Obtaining a Scientific Research Permit

NPS/Veronica Verdin

Understanding our natural and cultural resources is vital to improving park management and expanding scientific knowledge. To improve our understanding, the Southeast Utah Group of parks has a rich tradition of collaborating with academic and independent scientists to conduct scientific research in the parks. A great deal of past research in the park has been carried out by qualified individuals engaged in independent studies. Persons wishing to familiarize themselves with recent research and resources management projects are encouraged to visit the NPS Research Permit and Reporting System website and examine the archive of Investigator's Annual Reports. These are mandatory year-end reports required from all Principal Investigators (PIs), who engage in science and resource management activities in the various parks. A wide range of technical disciplines are represented.

Qualified scientists are invited to conduct independent studies in their special areas of expertise in the national parks when the work promises to yield information useful to park management. NPS policy discourages studies that are not likely to produce results having some intrinsic value for preserving or managing park resources.

How to Apply

Persons wishing to conduct scientific research in any of the Southeast Utah Group of parks can apply for a research and collection permit through the NPS Research Permit and Reporting System website. Researchers are encouraged to submit their application at least 90-days in advance of planned field work in the park. The application form can be filled out and submitted on the website. Applicants are encouraged to read the instructions and general guidelines posted on the website prior to completing the application form.

Every project must be reviewed to ensure it satisfies regulatory requirements, is appropriate to the park setting, meets accepted scientific criteria, and does not unduly impact park resources or the visitor experience. Including field method descriptions that plan to minimize environmental impacts by following Leave-No-Trace principles as they apply to the Colorado Plateau can demonstrate an attempt to minimize environmental impacts.

All anticipated data and materials collections must be identified in the application as remaining the property of the U.S. Government. Data and materials may include but are not limited to analyses, field notes, reports, publications, surveys, questionnaires, theses, presentations, databases, photos, maps, recordings, specimens or samples, and specimen derivatives and byproducts. These will be dedicated to the benefit of the public by making them accessible in accordance with NPS policies and procedures via the IRMA Datastore.
Persons conducting multi-year projects may request a permit valid for up to 5 years. Changes to study locations will require issuance of a new permit.

In addition to completing the application, applicants are required to submit:

• A Research Proposal or Study Plan - Proposals can be attached during the on-line application process or emailed to the park research coordinator. Information for contacting the research coordinator appears on the application site. If a peer reviewed proposal already exists, it may be submitted in lieu of a study plan. The application should clearly identify research methods to be employed in the park in layperson language. Experience has shown that lack of clear details on field methods causes delays in the permitting process.

• A detailed map of the research site - The PI must include a detailed map depicting a polygon of the intended study area and the surrounding topography, so park staff can gauge the scope of the project and potential impacts to cultural and natural resources as part of our NHPA and NEPA compliance analysis. This could be included as a shapefile or Google earth imagery with topographic detail equivalent to a 1:24,000 map (AKA a 7.5 minute map or Quad). Maps can be attached during the on-line application process or emailed to the park research coordinator.

• Supplemental Permitting & Approvals - Some research activities may require additional permits or approvals by other governing bodies before the NPS can issue a permit for research in a park unit. Supplemental NPS permits or approvals may also be required depending on the proposed research activities. Examples include research on live animals, surveys with human participants, research on migratory birds, and research on state or federally listed species of concern.
• Collection Plan - Collecting specimens for curation is highly discouraged. Only rare or exceptional specimens may be collected for permanent retention. Researchers should only collect minimal material to be destroyed during analysis. Any curated collections remain the property of the U.S. Government, regardless of where they reside, and therefore must be accessioned and cataloged into the NPS Interior Collection Management System (ICMS) and must bear NPS accession and catalog numbers. If applicable, information regarding requirements for on or off-site curation of collections should be obtained prior to submitting an application, and a curation plan should be described in the application.

Incomplete applications will be returned to the PI in RPRS and may be accessed from the investigator dashboard panel labeled “Applications: Drafted but Not Yet Submitted.” The research coordinator will contact the PI to request clarification and provide feedback on specific aspects of the RPRS application package.

Researchers are encouraged to apply at least 90-days before planned field work in the park. This amount of lead-time is sometimes necessary because processing the application involves various levels of review, including checks for compliance with NEPA, NHPA, park regulations, compatibility with wilderness management guidelines, etc. Applicants may be contacted by park staff and requested to provide additional information or clarification about the proposed work.

Upon completion of these reviews, PIs will receive a draft permit containing any changes or required mitigations. Researchers may have mitigations or conditions imposed that are specific to Southeast Utah Group parks or the project. Once reviewed, researchers will sign the draft and return to the park for final approval by the Park Superintendent or their representative. Final permits will then be returned to the researcher. A copy of the permit must be carried whenever the researcher enters the park.

Research

An active research permit provides a waiver for fees associated with park entrance, camping, and backcountry use. However, prior to initiating field work, PIs must obtain backcountry use permits, including camping, river, or four-wheel-drive permits. All researchers are subject to all backcountry regulations, including those regarding group size and length of stay at campsites. Please Note: Many campsites are reserved at least six months in advance.

Principal investigators and members of their research teams who undertake field work for the first time in Southeast Utah Group parks are required to complete our cultural resources training packet prior to entering the park. This packet will be sent with the draft permit. At least one week prior to conducting field work, the PI or lead researcher must contact the research coordinator and the district ranger for the area they plan to work with their contact information, affiliation, permit number, itinerary, and vehicle information. While visiting the park, a copy of the permit’s first page must be left on the vehicle’s dashboard each day.

Reporting

Final reports provide the NPS with the formal conclusion of a permitted research project. NPS managers use these reports to inform management plans and decisions. Additionally, scientists and educators use NPS related science to inform research and education programs.

Digital copies of all final reports, data, and materials, including manuscripts, journal articles, and presentations, should be provided to the NPS upon completion of the project. These final products will be uploaded to the IRMA Datastore for future reference. The permittee is responsible for the content of reports and data provided to the NPS.

For each research and collection permit, an Investigator's Annual Report (IAR) must be submitted at the end of each year through the NPS Research Permit and Reporting System. Completion of an IAR is required each year of the project from initial data collection until a final report is submitted. Failure to submit an IAR may impact the renewal of future permits. IAR's are intended to be brief, stand-alone summaries to communicate the highlights of objectives and research progress and findings to park management, park interpreters, and the public.

Upon completion of a project, researchers must submit a copy of the final report or publication to the research coordinator as well as the IRMA Datastore. We encourage researchers to submit a one or two page layperson abstract along with their final report for the research coordinator to share with park staff. Researchers may also be invited to speak to park staff at a brown bag lunch seminar.