North Slope Science Initiative, Oversight Group Overview

 

Activities of the NSSI are directed by an Oversight Group that is composed of Federal, State, and Borough land managers. The Oversight Group consists of the following member agencies with voting privileges: the State Director of BLM; the Regional Directors of the FWS, National Park Service (NPS), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and the MMS; the Commissioners of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (ADNR) and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG); the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) President; and the Mayor of the North Slope Borough. These agencies represent the principal government agencies at the regional, State, and Federal levels with management responsibilities for public lands, fish, and wildlife on the North Slope. In addition, the USGS, DOE, and the U.S. Arctic Research Commission participate in the Oversight Group as advisory agencies on science issues related to the North Slope, but will not have voting privileges.

 

The stated mission of the Oversight Group is to “enhance the quality and quantity of the scientific information available for aquatic, terrestrial, and marine environments on the North Slope and to make this information available to decision makers, governmental agencies, industry, and the public. This mission will be accomplished through a coordinated and integrated approach to conducting inventory, monitoring, and research activities on the North Slope.” To accomplish this, the Oversight Group directs and facilitates information gathering and analysis on the North Slope. Specific objectives of the Oversight Group include:

 

·         Developing an understanding of informational needs for regulatory and land-management agencies, local governments, and the public;

·         Identifying and prioritizing informational needs for inventory, monitoring, and research activities;

·         Coordinating ongoing and future inventory, monitoring, and research activities to minimize duplication of effort, share financial resources and expertise, and assure the collection of high-quality information;

·         Identifying priority needs not addressed by existing agency science programs and developing a funding strategy to meet these needs;

·         Maintaining and improving public and agency access to past and ongoing research and to traditional and local knowledge; and

·         Ensuring the technical quality of NSSI scientific activities.

 

The Oversight Group may establish other ad hoc and standing committees as considered necessary, and would specify the purpose and duration of each committee. Any committees established would automatically expire upon completion of their assignment. The Oversight Group also will establish a standing staff-level committee composed of one member from each member agency or organization. Committee members would advise their respective Oversight Group members on issues prior to each Oversight Group meeting and would provide assistance to the NSSI Executive Director, as appropriate.

 

The Oversight Group will meet a minimum of two times per year—once in Anchorage and once in Barrow. Oversight Group meetings will be open to the public and shall provide an opportunity for public comment. The Oversight Group may close meetings on matters pertaining to confidential personnel issues, litigation, confidential information such as archaeological information, and other matters included under applicable State and Federal laws and Borough ordinances.

 

Document related to each oversight group meeting can be accessed within this area of the NSSI portal by clicking on the meeting date of interest in the menu to the left.

 

Please click here to view the North Slope Science Oversight Group Charter.