; (B) the amount equal to 15 percent of the annual rate of basic pay of the employee; and (C) the amount of the limitation that is applicable for a calendar year under section 5307(a)(1) of title 5, United States Code. (5) Application of merit system principles To the maximum extent practicable, the Chairman shall appoint persons under paragraph (1) to the positions described in paragraph (2) in accordance with the merit system principles set forth in section 2301 of title 5, United States Code. (c) Compensation authority (1) In general Notwithstanding section 161 d. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 ( 42 U.S.C. 2201(d) ) and chapter 51, and subchapter III of chapter 53, of title 5, United States Code, the Chairman may fix the rate of basic pay for the positions of individuals described in paragraph (2), subject to the limitation described in paragraph (3), in accordance with this subsection. (2) Individuals described The individuals referred to in paragraph (1) are— (A) individuals with highly specialized scientific, engineering, and technical competencies to address a critical need for the Commission, including individuals with expertise in— (i) health physics; (ii) reactor operations engineering; (iii) human factors analysis or engineering; (iv) risk and reliability analysis or engineering; (v) licensing project management; (vi) reactor engineering for severe accidents; (vii) geotechnical engineering; (viii) structural engineering; (ix) reactor systems engineering; (x) reactor engineering; (xi) radiation science; and (xii) electronics engineering