National Marine Sancturary Permits

This request is for revision and extension of an existing information collection. Changes from the previous submission include updated ONMS permit application and applicant instructions to improve the quality of information initially collected and to make the permit process more efficient; the correction of a mathematical error that increased the total burden hours for baitfish permits; the removal of lionfish permits in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS); and the addition of ten general permits to the annual estimate, five of these due to the designation of Mallows Bay - Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary (MPNMS), and five permits due to the designation of Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary (WSCNMS). This data collection request is for information collected in support of the review of Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) permit applications and the issuance of permits in a manner that protects sanctuary resources and qualities. Permit decisions must be consistent with the purposes and policies of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA; 16 U.S.C. §§ 1431 et seq.), the purposes for which the sanctuary was designated, and the regulations governing the National Marine Sanctuary System (15 CFR Part 922). The regulations list specific activities that are prohibited in national marine sanctuaries and establish that otherwise prohibited activities may be conducted if such activity is specifically authorized by and conducted in accordance with the scope, purpose, terms and conditions of a permit issued by ONMS. For most permit types, persons desiring a permit must submit an application, and anyone obtaining a permit is generally required to submit one or more reports on the activity allowed under the permit. The information collection supports determinations on whether proposed activities comply with ONMS permit categories and applicable regulatory review criteria. It allows ONMS to make decisions on possible permit terms and conditions deemed reasonably necessary to protect sanctuary resources and qualities, such as terms and conditions to avoid, minimize, or mitigate injury to sanctuary resources.

The latest form for National Marine Sancturary Permits expires 2026-06-30 and can be found here.

General Permits and Authorizations

Federal Enterprise Architecture: Natural Resources - Conservation, Marine and Land Management

Review document collections for all forms, instructions, and supporting documents - including paper/printable forms.