Notice2025-13642
Request for Public Comment: National Plan for Arctic Research
Primary source
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Published
July 21, 2025
Issuing agencies
National Science Foundation
Abstract
The Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC), chaired by the National Science Foundation, seeks public input from all interested parties on national needs regarding the Arctic and the research necessary to address those needs. The public input provided in response to this RFI will inform the update of the five-year National Arctic Research Plan for 2027-2031.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 137 (Monday, July 21, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 137 (Monday, July 21, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34302-34303]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-13642]
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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Request for Public Comment: National Plan for Arctic Research
AGENCY: National Science Foundation (NSF).
ACTION: Request for information.
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SUMMARY: The Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC),
chaired by the National Science Foundation, seeks public input from all
interested parties on national needs regarding the Arctic and the
research necessary to address those needs. The public input provided in
response to this RFI will inform the update of the five-year National
Arctic Research Plan for 2027-2031.
DATES: Written responses are due by October 15, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Interested individuals and organizations should submit
comments electronically via email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3e777f6c6e7d6e525f507e504d5810595148"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1a535b484a594a767b745a74697c347d756c">[email protected]</span></a>. Send written
submissions to Roberto Delgado, Office of Polar Programs, National
Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314.
Instructions:
Response to this RFI is voluntary. Please note that all submissions
received in response to this notice may be publicly posted or otherwise
released in their entirety. Do not include in your submissions any
copyrighted material; information of a confidential nature, such as
personal or proprietary information; or any information you would not
like to be made publicly available. NSF will not respond to individual
submissions. A response to this RFI will not be viewed as a binding
commitment to develop or pursue the project or ideas discussed. This
RFI is not accepting applications for financial assistance or financial
incentives. Responses containing references, studies, research, and
other empirical data that are not widely published should include
copies of or electronic links to the referenced materials. Responses
from minors, or responses containing profanity, vulgarity, threats, or
other inappropriate language or content will not be considered.
Comments submitted in response to this notice are subject to the
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Please note that the United States
Government will not pay for response preparation, or for the use of any
information contained in a response.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact the IARPC Executive
Secretary, Dr. Lesley Anderson, at 571-565-6963, or by email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b3dfd6d2ddd7d6c1c0f3d2c0c0dcd0dad2c7d6c09dddc0d59dd4dcc5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9af6fffbf4feffe8e9dafbe9e9f5f9f3fbeeffe9b4f4e9fcb4fdf5ec">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984
(ARPA), 15 U.S.C. Chapter 67, provides for a comprehensive national
policy to identify and address national research needs and objectives
in the Arctic. The ARPA established an Arctic Research Commission
(USARC), designated the National Science Foundation as the lead agency
responsible for implementing Arctic research policy, and established an
Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC). The ARPA
legislation charges the IARPC, in cooperation with the USARC, to
develop and establish an integrated national Arctic research policy
that will guide Federal agencies in implementing their research
programs in the Arctic.
About the Arctic Research Plan
IARPC is required by law to prepare and execute a 5-year Arctic
Research Plan, which helps to coordinate the overall Federal effort in
Arctic research. To date, three five-year Arctic Research Plans have
been released and implemented, the most recent covering 2022-2026, and
the current Implementation Plan for 2025-2026 is available here. As
required by the ARPA legislation, IARPC works in partnership with
USARC, as well as with representatives from Arctic communities,
federally recognized Tribal groups, the State of Alaska, the private
sector, non-governmental organizations, research institutions, and
[[Page 34303]]
the academic community. Accordingly, the current Plan is being
implemented by nine collaboration teams and eleven communities of
practice which are co-led by Federal agency staff and non-Federal
individuals with subject matter expertise.
These Arctic Research Plans reflect the goals and missions of the
Federal agencies supporting research in the Arctic and focus on
research which will be enhanced through collaboration among Federal
agencies, as opposed to agencies working alone. The updated Arctic
Research Plan will guide Federal coordination of Arctic research for
the period 2027-2031, positioning the United States to remain a global
leader in Arctic research and stewardship for many years to come.
Seeking Public Input
As called for in the ARPA, IARPC seeks input from any interested
individuals and organizations to ensure that the research interests and
needs of all are addressed appropriately in the updated Plan. IARPC is
committed to an open engagement process throughout the development of
the Plan.
In particular, IARPC is interested in feedback in response to the
following questions regarding what updates should be made to the Arctic
Research Plan 2027-2031:
1. What are the critical issues and needs where federally-funded
science, engineering, and technology research should provide knowledge
to promote sound decision-making at all levels related to the Arctic?
2. What are examples of research questions that address these
issues?
Background
For context, the current Plan ``Arctic Research Plan 2022-2026''
has four policy drivers, four priority areas, and five foundational
activities.
The policy drivers for the Arctic Research Plan FY2022-2026 are:
<bullet> Enhance the well-being of Arctic residents;
<bullet> Advance stewardship of the Arctic environment;
<bullet> Strengthen national and regional security; and
<bullet> Improve understanding of the Arctic as a component of
planet Earth
The priority areas for the Arctic Research Plan FY2022-2026 are:
<bullet> Community Resilience and Health
<bullet> Sustainable Economies and Livelihoods
<bullet> Risk Management and Hazard Mitigation
<bullet> Arctic System Interactions
The foundational activities for the current Arctic Research Plan,
which are meant to undergird the priority areas, are:
<bullet> Data management
<bullet> Education and Training
<bullet> Monitoring, Observation, Modeling and Prediction
<bullet> Technology Innovation and Application
<bullet> Tribal Consultation and Effective Processes
For the full Arctic Research Plan 2022-2026, see: <a href="https://www.iarpccollaborations.org/uploads/cms/documents/final-arp-2022-2026-20211214.pdf">https://www.iarpccollaborations.org/uploads/cms/documents/final-arp-2022-2026-20211214.pdf</a>.
For the full Arctic Research Plan 2017-2021, see: <a href="https://www.iarpccollaborations.org/download.axd?file=iarpc_arctic_research_plan_2017-2021.pdf">https://www.iarpccollaborations.org/download.axd?file=iarpc_arctic_research_plan_2017-2021.pdf</a>.
For the full Arctic Research Plan 2013-2017, see: <a href="https://www.iarpccollaborations.org/uploads/cms/documents/arctic_research_2013.pdf">https://www.iarpccollaborations.org/uploads/cms/documents/arctic_research_2013.pdf</a>.
(Authority: 42 U.S.C. 1861.)
Dated: July 17, 2025.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2025-13642 Filed 7-18-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P
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