an understanding of the interrelationships between the physical 

 and biological processes in the Arctic and adjacent areas. 

 Conservation also requires knowledge of human activity and 

 patterns of resource use. Obtaining this information reguires 

 cooperation among field scientists, research institutions, 

 Federal and State of Alaska agencies, Native Alaskans, the 

 private sector, and international organizations. 



The U.S. Arctic Research and Policy Act, passed in 1984, 

 provides authority to establish national policy, priorities, 

 and goals for Arctic research and to coordinate Federal Arctic 

 research programs to meet identified needs. To focus and 

 help coordinate the overall Federal effort in Arctic research, 

 the Act reguires the development of a five-year Arctic research 

 plan. The plan is to be developed by an Interagency Arctic 

 Research Policy Committee in consultation with the Arctic 

 Research Commission, the two administrative bodies established 

 by the Act. The five-member Arctic Research Commission, 

 appointed by the President, is charged with recommending 

 Arctic research policy and priorities and promoting Arctic 

 research, as well as providing guidance for developing the 

 research plan. The Interagency Committee is comprised of 

 representatives of Federal agencies with Arctic programs and 

 is chaired by the National Science Foundation, the agency 

 responsible for implementing U.S. Arctic research policy. 

 Meetings of the Interagency Committee are held annually or as 

 needed. The Interagency Committee is assisted in its work by 

 a staff group which meets monthly. In addition to developing 

 the research plan, the Interagency Committee's duties include 

 developing a coordinated research budget and promoting coor- 

 dinated research activities, including logistics, by working 

 cooperatively with the Arctic Research Commission, state and 

 local governments, and other countries. 



International aspects of U.S. Arctic policy generally 

 are considered by the Interagency Arctic Policy Group, esta- 

 blished in 1971 and subsequently guided by National Security 

 Decision Memoranda Numbers 144 and 90. The Policy Group, 

 chaired by the Department of State, aims to develop a national 

 policy for the Arctic in accordance with a broad directive on 

 overall national interests in the Arctic and to assist in 

 developing bilateral agreements. 



Since early in 1987, the Marine Mammal Commission has 

 participated in planning and policy meetings associated with 

 the activities of the Arctic Research Commission, the Inter- 

 agency Arctic Research Policy Committee, and the Interagency 

 Arctic Policy Group. Background information and a description 

 of these and other Arctic-related activities undertaken in 

 1988 are provided below. 



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