Authorizations and Permits for Protected Species (APPS)

ESA Section 10(a)(1)(A) Research Permits (Pacific marine and anadromous fish)

To allow for processing time, you are urged to submit a complete application by the following dates in any given year:

• Applications submitted by December 31 will have a target permit issuance date of the following March 31.
• Applications submitted by June 30 will have a target permit issuance date of the following September 30.

To be clear, a "complete application" constitutes an application that a NMFS permit analyst has reviewed and determined to contain all information necessary to complete a consultation. That information includes (but is not limited to) thorough descriptions of the purpose of the work, the proposed methods and procedures, the exact take and mortality amounts, and the expected benefit to listed species. Please refer to the Online Application Instructions for a complete list of the information each application must contain.

We ask that you keep these cut-off dates in mind when determining the best time to submit your section 10(a)(1)(A) applications. Also, we recommend that all applicants allow a bit of additional processing time in case any issues crop up that need to be resolved. This is due to the fact that permit applications frequently require more than one back-and-forth edit cycle.

ESA Section 10(a)(1)(A) and MMPA Section 104(c) Research and Enhancement Permits (Marine mammals and endangered species, excluding Pacific marine and anadromous fish)

Submit applications involving threatened or endangered species at least one year prior to the planned initiation of research or enhancement activities.

Submit applications for non-ESA listed marine mammals at least six months in advance of the proposed research or enhancement activity. Note that if only non-ESA listed species are the subject of your permit application, but your activities may adversely affect threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat (aquatic or terrestrial), you should submit your application at least one year prior to the planned initiation of the activity.

4d Rule Research Authorizations (Pacific marine and anadromous fish)

Applications for approval to take NMFS threatened listed species under 4(d) limit 7 are accepted in September. Authorizations are good for one calendar year and can be renewed during subsequent application periods.

Oregon Scientific Take Permits and/or Rescue Salvage Authorizations

You may apply for an Oregon Scientific Take Permit (STP) or Oregon Rescue Salvage Authorization at any point throughout the year. However, we request four to six weeks lead time. Oregon permits/authorizations are only valid during the calendar year; in other words, all permits and authorizations expire on or before December 31st of the year they were issued. If you also require a NOAA Fisheries 4(d) authorization for research/monitoring, your Oregon STP is coupled with that application.

ESA Section 10(a)(1)(A) Research Permits (Pacific marine and anadromous fish)

Once we receive a complete permit application, it is subject to a 30-day public comment period. NMFS then conducts an ESA section 7 consultation on the proposed issuance of the section 10 permit, resulting in a biological opinion. NMFS may also be required to conduct the following consultations on the potential effects of the activity proposed in the application: (1) Consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding potential effects on species under their jurisdiction, (2) Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) consultation, and (3) consultation with the National Ocean Service if the action takes place in a National Marine Sanctuary. In some cases we may be required to conduct an analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Any issues that arise during these consultations may delay the permit process.

ESA Section 10(a)(1)(A) and MMPA Section 104(c) Research and Enhancement Permits (Marine mammals and endangered species, excluding Pacific marine and anadromous fish)

Please provide complete and specific information according to the instructions in this Help Document. We cannot process incomplete applications. We will return incomplete applications with explanation or request additional information. If we request additional information and do not receive it within 60 days, we will withdraw the application.

Once we receive a complete permit application, it is subject to a 30-day public comment period. We concurrently send the application to the appropriate NMFS Regions, subject matter experts, and where takes of marine mammals are involved, to the Marine Mammal Commission, for review and comment. All permits are subject to analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act.

Additional analysis under the ESA is applicable when ESA-listed species or designated critical habitat may be affected, and in these cases, NMFS conducts an ESA section 7 consultation on the proposed issuance of the permit, resulting in a biological opinion.

NMFS may also be required to conduct the following consultations on the potential effects of the activity proposed in the application: (1) Consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding potential effects on species under their jurisdiction, (2) Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) consultation, and (3) consultation with the National Ocean Service if the action takes place in a National Marine Sanctuary. Any issues that arise during these consultations may delay the permit process.

4d Rule Research Authorizations (Pacific marine and anadromous fish)

State fishery agencies must provide for NMFS’ review and approval a list of scientific research activities planned for the coming year. The state agencies screen research applications and then work with NMFS to ensure authorized research does not over utilize the resource. NMFS then conducts an ESA section 7 and Magnuson-Stevens Act consultation on the proposed issuance of the approval of the research program, resulting in a biological opinion. NMFS lets the agency know whether the submittal has been approved or rejected within 6 weeks of the date a complete submittal is received. Researchers are covered under the research limit as soon as the state fishery agency receives a letter from NMFS’ Northwest or Southwest Regional Administrator that their submittal has been approved.

Oregon Scientific Take Permits

Once the application has been submitted in APPS, your application will be reviewed for completeness, scientific or educational relevance, and review/input from the local ODFW District Biologist. New applications may also be sent to other ODFW staff for expert review. We make every effort to issue the permit prior to your start date, but please keep in mind that a typical proccessing time is 4-6 weeks from the time you submit the application to allow adequate time for project review, payment processing, and staff input. If you are applying for an Oregon STP as well as NMFS 4d authorization, your application will be reviewed through the 4d process.

Oregon Rescue Salvage Authorizations

The process is the same for rescue salvage permits as the Oregon Scientific Take Permit process listed above, except that no fee is required for rescue-salvage only projects. If you are working in Oregon waters that contain ESA species, please make sure to submit proof of your federal authorization so we can review before issuing your state authorization.