Applying for a Permit
1. Submit permit application on-line via the Research Permit & Reporting System.
The NPS Research Permit and Reporting System website (RPRS) is a national website that tracks applications and permits. The RPRS website will walk you through the new or renewal application process. Students: Please note the degree that you are earning within the purpose of your study and include your advisor as an additional investigator.
2. Submit supplementary review materials if required.
- Wilderness Minimum Requirements Analysis (MRA) – Projects that require an MRA are those that take place in designated or proposed wilderness and include activities prohibited in Section 4(c) of the Wilderness Act. The MRA worksheet is designed to answer two questions: “Is the action necessary in designated wilderness?” and “How will the action be accomplished to minimize negative impacts?” Please contact the Research Permit Coordinator if you believe that you need to complete an MRA.
- Archeological Investigation – An additional Archeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) permit is required for any archeological investigation carried out on park lands by non-NPS personnel. Permits are issued under the authority of ARPA, the Antiquities Act of 1906, or both.
- Soil or sediment disturbance – Soil disturbance may require pre-survey by a qualified archeologist as stipulated by the National Historic Preservation Act.
- Soil or sediment disturbance in wetlands, lakes, and streams – Notification to the State of California is required for soil or sediment disturbance in wetlands and aquatic systems as stipulated in the Clean Water Act, section 401.
- Handling or manipulation of vertebrate animals – Proposals to handle or manipulate vertebrate animals must be approved by the NPS Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).
- Social Science Surveys – If federal funding or collaboration is involved in a survey of the public, then approval through the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is required.
- Aircraft or Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) use, including drones – Any use of aircraft or a UAS over the parks will need to be coordinated with and approved by the parks’ Helicopter Program Manager. Additionally, UAS use in the park must be done by a qualified UAS pilot and meet the policy and guidance laid out by the DOI Office of Aviation.
3. NPS reviews application.
First, the application is reviewed by the Research Permit Coordinator and SEKI subject matter experts. If wilderness is involved, the application (including the MRA) is reviewed by the Wilderness Coordinator. A research study with potentially unacceptable or uncertain impacts and all those requiring a full MRA analysis will be reviewed by the parks’ Environmental Protection Specialist who recommends if the application requires a further level of review. If so, additional analysis and review are carried out. With this input, the Research Permit Coordinator makes a recommendation to the Chief of Resource Management and Science who then approves or denies the research permit.
4. Permit is issued, cancelled or denied.
The Research Permit Coordinator communicates the permit decision to the researcher via email. If the application is approved, a permit, parking placard, and other supplementary materials will be attached.
5. Sign permit and return copy.
Carefully review the permit conditions. Your signature and date on the permit signifies your agreement to comply fully with these terms. Please sign it and return as a PDF to e-mail us.
6. Conduct research.
Doing the research is the fun part, but please take extra safety precautions alongside following the conditions included with your permit. A wilderness permit is required for all overnight stays in wilderness.
7. Submit spatial data.
The NPS needs to know where research is conducted within parks. Adequate reporting is critical to maintain support for research and helps with the security of installed equipment and long-term study sites. It is a tremendous help if researchers follow these guidelines. Researchers must submit, to the Research Permit Coordinator, spatial data for field locations before submitting a new or renewal application or by March 31 of the following year, whichever is earlier.
8. Submit investigator annual report (IAR) via RPRS.
Researchers must submit their IAR before submitting a new or renewal application or by March 31, whichever is earlier. The IAR is submitted directly via the RPRS website.
9. Submit final report/publications for each study.
Reporting your findings is a condition of an NPS research permit as well as your ethical duty as a scientist. Final reports (manuscripts, journal articles, research briefs) can be submitted online directly via RPRS, including automatic posting to the NPS Integrated Record Management Applications (IRMA) database.
Research Permit Coordinator Contact: e-mail us
