Authorization to Conduct MSR in U.S. EEZ

(Revised September 14, 2006)

Overview

U.S. policy regarding the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the territorial sea was established with Presidential Proclamations 5030 and 5928 , respectively.

Accordingly, advance U.S. Department of State consent is required for marine scientific research if and only if:

• Any portion of the research is conducted within the U.S. territorial sea;
• Any portion of the research within the U.S. EEZ involves the study of marine mammals or endangered species;
• Any portion of the research within the U.S. EEZ requires taking commercial quantities of marine resources; or
• Any portion of the research within the U.S. EEZ involves contact with the U.S. continental shelf.

It is U.S. policy not to unreasonably deny or delay consent for marine scientific research in U.S. waters.

Procedure

Complete UN Draft Standard Form A and provide other background materials, if applicable:

• If the research involves the study or incidental take of marine mammals or endangered species within the U.S. EEZ, include the appropriate authorization from the NOAA Office of Protected Resources  (i.e. Research Permit or an Incidental Take Permit/Authorization).  Such activities include, but are not limited to, seismic research using airguns.
• If the research involves the taking of commercial quantities of fish within the U.S. EEZ, include a letter of acknowledgement from the appropriate NOAA Fisheries Service Regional Science Center .
• If the research involves contact with the U.S. continental shelf and
  -- the data will be used for commercial exploration or prospecting;
  -- the research involves the use of explosives; or
  -- the research involves deep stratigraphic tests;
  include the MMS permit application, available at the appropriate regional Minerals Management Service website: Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico ; Alaska ; Pacific .

The Submitting Officer (see U.N. Draft Standard Form A, 1.5) should forward the application and supporting materials, if applicable, to the Embassy in Washington D.C. representing the flag state of the ship (see related link below). The Embassy will then forward the application via e-mail to:

Liz Tirpak / Roberta Barnes
U.S. Department of State
OES/OA, Room 2758
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520
Tel: 202-647-0238/0240
Fax: 202-647-1106
tirpakej@state.gov / barnesrm@state.gov

Once the U.S. Department of State receives the application from the Embassy, the information will be promptly forwarded to various U.S. agencies for their review and approval. The U.S. Department of State allows the U.S. agencies two weeks' time to review and respond to the request and supporting materials. Therefore, it is recommended that applications be submitted at least one month prior to the start of the cruise, so the Department of State can assure a timely response to all research applicants. If the U.S. agencies have any further questions, the Department of State will forward those questions immediately to the Embassy point of contact. This Embassy point of contact will likewise be the recipient of the final clearance paperwork.

The United States reserves the right to request copies of data collected within the U.S. EEZ.

Related Links

• Guidelines for Improved Cooperation between Arctic Researchers and Northern Communities  – useful recommendations for arctic research missions.
• Foreign Embassies in the U.S. - provides information on each of the embassies in Washington D.C., with links to Web-based resources where available.
• Non-Immigrant   Visas - Application information from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs.
• U.S. Maritime Zones and Marine Boundaries  - an information system created by the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Marine Boundary Working Group, encompassing both the nature and spatial extent of interests in property, value and use of marine areas.