Toolik Field Station

• Projects may be subject to various permitting requirements; therefore, Battelle ARO suggests that researchers plan 6 months of lead time for any activities, including construction support such as boardwalks, remote power systems, support buildings, etc.
• Researchers should budget for Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land use permit fees in their proposal budgets. Those planning any research activity on BLM lands must submit a permit application. On average, fees for the BLM are roughly $1,000 per year. If your project includes potential disturbance to the tundra from the construction of a building or a large tower, or if fieldwork includes numerous ground impacts from research activities (e.g., digging long trenches), the initial cost of the permit could be up to $5,000.  See BLM section for more information.
• For additional information on permitting, see Permits and Policies | Toolik Field Station (uaf.edu)

Utqiaġvik

• All projects are subject to permitting. Battelle ARO assists with applications and fees for UICS staff who will plan and prepare applications for North Slope Borough (NSB) and UIC Land Use permits.
• Additional permitting may be required for researchers accessing sites on BLM-administered lands or waters in the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska, which includes Elson Lagoon. Please contact Donna Wixon for further information. Researchers should include costs for all BLM permitting direct-to-grant; the estimated BLM land use permit fee is $1000 per year.

National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106, State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) Consultation for Projects with Ground Disturbance/Archaeology Work

Any proposed work with ground disturbance or archeology work is subject to consultation with the SHPO and other interested parties under Section 106 of the NHPA.

• Battelle ARO will assist the NSF with Section 106 consultation, and the PI will be required to provide the NSF all applicable information, including but not limited to:

  • A map of locations where you plan to do fieldwork (coordinates in excel, kmz, or shapefile are acceptable)

  • How will the ground be disturbed

  • What size area and to what depth

  • How will sites be accessed? By vehicle on existing roads, pullouts, by foot on existing trails and boardwalks?

  • When will your work be taking place

  • How many people will be in the field

• Any Archaeological investigation taking place on federal lands requires an Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) Permit.
• In the event that an archaeology project leads to the discovery of Native American human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects and objects of cultural property intentionally excavated or inadvertently discovered on Federal or Tribal lands, researchers need to comply with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990. Those processes are detailed in regulations available here.

Endangered Species Act – Section 7

Endangered species are protected under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act.

• Based on the location and type of work of the proposed project, review by USFWS could be required to determine whether the proposed project could impact endangered species

  • Battelle ARO will complete USFWS Section 7 consultation on behalf of the NSF and the researcher.

• Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act states that each Federal agency shall, in consultation with the Secretary, insure that any action they authorize, fund, or carry out is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a listed species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of designated critical habitat. 

• Threatened and Endangered Species in Alaska are listed in the following table. All species subject to impact by a research project will need Section 7 consultation from the respective managing agency.  

• To determine if your work will impact any endangered species or their critical habitat, use the USFWS's Information for Planning and Consultation website, or NOAA's species distribution mapper 

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

• In general, UAV use is restricted in national parks except as approved in writing by the superintendent but could vary from park to park. Special use permits can be obtained by checking in with the park superintendent.
• The use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS/drones) is no longer allowed for any US Fish and Wildlife Service supported or permitted use. This prohibition applies to the use of drones for commercial filming and scientific research, even if the use of drones was previously authorized via special use permit.
• For more information on UAS permitting, check out these links:
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) (faa.gov)
  • Unmanned Aircraft in the National Parks (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems (alaska.gov)
• If you plan to use UAS for your research, visit ArcGIS - Alaska DOT&PF Statewide Aviation UAS to search for your research location, and determine if there are any restrictions or additional permits you may need. 

Land Disturbance and Vegetation Clearing

Projects that include Land Disturbance and Vegetation Clearing should be aware of nesting birds in the area.