A scientific research and collecting permit (hereafter, permit) is a signed document issued by a park to an investigator. The permit authorizes the investigator and any named additional personnel to conduct the stated activities in specified places and at specified times within the park. Permits are issued based on compliance with law and policy, the quality of the proposed research, potential impacts on park resources and visitors, and the constraints of park staff workload.
A permit is required because all scientific activities in a park have the potential to affect protected resources and visitor enjoyment. A park superintendent and/or delegated staff must have the opportunity to review and decide whether to allow the proposed activities, and to set conditions. The investigator must abide by all conditions stated on the permit.
This page provides general background and context that can help you understand the what, why, and how of research permits in national parks. Expand the following sections to learn more.
A permit is required because all scientific activities in a park have the potential to affect protected resources and visitor enjoyment. A park superintendent and/or delegated staff must have the opportunity to review and decide whether to allow the proposed activities, and to set conditions. The investigator must abide by all conditions stated on the permit.
This page provides general background and context that can help you understand the what, why, and how of research permits in national parks. Expand the following sections to learn more.
RPRS uses a variety of terms to refer to your project and the documents that you will encounter as you manage that project.
- Study: A discrete set of research activities that you pursue to understand a topic of interest over some span of time. Each study is assigned a unique study number by a park's research coordinator. That study number may become associated with multiple permits. For example, you might spend 3 years studying plant/pollinator interactions across soil types. You might have a permit that you renew every year to study insects and plants, and then a different permit in the 3rd year to collect soil samples. Furthermore, you might do this study in multiple parks. In this scenario, you will have several different permits with different permit numbers, but they should all be affiliated with a single study number.
- Application: The document that you complete and submit for a permit to carry out the described activities in an individual park. The research coordinator at that park reviews it, sometimes with consultation and input from curators, resource managers, and other experts.
- Draft Permit: If a park's research coordinator approves your application, they will turn it into a draft permit and, typically, edit some details. This generally happens behind the scenes, and you won't directly encounter a draft permit. On occasion, a research coordinator may ask you for some additional details to add to the draft permit.
- Finalized Permit: When a research coordinator is done editing the draft permit, they convert it into a final permit and issue it to you. The final permit contains the terms under which the scientific activity is allowed. It must be signed by both the investigator and a park official, and the investigator must carry a printed copy with them when conducting their project inside the park.
- Investigator Annual Report (IAR): A basic summary of activities and results, if any, during a given year. You must submit an IAR via a form in RPRS every year that your permit is active. It is meant to be publicly available; anyone can search RPRS for IARs. The research coordinator will review your IAR and decide whether to make it publicly accessible and may send it back to you for editing. Research coordinators may decline to issue new permits or renew existing permits if any IARs are outstanding.
- Final Report: Any significant analytical or summary product that you create at, or after, the completion of your study and that provides knowledge about the subject matter in the park. These may include final reports, peer-reviewed articles, published theses and dissertations, conference proceedings, etc. When you submit them via RPRS, you indicate which study or studies they pertain to. The research coordinator will review them for compliance with requirements and standards for information quality (privacy, personally identifiable information, etc.) and, upon approval, will typically deposit them in NPS's electronic archive DataStore. Depending on settings, they may be viewed by the public or only by NPS employees.
A permit is required for all non-NPS scientists and scholars to study natural resources and human subjects inside park boundaries if their studies involve fieldwork, specimen collection, or have the potential to affect resources or visitors. Examples include observing and recording animal behavior, deploying acoustic sensors to map soundscapes, collecting leaf samples for genetic analyses, and surveying park visitors. Studies strictly of cultural resources (e.g. archeological excavations, documentation of cultural landscapes, physical analyses of historic structures) may require other permits in addition to, or instead of, a research and collecting permit. Studies of previously collected specimens in a repository generally do not require a permit; typically a park will require a separate collections research request form. Each park has a designated research coordinator who can provide information and guidance about what permit is required.
NPS issues permits for scientific and educational purposes to individuals who may or may not be associated with an organization. Such organizations may include government agencies, not-for-profit, or for-profit entities (e.g. natural resource agencies, universities, museums, research institutes, etc). The sale of collected natural resources from parks is prohibited. The results of permitted research must be shared with the NPS and, generally, with the public. If a permitted researcher subsequently discovers a potential commercial application for the research results, such commercial application may be pursued only upon securing supplemental written authorization from NPS in the form of a benefits-sharing agreement. NPS enters into such agreements with federal or non-federal entities, but not with individuals.
NPS issues permits for scientific and educational purposes to individuals who may or may not be associated with an organization. Such organizations may include government agencies, not-for-profit, or for-profit entities (e.g. natural resource agencies, universities, museums, research institutes, etc). The sale of collected natural resources from parks is prohibited. The results of permitted research must be shared with the NPS and, generally, with the public. If a permitted researcher subsequently discovers a potential commercial application for the research results, such commercial application may be pursued only upon securing supplemental written authorization from NPS in the form of a benefits-sharing agreement. NPS enters into such agreements with federal or non-federal entities, but not with individuals.
Depending on the proposed activity, additional permits or approvals must be sought from the NPS. For example, a researcher who wishes to handle live vertebrate animals must have approval or concurrence from NPS’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).
Permits from other federal or state agencies may be required before NPS staff can issue a permit. Examples include U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service permits related to migratory birds, state or federal permits related to at-risk species, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration permits related to marine mammals. Social science surveys of the public typically require approval by the investigator's Institutional Review Board. Surveys that are federally funded may require approval by the Office of Management and Budget.
It is the investigator’s responsibility to provide copies of relevant permits and approvals when they apply for a permit. Additional guidance is provided on the permit application form.
Applicants are encouraged to contact park staff to determine if additional permits may be required in conjunction with a proposed study.
Permits from other federal or state agencies may be required before NPS staff can issue a permit. Examples include U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service permits related to migratory birds, state or federal permits related to at-risk species, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration permits related to marine mammals. Social science surveys of the public typically require approval by the investigator's Institutional Review Board. Surveys that are federally funded may require approval by the Office of Management and Budget.
It is the investigator’s responsibility to provide copies of relevant permits and approvals when they apply for a permit. Additional guidance is provided on the permit application form.
Applicants are encouraged to contact park staff to determine if additional permits may be required in conjunction with a proposed study.
Every NPS unit (national park, monument, seashore, etc.) has a public profile within RPRS. Each profile contains contact information for the park’s research coordinator and other key personnel. Many profiles also include additional information like park-specific conditions that apply to all research, collecting, and reporting; park-specific priorities and needs for scientific studies; and details about restricted-access locations or special sites like designated wilderness areas. Park profiles can be found in the Search > Parks menu of RPRS.
Annual reports submitted by research permittees are publicly available in RPRS, back to 1991. Each report includes the title and purpose of the study, a summary of that year’s activities and results, and information about project personnel. Reports that contain sensitive information about highly protected resources (e.g. locations of endangered species) do not provide these details. Reports can be searched by various criteria in the Search > Investigator Annual Reports menu of RPRS.
Any individual may apply if they have the qualifications and experience to conduct the proposed scientific study. Formal affiliation with a scientific institution is not required but can be one indicator of professional qualification. Such organizations may include government agencies, not-for-profit, or for-profit entities (e.g. natural resource agencies, universities, museums, research institutes, etc).
Permits are issued only to the individual who submits the application. They are never issued to an organization or work group. Team members and colleagues may be listed as additional personnel on a permit.
If an investigator wants a colleague to help manage account information (e.g. file reports, renew permits, apply for new permits) they should make that colleague an agent on their account. Even with an agent, the investigator is the sole recipient of a permit and is responsible for adhering to all of its terms.
Permits are issued only to the individual who submits the application. They are never issued to an organization or work group. Team members and colleagues may be listed as additional personnel on a permit.
If an investigator wants a colleague to help manage account information (e.g. file reports, renew permits, apply for new permits) they should make that colleague an agent on their account. Even with an agent, the investigator is the sole recipient of a permit and is responsible for adhering to all of its terms.
In general, researchers should apply at least 90 days before planned field activities. Projects that require access to restricted locations, involve sensitive resources like endangered species, or require tribal consultation usually need extensive review and may require over 90 days for a permitting decision. In all cases, applicants are encouraged to seek specific advice from a park’s research coordinator on how far in advance to apply.
All permit applications must be submitted online through RPRS. Applying for a permit requires first creating an investigator account in RPRS. Step-by-step directions are found on the Research Permits page.
Each new permit application (i.e. any application other than renewal of an existing permit) must include a detailed research proposal with a budget. Descriptions of what to include are provided in Guidelines for Study Proposals.
Park staff will review each permit application for compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies, the quality of the proposed study, potential impacts to park resources and visitors, and potential demand on park staff workload. The park superintendent may also require internal and/or external scientific review, depending on the complexity and sensitivity of the work being proposed and other factors.
The time and effort required to review the application will vary. A short-term non-manipulative research project will be reviewed relatively quickly. A manipulative or intrusive study with the potential to affect resources and needing detailed planning or logistics may require lengthier review.
If park staff decline the application, the investigator may request feedback and suggestions for improvement, and may re-apply based on such suggestions.
The time and effort required to review the application will vary. A short-term non-manipulative research project will be reviewed relatively quickly. A manipulative or intrusive study with the potential to affect resources and needing detailed planning or logistics may require lengthier review.
If park staff decline the application, the investigator may request feedback and suggestions for improvement, and may re-apply based on such suggestions.
The proposed research:
- Is likely to increase understanding of park resources and contribute to effective management and/or interpretation.
- Addresses important problems or questions and shows promise of significant contribution to scientific knowledge.
- Will be conducted by an investigator with a record of accomplishments and a demonstrated ability to work safely and within a reasonable time frame.
- Minimizes disruption to natural and cultural resources, park operations, and visitors.
- Clearly describes plans for the cataloging and care of collected specimens.
- Provides detail about logistical needs.
- Is supported institutionally and financially, making it highly likely that all fieldwork, analyses, cataloging, and reporting will be completed within a reasonable time frame.
The proposed research:
- Lacks adequate scientific detail and justification to support the study objectives and methods.
- Shows potential for adverse impact on natural, cultural, or scenic resources, particularly non-renewable resources like archeological and fossil sites or at-risk species.
- Involves activities that adversely affect the experiences of park visitors.
- May be hazardous to the researchers, other people, or adjacent environments.
- Involves extensive collecting of natural materials or unnecessary replication of existing collections; requires substantial logistical, administrative, or curatorial support by park staff; or provides insufficient lead time to allow necessary review and consultation.
If park staff approve the application, they will issue a permit that specifies what, where, and when scientific activities may occur. Both the investigator and park official must sign the permit for it to be valid. The investigator and other project personnel must carry a printed copy of the signed permit whenever conducting the project in the park. The investigator must notify the park of any proposed changes (e.g. in personnel). Significant changes may require re-evaluation of the permit conditions or submission of a revised application.
Every permit issued by every park includes a common set of General Conditions. It may be helpful to review them before applying for a permit. Additional park-specific conditions and project-specific conditions may be included on the permit. Park-specific conditions can be reviewed in advance on the park's profile page, which is accessible through the Search > Parks menu of RPRS.
All conditions must be adhered to by the permittee and all other people named on the permit.
All conditions must be adhered to by the permittee and all other people named on the permit.
Access to some park areas may be prohibited or restricted and may require special permission from park officials. Furthermore, some popular destinations managed through reservations (e.g. campgrounds) may fill to capacity months in advance. Permittees should contact the park to obtain information about access and check the park’s website for any alerts and conditions prior to arriving.
Permittees are required to complete an Investigator’s Annual Report (IAR) form for each year of the permit. The information in an IAR tells resource managers, park visitors, the public, and other researchers about the objectives and results of the study. Every IAR is accessible to the public except those that contain sensitive information about specially protected park resources.
Permittees are also required to provide the park with copies of final reports, publications, and other materials resulting from the completion of a study. They should submit those materials when available (e.g. once published in a peer-reviewed journal). They should contact the park research coordinator for directions on how to provide them.
Park research coordinators may request copies of field notes, data, maps, photos, or other materials. Additional deliverables may be required of studies involving NPS funding or participation. All reporting requirements will be listed in the conditions of the permit.
Permittees are also required to provide the park with copies of final reports, publications, and other materials resulting from the completion of a study. They should submit those materials when available (e.g. once published in a peer-reviewed journal). They should contact the park research coordinator for directions on how to provide them.
Park research coordinators may request copies of field notes, data, maps, photos, or other materials. Additional deliverables may be required of studies involving NPS funding or participation. All reporting requirements will be listed in the conditions of the permit.
Last updated: October 1, 2024