§15906 North Slope Science Initiative

Summary

The Secretary of the Interior must set up a long-term North Slope Science Initiative to coordinate scientific work that helps people better understand the land, rivers, and ocean around Alaska’s North Slope. The Initiative must make a clear science plan that says what information is most important, especially for tracking how past, current, and future development and environmental change affect the area. The plan must help agencies and the public know what data they need, cut down on duplicate work, share money and skills, keep science high quality (including peer review), keep and share research and local and traditional knowledge, and find funding for needed work not covered by programs in effect on August 8, 2005. The Secretary must work with federal, state, and local agencies and may make formal agreements with the State of Alaska, the North Slope Borough, the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, and others. The Initiative must have an advisory panel of up to 15 scientists and experts from diverse groups. A report about the Initiative’s studies and findings is due no later than 3 years after August 8, 2005, and yearly after that. Money needed to run the Initiative is authorized.