§4102 Arctic Research Commission

Summary

The President must create an Arctic Research Commission. It will have seven people picked by the President, and the Director of the National Science Foundation will join as a nonvoting member. Of the seven appointees, four must come from colleges or research groups with Arctic science experience (like physical, biological, health, environmental, social, or behavioral sciences), one must be an indigenous Arctic resident who represents people living where resource development happens, and two must know the Arctic and represent private industry involved in Arctic resource development. The President picks one appointee to be the chair. Members normally serve four-year terms, but the first group is staggered so one serves two years, two serve three years, and two serve four years. Vacancies are filled for the rest of the term after a notice is published. Members may keep serving until a successor is named and may serve more than one term. Members can be paid travel costs and per diem under federal rules, and unpaid members get pay equal to the daily equivalent of GS–18 for up to 90 days a year. For most purposes they are not federal employees, except for work-injury claims and tort claims. The Commission meets when the chair or a majority calls a meeting, federal agencies may send observers to advise and report, and the Commission must hold at least one public meeting in Alaska each year.