Supporting the land manager workforce

(a) In general The Secretary or the Secretary of Agriculture, as applicable, may recruit and directly appoint qualified individuals into the competitive service who are certified, in accordance with procedures established by the Secretary or the Secretary of Agriculture, as applicable, as maintaining a permanent and exclusive residence within the vicinity of a site administered by the National Park Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or the Forest Service to a field unit which the individual would report to work into any position at or below grade GS–9 of the General Schedule, WG–15 of the Federal Wage System, or equivalent within the applicable field unit. (b) Requirements An appointment by the Secretary under subsection (a) shall be considered compliant with all applicable provisions of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, if the Secretary ensures that the appointment action— (1) is consistent with the merit principles of section 2301 of that title; and (2) complies with the public notice requirements of section 3327 of that title. (c) Termination of authority The authority provided under subsection (a) shall terminate on September 30, 2030.