Scientific Research

Application

Scientific Research Permit Application

It is the intention of the National Park Service (NPS) to further scientific research within the areas it administers, and to cooperate with scientists to the fullest extent possible, given its charge to preserve all species of flora and fauna and all geologic material in a natural state. All rules, regulations and policies of the National Park Service and Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area must be adhered to. If there is any doubt about a policy, rule or regulation, guidance must be sought prior to proceeding.

Closed Area Entry:

• Researchers should create a record of their travel plan
• If entering a closed area or traveling off trail: Get together with your park contact and run through the "Burned Area Operational Risk Management Worksheet."

Other precautions:

• No access to closed areas or off trail travel during Red Flag warnings or rain events.
• You should have some form of communication (cell or radio).

Standard conditions for a research permit:

• The research permit applies only to land owned and administered by the National Park Service within Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. For research in other areas of Santa Monica Mountains (including areas within the National Recreation Area boundary but not on federally-owned national park land), additional permits may be necessary. Please inquiry with the appropriate agency for specific details on permit requirements (e.g. California State Parks, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, etc.).
• An annual progress report must be furnished to the park.
• Copies of reports, documents, publications, theses and/or dissertations resulting from the research must be provided to the park.
• Special conditions or restrictions may be required and must be adhered to.
• An approved Collecting Permit must be completed for conducting any research involving specimen collection.

Standard conditions for a collecting permit:

• The collecting permit applies only to land owned and administered by the National Park Service within Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. For collecting in other areas of the Santa Monica Mountains (including areas within the National Recreation Area boundary but not on federally-owned national park land), additional permits may be necessary. Please inquiry with the appropriate agency for specific details on permit requirements (e.g. California State Parks, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, etc.).
• Permit applies only to animal life, plants, rocks and minerals. Archeological, historical and paleontological materials may not be collected.
• All collecting must be done in such a manner so as not to attract attention or to cause damage to the environment. Because of the scarcity or importance of some specimens, NPS officials may designate the kind and number of sites from which specimens may be collected, and any other restrictions necessary for the preservation of park resources. The collection of certain species of special concern (e.g. rare, threatened or endangered species), if permitted at all, may require approval from the Director of the National Park Service as well as additional permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• An inventory, locality description, and cataloging information must be submitted.
• Use or Disposition of Preserved Specimens: Natural history specimens collected within the boundaries of national park lands are the property of the federal government. Specimens may be loaned to a museum or university for long-term storage and use but remain the property of the NPS and must be documented and labeled accordingly. The NPS reserves the right to designate the repository of all specimens removed from national park lands.
• All collections shall be used for scientific or educational purposes only, shall be dedicated to public benefit, and shall not be used for commercial profit or personal consumption. All collections must be suitably recorded in a permanent file and must be available to the public.

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Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Planning, Science, & Resource Management
1 Baxter Way Suite 180 Westlake Village, CA 91362
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