state that the former Government employee has outstanding qualifications in a scientific, technological or other technical discipline; is acting with respect to a particular matter which requires such qualifications; and the national interest would be served by his participation.

(b) Specific. The one-year bar shall not apply to a former Senior Employee's representation on new matters if the former Senior Employee is:

(1) An elected State or local government official, who is acting on behalf of such government; or

(2) Regularly employed by or acting on behalf of an agency or instrumentality of a State or local government; an accredited, degree-granting institution of higher education; or a non-profit hospital or medical research organization.