RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF PERMITTING FOR OCEAN

EXPLORATION, MAPPING, AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY 

OF PERMITTING FOR OCEAN EXPLORATION, MAPPING,

AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

Prepared by the

OCEAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SUBCOMMITTEE

of the

OCEAN POLICY COMMITTEE

June 2020
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF PERMITTING FOR OCEAN

EXPLORATION, MAPPING, AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

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About the Ocean Policy Committee

The Ocean Policy Committee was established in 2018 by Executive Order 13840, “Ocean Policy to 

Advance the Economic, Security, and Environmental Interests of the United States,” to coordinate 

Federal actions on ocean-related matters and is co-chaired by the Director of the Office of Science and 

Technology Policy (OSTP) and the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). The 

Executive Order directed the Ocean Policy Committee to engage and collaborate with the ocean 

community on ocean-related matters, identify priority ocean research and technology needs, and 

leverage resources and expertise to maximize the effectiveness of Federal investments in ocean 

research. For more information about the work of the Ocean Policy Committee, please see the Ocean 

Policy page on the CEQ website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/ceq/. 

About the Ocean Resource Management Subcommittee

The Ocean Policy Committee established the Ocean Resource Management Subcommittee pursuant to 

Section 4(b) of Executive Order 13840 to address regulatory and policy coordination associated with 

ocean management, including through engagement with regional ocean partnerships and ocean 

community stakeholders. This includes addressing data and information needs, and other ocean-related 

matters that may require interagency or intergovernmental solutions. 

About this Document 

Pursuant to Section 4 of the Presidential Memorandum of November 19, 2019, on “Ocean Mapping of 

the United States Exclusive Economic Zone and the Shoreline and Nearshore of Alaska,” this document 

identifies opportunities and recommends actions to increase the efficiency of the permitting and 

authorization processes for ocean research, mapping, exploration, and characterization activities. 

Copyright Information

This document is a work of the United States Government and is in the public domain (see 17 U.S.C. §

105). Subject to the stipulations below, it may be distributed and copied with acknowledgment to OSTP. 

Copyrights to graphics included in this document are reserved by the original copyright holders or their 

assignees and are used here under the Government’s license and by permission. Requests to use any 

images must be made to the provider identified in the image credits or to OSTP if no provider is 

identified. Published in the United States of America, 2020.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF PERMITTING FOR OCEAN

EXPLORATION, MAPPING, AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

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Ocean Policy Committee

Co-Chairs

Kelvin Droegemeier, Director, OSTP

Mary Neumayr, Chairman, CEQ

 Executive Director

 Deerin Babb-Brott, OSTP

Ocean Resource Management Subcommittee

Co-Chairs

Douglas W. Domenech, Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs, DOI

RDML Tim Gallaudet (USN Ret.), Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, DOC

Karnig Ohannessian, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environment, Navy

 Executive Secretary

 Brock Eckel, OSTP

Members

Evan Bloom, State

Jeffrey Bossert Clark, DOJ

Robyn Colosimo, USACE

Honey Elias, ODNI

CDR Jonathan Flynn, JCS

Jon Hickey, OVP

Carolyn Junemann, DOT

Kevin Kirby, EPA

Kim Miller, OMB

Mike Emerson, USCG

Terry Quinn, NSF

Melanie Steele, CEQ

Craig Woolcott, DOC

 Task Force on Efficient Permitting for Ocean Exploration, Mapping, and Research

 Task Force Lead

 Brock Eckel, OSTP

Members

Tamara Arzt, BOEM

Giannina DiMaio, NOAA

Brandon Elsner, NOAA

Nicole Fernandes, NOAA

Mike Gosliner, MMC

Jolie Harrision, NOAA

Liza Johnson, DOI

Bri McGuffie, USACE

Carolyn Ruppel, USGS

Matt Senska, Navy

Holly Smith, NSF

Cathy Tortorici, NOAA
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF PERMITTING FOR OCEAN

EXPLORATION, MAPPING, AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

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Recommendations for Increasing the Efficiency of Permitting and Authorization 

for Ocean Exploration, Mapping, and Research Activities

Introduction

The United States Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) – an oceanic area larger than the combined 

land area of all 50 States – contains a vast array of natural resources such as critical minerals, 

energy, and marine-derived pharmaceutical compounds, and countless ecosystems on which 

the health and productivity of the ocean depend. However, the majority of this area is still 

unmapped, uncharacterized, and unexplored.

Mapping and exploring America’s coastal and ocean waters provides critical data and 

information that support the Blue Economy and advance critical economic sectors including 

maritime commerce, domestic seafood production, energy production, tourism and recreation, 

and other interests. In 2016, such activities contributed more than $300 billion per year of 

economic activity, 3 million jobs, and $129 billion in wages to American workers.

1

To improve our Nation’s understanding of our vast ocean resources, and advance the 

economic, security, and environmental interests of the United States, President Trump signed a 

Presidential Memorandum on November 19, 2019, titled “Ocean Mapping of the United States 

Exclusive Economic Zone and the Shoreline and Nearshore of Alaska” (Presidential 

Memorandum), directing the development of a national strategy to map, explore, and 

characterize the United States EEZ, and a strategy to map the shoreline and nearshore of 

Alaska.

2 To support these activities, the Presidential Memorandum also directs the Ocean 

Resource Management (ORM) subcommittee of the Ocean Policy Committee (OPC) to identify 

opportunities and recommend actions to increase the efficiency of the permitting and 

authorization processes for ocean research, mapping, and characterization activities across 

Federal agencies.

The ORM subcommittee,

3 working through a task force comprised of Federal agencies that 

have statutory authorities related to ocean exploration, mapping, and research, engaged 

Federal agencies, academia, and private industry to discuss opportunities for enhancing the 

efficiency of permitting and authorizations associated with these activities. In addition, the 

ORM received public comments from private industry, academia, and non-governmental 

organizations in response to a request for information published in the Federal Register (85 

 

1 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 2019. NOAA Report on the United States Ocean and 

Great Lakes Economy. https://coast.noaa.gov/data/digitalcoast/pdf/econ-report.pdf

2 The Presidential Memorandum is available at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/memorandumocean-mapping-united-states-exclusive-economic-zone-shoreline-nearshore-alaska/

3 Established by Executive Order 13840 of June 19, 2018 (Ocean Policy to Advance the Economic, Security, and 

Environmental Interests of the United States).
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF PERMITTING FOR OCEAN

EXPLORATION, MAPPING, AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

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Fed. Reg. 7733, February 11, 2020). A number of the comments addressed the complex nature 

of the permitting and authorization processes for ocean research, mapping, and characterizing

activities, including sometimes overlapping processes, misaligned guidance, or inconsistently 

applied analytical methodologies. In addition, the comments described opportunities to create 

efficiencies through better interagency coordination, without diminishing environmental 

standards. Several comments described opportunities to use new and emerging science and 

technology (S&T) to support more efficient decision-making. Lastly, comments also advocated 

for the protection of critical marine resources and the marine ecosystem, and for ensuring that 

promoting efficiency within permitting and authorization processes does not diminish existing 

environmental protection standards.

Through an interagency review of these issues, the task force defined three goals:

 Goal 1: Promote Clarity and Consistency in Federal Compliance Processes

 Goal 2: Advance Efficiency through Systematic Federal Approaches 

 Goal 3: Advance Integration of New and Emerging Science and Technology in Permitting 

and Authorization Processes 

The task force then developed the recommended actions described below for transmittal to the 

Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the Chairman of the Council 

on Environmental Quality (CEQ), in their capacity as OPC co-chairs. 

Permitting and Authorizations for Ocean Exploration, Mapping, and Research

Ocean exploration, mapping, and research activities frequently require multiple environmental 

reviews, consultations, permits, and other authorizations under Federal laws and regulations 

that protect resources such as maritime heritage sites and sensitive or protected marine 

natural resources. 

Government, academic, and private sector stakeholders comply with numerous Federal laws 

and associated regulations to obtain, where necessary, permits and authorizations to conduct 

the hundreds of ocean exploration, mapping, and research activities that occur each year in the 

United States EEZ.

4

Increasing the efficiency of these processes will advance the Nation’s 

interest in mapping, exploring, and characterizing coastal and ocean waters. Specifically, this 

will support implementation of the national strategy to map, explore, and characterize the 

United States EEZ, and the strategy to map the shoreline and nearshore of Alaska, as directed 

by sections 2 and 3 of the Presidential Memorandum.

 

4 Recommendations in this report will be implemented consistent with policy of the United States on marine 

scientific research.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF PERMITTING FOR OCEAN

EXPLORATION, MAPPING, AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

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This report recommends actions that primarily relate to environmental review, permitting, and 

authorization processes under the following authorities:

 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA);

 Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA);

 Endangered Species Act (ESA);

 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act;

 National Historic Preservation Act;

 National Marine Sanctuaries Act;

 Coastal Zone Management Act;

 Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA); and

 Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (RHA).

Under these authorities, multiple Federal departments and agencies are responsible for 

evaluating and issuing permits or authorizations for ocean exploration, mapping, and research

activities in the United States EEZ. As a result, the review of permit and authorization

applications across Federal departments and agencies may be uncoordinated and the 

processes, information requirements, and review methodologies may be unclear to applicants. 

In addition, there are opportunities to employ new and emerging S&T to enhance both the 

acquisition of information required for permit and authorization application processes and 

subsequent compliance actions. The recommendations below describe actions to assess the 

performance and potential utility of new and emerging S&T for permitting and authorizing

exploration, mapping, and research activities. 

Goals and Recommendations

The Presidential Memorandum directs bold action to map and explore the United States EEZ. 

Consistent with and subject to national security considerations, this large-scale effort will 

require extensive permitting and authorizations from multiple Federal departments and 

agencies in certain circumstances. This report recommends the following actions to improve 

the clarity, consistency, and efficiency of the permitting and authorization processes associated 

with ocean exploration, mapping, and research activities, without reducing environmental 

protections for natural, cultural, and other protected resources. Recommendations identify 

entities responsible for implementation, and timelines for completion. For these 

recommendations, short-term means less than 6 months, medium term means 6 months to 1 

year, and long-term means 1 to 2 years.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF PERMITTING FOR OCEAN

EXPLORATION, MAPPING, AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

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At the OPC’s direction, the ORM will develop and periodically update an Implementation Plan 

to provide the specific details to accomplish the Recommendations. The Implementation Plan 

will be published on CEQ’s Ocean Policy website.

5

Goal 1: Promote Clarity and Consistency in the Federal Compliance Process

Recommendations under Goal 1 seek to provide applicants with clarity surrounding permitting 

and authorization processes, better access to information and decision-making methodologies 

used by Federal agencies during those permitting and authorization processes, and an

efficiently coordinated Federal approach to reviewing and approving exploration, mapping, and 

research activities under key statutory authorities.

1.1 Develop and periodically update an Implementation Plan to coordinate implementation of these 

recommendations on the timelines specified below. Address recurring or systemic permitting 

and authorization issues associated with ocean exploration, mapping, and research activities on 

an ongoing basis. [Timeline for Implementation Plan: 90 days. Responsibility: ORM]

1.2 Develop a website that identifies and links to agency programs, authorities, and regulations, 

specific to ocean exploration, mapping, and research activities. Designate and publish contacts 

on Federal agency websites to assist applicants with permits and/or authorizations associated 

with ocean exploration, mapping, and research activities. Identify a single point-of-contact (POC)

to coordinate with applicants, address concerns, and elevate recurring concerns to the Agency’s 

ORM representative. [Timeline: portal – medium term; agency POCs – short-term. 

Responsibility: ORM]

1.3 Evaluate NOAA and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) OceanReports tool in 

consultation with the exploration, mapping, and research community to assess its utility and 

potential enhancements, specifically focusing on how the OceanReports tool can better inform 

pre-application consultation, regulatory review, and processing. Develop interagency best 

practices for integrating the use of geo-information tools that serve related but different 

functions, including OceanReports, Regional Ocean Partnership, and/or Integrated Ocean 

Observing System (IOOS) data portals. [Timeline: long-term. Responsibility: NOAA and BOEM]

Goal 2: Advance Efficiency through Systematic Regulatory Practices 

Recommendations under Goal 2 address actions to increase the use of programmatic 

approaches and best practices for activities with minimal potential impacts, and longer-term 

action to evaluate innovative pre-qualification and project permitting approaches that could 

 

5 CEQ’s website publishes administration actions related to ocean policy and other environmental areas at

https://www.whitehouse.gov/ceq/initiatives/ocean-policy/
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF PERMITTING FOR OCEAN

EXPLORATION, MAPPING, AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

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promote better coordination and greatly increase flexibility for exploration, mapping, and 

research activities.

2.1 Facilitate use of categorical exclusions under NEPA, where appropriate, for exploration, 

mapping, and research activities in the United States EEZ. [Timeline: medium-term. 

Responsibility: ORM coordinating with CEQ for ORM-member agency consultations]

2.2 Evaluate opportunities for greater use of programmatic and multi-year authorization of 

activities related to ocean exploration, mapping, and research. [Timeline: long-term. 

Responsibility: ORM] 

2.3 Establish criteria for general permits or authorizations, including under the MMPA and 

ESA, for low-impact activities and technologies, including high-resolution geophysical 

surveys, associated with ocean exploration, mapping, and research. [Timeline: mediumterm. Responsibility: NOAA and DOI] 

Goal 3: Advance Integration of New and Emerging Science and Technology in Permitting and 

Authorization Processes

Recommendations under Goal 3 seek to enhance the efficiency of the permitting and 

authorization process for ocean exploration, mapping, and research activities through the 

application of new and emerging S&T. The following recommendations will evaluate how new 

and emerging S&T can increase the value of information that supports the permitting and 

authorization process and the efficiency with which it is acquired. The recommendations will 

also assess opportunities to integrate new S&T in regulatory policies and management 

practices, and will identify pilot projects to inform potential broad-scale application.

3.1 Conduct a subject-matter review, by experts from a cross-section of the ocean 

community, of opportunities and challenges to using remote and autonomous sensing, 

artificial intelligence and machine learning, and other new and emerging S&T to meet 

regulatory standards and management practices. [Timeline: medium-term. 

Responsibility: ORM]

3.2 Identify opportunities to integrate new S&T in the permitting and authorization process

for ocean exploration, mapping, and research activities and recommend prioritized 

application of new S&T and any necessary associated regulatory reform. [Timeline: 

medium-term. Responsibility: ORM]

3.3 Identify immediate opportunities and conduct pilot projects that integrate new and 

emerging S&T in the permitting and authorization process. [Timeline: medium-term. 

Responsibility: ORM] 
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EXPLORATION, MAPPING, AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

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Conclusion

These recommended actions will promote efficiency in permitting and authorization of ocean 

exploration, mapping, and research activities to advance the economic, security, and 

environmental interests of the United States. Furthermore, pursuant to the Presidential 

Memorandum, these recommended actions, consistent with and subject to national security 

considerations, will advance the President’s direction to expand our knowledge of the ocean 

and inform the conservation, management, and balanced use of the United States EEZ.