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National Park Service 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve

 

General Conditions/ Stipulations for Conducting 

Research in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve

Pre-Field Work Requirements

1. The permittee's initiation of any activity under the authority of this permit signifies the permittee's 

acceptance of the terms and conditions of the permit. The National Park Service assumes no liability for 

activities conducted by the permittee. The permittee shall not be released from the requirements of this 

permit until all outstanding obligations specified in the permit have been met, whether or not the permit 

has expired. The permittee may request a permit extension, in writing, at any time prior to expiration of 

the term of the permit, specifying a limited, definite amount of time required to complete the permitted 

work. 

2. All State and Federal laws apply and the Permittee and his/her employees, assistants, and helpers are

responsible for knowing and abiding by all applicable laws. 

3. A scientific permit from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve does not apply to lands outside the 

jurisdiction of the National Park Service. The permittee is responsible for knowing the land ownership 

status of the location of research activity sites within Wrangell-St. Elias. The permittee is also responsible 

for obtaining permission from the land owner prior the research activities. If lands are selected by, but not 

yet conveyed to Native corporations, the State of Alaska, or Native allotment applicants, the permittee 

must furnish a written statement of no objection from the potential land owner. Failure to provide these 

documents prior to the starting date of the field work will void the permit application. 

4. The issuance of this permit does not provide the permittee with preferential rights, nor does it assure 

future approval of similar research projects. Field work conducted under authority of this permit shall be 

carried out in such a way as not to impede other legitimate uses of the public lands, except when special 

provision has been made by the National Park Service.

5. During the course of activities conducted under this permit, the Service or its representative shall have full 

access to the work area specified in the permits to any recovered items and to related records. 

6. If approved to use a helicopter within the park, the permittee must contact Gulkana Operations Center 

(907-822-7425, WRST_Dispatch_Center@nps.gov ) with aircraft type, tail numbers, and flight plan two 

weeks prior to initiating. The permittee must provide the pilot with the park helicopter policy prior to flying. 

Collections: 

7. A Loan Agreement (Form 10-127) must be completed between the Service, an authorized official of an 

approved curatorial facility and the Permittee prior to the removal from the Park of any item collected 

under the authority of this permit (The maximum term of the Loan Agreement may be no longer than five 

years). In the absence of a Loan Agreement, or upon the termination of a Loan Agreement, or this permit; 

all items and records will be transferred to the National Park Service. 
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Field Work Requirements

General Stipulations: 

1. The permittee's initiation of any activity under the authority of this permit signifies the permittee's 

acceptance of the terms and conditions of the permit. The National Park Service assumes no liability for 

activities conducted by the permittee. The permittee shall not be released from the requirements of this 

permit until all outstanding 

2. Information relating to the location, nature, or character of archeological or historic resources will be 

withheld from disclosure to the public, including the media (social media and otherwise), unless the 

permittee obtains the express approval for the release of such information from the Superintendent.

3. Information relating to the location, nature, or character of cave/ karst resources will be withheld from 

disclosure to the public, including the media (social media and otherwise), unless the permittee obtains 

the express approval for the release of such information from the Superintendent.

4. The issuance of this permit does not provide the permittee with preferential rights, nor does it assure 

future approval of similar research projects. Field work conducted under authority of this permit shall be 

carried out in such a way as not to impede other legitimate uses of the public lands, except when special 

provision has been made by the National Park Service.

5. The permittee agrees to reimburse any costs incurred by the National Park Service to correct damages or 

actions caused by failure to comply with the provisions stated in this permit. Accidents or incidents 

resulting in death, personal injury requiring medical care, or property damage or loss over $300 per 

incident will be reported to the Superintendent at the earliest possible time. 

6. The permittee or designated field staff shall carry a copy of this permit while in the park. 

Access:

7. All aircraft use must conform to park aircraft policy; helicopter use is limited to the specific locations 

designated in the research permit and the approved study plan (see attached "Helicopter Use Policy for 

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve"). Any changes to the approved research design or 

permit conditions will be submitted in writing, and in sufficient detail to the Chief of Resources for review 

and approval, prior to conducting any work covered by the revisions. 

8. If approved to use a helicopter, the pilot must make contact with the district ranger and Gulkana 

Operations Center (907-822-7425, WRST_Dispatch_Center@nps.gov ) prior to flying to confirm flight 

plan, aircraft type, and tail number and to address any questions the pilot may have of the helicopter 

policy. 

9. If approved to use an ATV or ORV in the park the permittee must stay on the designated/ established 

trails as outlined in this permit. ATV use is prohibited in designated Wilderness.

10. Use of snowmachine is allowed with adequate snow cover (6-12 inches of depth) or a combination of 

snow and frost depth sufficient to protect the underlying vegetation and soil.

Collections: 
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11. No personal collection of any kind will be made by the permittee or members of their party. Collection is 

limited to that specifically authorized by this permit. The collection of mineral, biological, paleontological, 

floral or faunal specimens, unless specifically authorized herein, is prohibited. 

Site treatment and procedures:

12. Disturbance will be kept to the minimum area consistent with the nature and purpose of the field work.

13. The permittee will take all precautions necessary to protect wildlife, the public, or other users of public 

lands from accidental injury in the conduct of work under this permit.

14. Temporary stakes and/or flagging installed by the permittee shall be removed upon completion of the field 

work. Permanent datums will be left in place.

15. All topsoil and vegetation removed in the course of archeological tests will be saved. Upon completion of 

testing, all subsurface test units will be backfilled as soon as possible after data recordation is completed, 

and restored as closely as possible to the original contour and vegetation of the ground.

16. Living trees will not be cut or otherwise damaged without prior authorization of the park Superintendent.

17. The permittee will take actions to prevent the inadvertent introduction or spread of non-native species. 

18. The permittee shall not conduct any flint knapping or lithic replication experiments at any archeological 

site, aboriginal quarry, or non-site location which may be mistaken for archeological remains as a result of 

such experiments.

19. In the event that human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, or objects of cultural patrimony are 

encountered, work will cease immediately in the area of the finds and the Superintendent will be notified 

of the discoveries as soon as is reasonable and practical. A good faith effort must be made to protect the 

human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony that are encountered 

in the course of the fieldwork. Work in the area of the finds cannot resume until the permittee receives 

the express written permission of the Superintendent.

20. If approved for travel into park caves, permittee is required to disinfect all climbing gear, equipment, and 

clothing in accordance with the latest approved protocols in order prevent the spread of White-nosed 

syndrome. Permanent anchors may only be used with written permission and all caving equipment will be 

removed at the end of fieldwork. A good faith effort must be made to protect cave resources. 

Backcountry camping and travel: 

21. Use minimum impact and "Leave no Trace" techniques. Use existing campsites or areas with barren 

ground when available. Avoid trampling vegetation around camp and other work areas. Minimize the use 

and impact of fires. Use existing fire rings if fires are necessary, and use only dead or downed wood.

22. Permittee is asked to strive to locate campsites on durable surfaces, i.e. sand and gravel bars or bedrock. 

Camps located on vegetated sites must be relocated every few days if impacts on the vegetation are 

observed. Camps will consist only of temporary structures. 

23. Bear safety: Store food, trash and other scent attractants in approved bear resistant containers at all 

times. Work with the Chief of Resources for appropriate containers or recommendations for the use of 

electric fence. Kitchen area should be sited approximately 100 meters from campsites. Keep tents, 
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sleeping bags, and personal gear free of food odors. Although the carrying of firearms is allowed, the 

carrying and use of EPA-approved pepper spray is recommended as an additional precaution. Report all 

human-bear conflicts to Park staff as soon as possible (907-822-5234, WRST_Tweet@nps.gov ).

24. Human waste: Burying human feces is usually a suitable solution if carrying out waste is not feasible. 

Avoid pollution of water sources, by digging catholes (individual use latrine holes) at least 75 meters from 

water and away from drainage. Pack out or thoroughly burn all toilet paper. Pack out all trash, do not rely 

on burning trash as a method of disposal because trash, particularly wet food remains unburned and 

serves as a bear attractant. 

25. Air drops of food and supplies or fuel caches are prohibited unless specifically allowed in the permit. 

26. All trash, equipment, and other materials shall be removed.

Post-Field Work Requirements

Collections: 

1. All artifacts and material collections (items) including, but not limited to bone, lithic materials, plant 

remains, animal remains, wood, architectural materials, soil samples, human burials, and other 

specimens of scientific interest collected under the terms of this permit remain the property of the National 

Park Service.

2. The permittee will ensure that all items are temporarily curated in an approved facility meeting all National 

Park Service requirements. Final disposition of all items will be in an approved, designated repository 

specified by the Service in accordance with approved policies and procedures. 

3. All conservation treatments, except field treatments of an emergency nature, must be specified in writing 

and approved in advance by the Park. 

4. Analysis of any item which could result in the destruction of the item, in whole, or in part, must be 

specified in writing by the permittee and approved in writing in advance by the Superintendent. 

Cataloging and curation: 

5. Prior to the end of the permit period the permittee must mark or label all items with Park catalog numbers 

in accordance with National Park Service policies and procedures. 

6. A detailed catalog listing of all items containing a brief description, a park catalog number, and the 

provenience of each item will be provided by the permittee to the Park within six months of accessioning 

the items. 

7. The permittee must provide the Park with completed original Service Catalog Worksheets (Forms 10-

254C or 10-254D) on each item and submit the worksheets with the final project reports. 

Records: 

8. An Investigator’s Annual Report (IAR) will be provided to the park’s research permitting and reporting site 

by February 1, the following year. This report should summarize the data collected during the prior field 
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season and provide a map showing sample locations, survey lines, all aircraft landing locations, and any 

other significant findings, activities or events, such as wildlife interactions.

9. Copies of all published and grey literature papers including copies of any defended thesis, produced as a 

result of work conducted under this permit will be provided to the park via the park research coordinator 

and park curator.

10. All records including, but not limited to, plans, field notes, field maps, drawings, raw data sheets, tape 

recordings, photos, photo logs, instrument charts, map overlays, negatives, computer tapes, computer 

printouts and remote sensing data (records) are, and remain the property of the NPS. All records will be 

accessioned into the Park Accession Ledger Book.

11. These records will be curated and returned in accordance with the terms outlined in the Loan Agreement 

(Form 10-127). A Loan Agreement must be negotiated between the NPS, an authorized official of an 

approved curatorial facility, and the permittee prior to the removal of any record from the Park. 

12. Final disposition of all records will be specified by the Service in accordance with the Loan Agreement 

(Form 10-127) and approved policies and procedures of the National Park Service. 

13. At the end of each field season the permittee will turn over to the Superintendent a completed State of 

Alaska Site Inventory form and an Archeological Sites Management Information (ASMIS) Form for each 

prehistoric/historic site discovered. For each year of field work the delivery date for these forms will be 

December 1st of the same calendar year in which the site (or sites) was inventoried.

14. The permittee must include two completed copies of NTIS Form 272 with the final report(s) for forwarding 

to the Division. 

15. The permittee will send originals of all records to the park or area within 60 days of the date specified for 

completion of work authorized under this permit. 

General: 

16. Investigator(s) may be asked to do a project presentation for Park staff or one geared to a non-scientific 

audience for the general public. The objective of this request is to facilitate public education efforts on 

behalf of Park resources and the scientific studies associated with them.