Land Ownership
The Alaska Land Management Viewer can be used to obtain contacts for relevant agencies and tribal entities. Each landowner has their own permitting requirements, and therefore it is recommended that research locations be limited to as few land owners as possible to reduce permitting needs.
Search for a place you wish to work, explore the map or view the Help ? to print a contact list.
Click on the map below to open it in a new window.
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.
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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:
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A map of locations where you plan to do fieldwork (coordinates in excel, kmz, or shapefile are acceptable)
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How will the ground be disturbed
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What size area and to what depth
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How will sites be accessed? By vehicle on existing roads, pullouts, by foot on existing trails and boardwalks?
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When will your work be taking place
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How many people will be in the field
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- 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.
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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
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Battelle ARO will complete USFWS Section 7 consultation on behalf of the NSF and the researcher.
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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.
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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.
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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
Marine Mammal Protection Act - The Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibits any person who is subject to the jurisdiction of the United States or any vessel or other conveyance subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to take any marine mammal on the high seas.
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MMPA consultation will end with a no effects determination, a Letter of Authorization, or an Incidental Harassment Authorization.
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USFWS is responsible for the conservation of polar bears and northern sea otters that inhabit Alaskan waters. Any action that could impact these species will be subject to review by USFWS.
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NMFS is responsible for all other marine mammals.
Threatened and Endangered Species List
MMPA consultation will end with a no effects determination, a Letter of Authorization, or an Incidental Harassment Authorization.
USFWS is responsible for the conservation of polar bears and northern sea otters that inhabit Alaskan waters. Any action that could impact these species will be subject to review by USFWS.
NMFS is responsible for all other marine mammals.
Species | Status
| Managing Agency |
Short-tailed Albatross | Endangered
| USFWS (Anchorage)
|
Eskimo Curlew
| Endangered | USFWS (Fairbanks)
|
Spectacled Eider
| Threatened
| USFWS (Fairbanks)
|
Steller's Eider
| Threatened
| USFWS (Fairbanks)
|
Northern Sea Otter
| Threatened
| USFWS (Anchorage)
|
Polar Bear
| Threatened
| USFWS (Fairbanks)
|
Aleutian shield Fern
| USFWS (Anchorage)
| |
Leatherback Sea Turtle
| Endangered
| NOAA
|
Steller Sea-lion, eastern population
| Threatened
| NOAA |
Bowhead Whale | Endangered | NOAA |
Finback Whale (Fin Whale) | Endangered | NOAA |
Humpback Whale | Endangered | |
Blue Whale | Endangered | |
Cook Inlet Beluga Whale | ||
North Pacific Right Whale | Endangered
| NOAA |
Sei Whale | Endangered | NOAA
|
Sperm Whale | Endangered | NOAA |
Green Sea Turtle
| Threatened
| NOAA |
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
| Threatened
| NOAA
|
Olive Ridley Sea Turtle | Threatened
| NOAA |
Wood Bison
| Threatened
| USFWS |
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:
- 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.
Times To Avoid Land Disturbance & Vegetation Clearing | Forest / Woodland | Shrub / Open | Seabird Colonies Incl. Cliff & Burrow Colonies | Eagles *e |
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Southeast | 15 April - 15 July *a | 1 May - 15 July *a,b | 1 May - 5 Sept | 1 Mar - 31 Aug |
Kodiak Archipelago | 15 April - 7 Sept | |||
Southcentral Lake Illiamna to Copper River Delta; north to Talkeetna | 1 May - 15 July *a,b | |||
Bristol Bay/AK Peninsula north to Lake Illiamna | 1 May - 15 July *a,b,c | 10 May - 15 Sept | ||
Interior north of Talkeetna to south slope Brooks Range; west to treeline | 1 May - 15 July *a,b | 1 May - 20 July *d | ||
Aleutian Islands | N/A | 25 April - 15 July *a | 1 May - 15 Sept | |
Yukon - Kuskokwim Delta | 1 May - 15 July | 5 May - 25 July *a,b,c | 20 May - 15 Sept | |
Seward Peninsula | 10 May - 20 July *a,c | |||
Northern including northern foothills of Brooks Range | N/A | 1 June - 31 July *a,c | ||
Pribilof/Bering Sea Islands | 15 May - 15 July *a | 15 May - 15 Sept | ||
Table: Nesting seasons by habitat type and region and times to avoid land disturbance and vegetation clearing.
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