Untitled section

The Secretary of the Interior may recruit and directly appoint qualified individuals into the competitive service who are certified as maintaining a permanent and exclusive residence in the vicinity of a field unit, into any position at or below grades GS–9 or WG–15 or equivalent within such field unit: Provided, That any action authorized herein shall be consistent with the merit principles of section 2301 of such title 5, and with the public notice requirements of section 3327 of such title 5: Provided further, That appointments under this authority shall be considered compliant with all applicable provisions of chapter 33 of title 5.