Guidelines
for Submitting Application for
National Marine Sanctuary Research and Education Permits
A.
INTRODUCTION
National
Marine Sanctuaries are recognized as resource areas of national
significance. Their distinctive characteristics have established
them as environmental and historic resources for scientific research
and public education. With yearly increases in the number of requests
to conduct research and education in National Marine Sanctuaries,
guidelines for managing and monitoring such projects are necessary
to ensure compatibility with sanctuary goals and objectives and
all other sanctuary activities.
The
guidelines presented below describe the sanctuary permitting process.
Applicants seeking financial support for research should consult
the sanctuary contacts listed in this document.
Permits
may be issued by the National Marine Sanctuary managers under
special circumstances for activities otherwise prohibited by sanctuary
regulations when related to: research to enhance scientific understanding
of the sanctuary environment or to improve management decision-making;
or education to further public awareness, understanding, and to
establish access, use, and/or understanding of sanctuary resources
and wise use of the sanctuary environment.
Anyone
conducting prohibited activities without a valid National Marine
Sanctuary permit may be subject to the penalties as provided under
Section 307 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries
Act of 1972 (as amended).
B.
APPLICATION CONTENTS
- Cover
Sheet or Letter
The
cover sheet or letter shall identify the following, if applicable:
l) name of the national marine sanctuary in which the proposed
activity will take place; 2) title of the project; 3) name,
address, telephone number, and affiliation of the applicant;
4) name, address, telephone number, and affiliation of and
relationship of any colleagues covered by the permit; 5) project
duration; 6) funding source; and 7) signature of the applicant.
- Project
Summary or Abstract
A
250-word (maximum) summary shall include a brief statement
of objectives, methods to be used, and why it is preferable
that the activity occurs within the boundaries of the sanctuary.
For research permits, this summary shall specify research
objectives, scientific methods to be used, and significance
of the proposed work to a particular sanctuary or to the national
marine sanctuary system. The summary shall be suitable for
use in the public press. For education permits, the summary
must detail the objectives of the project and the methods
to be used.
NOTE:
If the work to be conducted is part of a research grant submission
of the grant itself will be sufficient provided it addresses
all the points of this section.
- Technical
Information:
This
includes clear, concise, and complete statements in the following
categories:
- Objectives.
State the objectives of the project.
- Hypothesis
to be Tested. If applicable, state the hypothesis to be
tested.
- Project
Significance. Discuss significant previous work in the
area of interest, if any, and how the proposed effort would
enhance or contribute to improving the state of knowledge,
use of the sanctuary or overall objectives of the Sanctuary
Management Plan. Explain why the project should be performed
in the sanctuary and the potential benefits to the sanctuary.
For education permits, explain the educational value of
the project.
- Methods.
Describe the tasks required to accomplish the project's
objectives. For research permits, provide an adequate description
of field and laboratory methods and procedures. Describe
the rationale for selecting the proposed methods over any
alternative methods. If collecting is required, indicate
the type, quantity and frequency and how the specimens will
be handled. If reference collections are made, indicate
where specimens will be deposited upon completion of the
project. Indicate what organisms might be collected incidental
to those specifically sought and, if known, identify specialists
who might be interested in incidental groups. Indicate where
the laboratory analyses will be conducted, if applicable.
Also state the statistical methods to be employed and the
level of significance to be tested. For education permits,
specify the methods to be used in the project. For all permits,
specify the exact location of work within the Sanctuary
and provide a map showing the proposed study or project
location(s) and a description of the habitat area of particular
concern.
- Personnel.
Identify the individuals who would be supervising project
activities. Provide qualifications and evidence of ability
to perform and supervise tasks. The permittee is ultimately
responsible for all activities carried out under this permit.
- References.
Cite only those used in the text of the proposal.
- Environmental
Consequences
Discuss
the environmental consequences of conducting an otherwise
prohibited activity and indicate whether the activity could
be conducted outside the Sanctuary and still accomplish the
project's objectives. Specify the consequences and explain
how the benefits of the research will outweigh the disadvantages
or environmental consequences (short and long term).
- Treatment
of Results
For
research permits, describe the nature and extent of anticipated
results. Indicate how the results will be treated (e.g.; published
in a reference journal, incorporated into academic curriculum,
used in management decision-making, published in the public
press). For education permits, explain the educational value
of the project and how and what products will be used or made
available in the future. All information resulting from activities
conducted under a National Marine Sanctuary permit must be
made available to the public.
- Supporting
Information
- Financial
Support. Provide contract number, performance period,
and name of sponsoring agency, if applicable. At a minimum,
indicate source of financial support.
- Coordination
with Research in Progress or Proposed. The sanctuary
program encourages research coordination and cost-sharing
with other investigators to enhance scientific capabilities
and avoid unnecessary duplication of effort. Applicants
should include a description of these efforts, where applicable.
Cite similar or supporting past or present research results.
- Copies
of Other Permits. Applicant must include, if applicable,
copies of other Federal, state and/or local permits issued
with regards to this permit request. For example, EPA, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, NMFS, California Fish and Game,
etc..
- Other
Sanctuary Permits. Applicants should include a listing
of all their previous Sanctuary permits.
C.
SUBMISSION OF PERMIT REQUESTS
Three
(3) copies of requests for permits should be sent to the appropriate
sanctuary contact listed in section J below. Permit applications
must be submitted at least thirty (30) days in advance of the
requested effective date to allow sufficient time for evaluation
and processing. Sensitive or complicated requests, or requests
for sanctuary support should be submitted 90 days in advance.
If additional time is required for review, the applicant will
be notified within 20 days of the receipt of the request. Requests
for permits must be addressed to the manager of the sanctuary
in which the activities are to be conducted. A listing of their
address and phone number can be found in section J.
D.
REQUESTS FOR SANCTUARY SUPPORT SERVICES
The
Sanctuary Program has limited on-site sanctuary personnel, facilities
and equipment that may be used to support research under special
circumstances. Requests for support should accompany the permit
application and include the following information: l) type of
support requested; 2) justification; 3) dates and length of use;
and 4) alternative plans if support is not available.
E.
EVALUATION OF PERMIT REQUESTS
Permit
applications are reviewed for completeness and adherence to these
guidelines. Applicants will be contacted for clarification if
applications are incomplete. Complete applications are reviewed
by Sanctuary program officials, on-site sanctuary personnel, and,
where necessary, peer-reviewed by outside experts. Applications
are judged on the basis of:
-
relevance or importance to the sanctuary
-
scientific and educational merits
- appropriateness
and environmental consequences of the technical approach; and
- whether
the proposed effort is more appropriately conducted outside
the sanctuary.
F.
CONDITIONS OF PERMITS
Based
on the reviews of the permit application, the permit will be approved
or denied. If denied, applicants are notified of the reason(s)
for denial and informed of the appeal process. If approved, the
Sanctuary Manager will issue the permit.
Permit
holders must counter-sign the permit and return copies to Sanctuary
headquarters and on-site sanctuary personnel prior to conducting
the permitted activities. Copies must be signed and returned within
10 days of receipt by the permit holder. If not returned within
30 days, the permit will automatically be canceled.
Permits
must be carried aboard research vessels and made available on
request for inspection by sanctuary personnel. For underwater
diving activities, it is recommended that a copy of the permit
be laminated and available for display.
Permit
holders must be present during all permit activity operations.
Permits are non-transferable. Permit holders must abide by all
provisions set forth in the permit as well as applicable sanctuary
regulations. Project summaries and technical information are incorporated
into the conditions of the permit. Permitted activities must be
conducted with adequate safeguards for the environment. To the
extent possible, the environment shall be returned to the conditions
that existed prior to the permitted activity.
Two
important conditions of any permit are that the permit holder
submits a project report and cruise log to the appropriate sanctuary
office within 30 days of the permit's expiration date. The project
report is a brief (1-2) page statement summarizing the results
of permitted activities. A cruise log should list the days spent
in the sanctuary as well as activities pursued, approximate positions,
and general observations. Project reports are used in the sanctuary
interpretive programs and cruise reports are used in the assessment
of sanctuary activities.
The sanctuary manager may immediately amend, suspend, or revoke
a permit granted pursuant to these guidelines and sanctuary regulations,
in whole or in part, temporarily or indefinitely, if in his/her
view the permit holder(s) acted in violation of the terms of the
permit or of applicable sanctuary regulations, or for any good
cause shown. Formal notice of such action shall be subsequently
communicated in writing to the permit holder and shall set forth
the reason for the action taken. The permit holder in relation
to whom the action is taken may appeal the action as provided
for in the sanctuary regulations.
G.
AMENDMENTS TO ACTIVE PERMITS
Requests
for amendments to active permits (e.g. change in study design
or other form of amendment) must conform to these guidelines.
Persons desiring to continue permitted activities in the sanctuary
must reapply for an extension of his/her current permit before
it expires. Reference to the original application may be given
in lieu of a new application, provided the scope of work does
not change significantly and all cruise logs and project summaries
pertinent to the original permit have been submitted to and approved
by Sanctuary headquarters.
H.
MONITORING PERFORMANCE
Permitted
activities will be monitored to ensure compliance with the conditions
of the permit. Sanctuary headquarters and on-site sanctuary personnel
may periodically assess work in progress by visiting the study
location and observing any permitted activity or by reviewing
any required reports. The discovery of any irregularities in conformance
to the permit shall be promptly reported and appropriate action
shall be taken. Permitted activities will be evaluated and the
findings used to evaluate future applications.
I.
REPORTING BURDEN
Public
reporting burden for this collection is estimated to average one-half
(1/2) hour per response (application, cruise log, and final report),
including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing
data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing
and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding
this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of
information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to
Research Coordinator, NOAA Marine Sanctuaries Division, 1305 East-West
Highway, SSMC4, #12430, Silver Spring, MD 20910; and to the Office
of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0648-0141),
Washington, DC, 20503.
J.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For
further information on the National Marine Sanctuary Program or
the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, write or call the
Marine Sanctuaries Division or Channel Islands National Marine
Sanctuary contacts listed below:
Office
of Marine Sanctuaries
John
Armor
Permit Coordinator
Office of Marine Sanctuaries (N/ORM2)
1305 East-West Highway, 11th Floor
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Channel
Islands National Marine Sanctuary
Chris Mobley, Sanctuary Manager
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
113 Harbor Way
Santa Barbara, California 93109
805-966-7107
Fax: 805-568-1582
