Parks Service Renews Research Permit Paperwork System
Published Date: 4/29/2026
Notice
Summary
The National Park Service is asking to keep using its current system for research permits and reports without any changes. This affects researchers who need permits to study in national parks and helps keep paperwork simple. If you have thoughts, you can share them by June 29, 2026—no new costs or rules are coming, just a smooth renewal!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Research Permits Required to Study Parks
If you plan to do research or collect specimens in a National Park and you are not an NPS employee on official duty, you must have an NPS scientific research and collecting permit under 36 CFR 2.1 and 2.5. The permit process uses NPS forms (10-741A/B and related reports) and is required to legally conduct research in park units.
Paperwork Burden: Responses and Hours
NPS estimates 8,590 total annual responses for the research permit and reporting collection, totaling 6,884 annual burden hours. Individual completion time ranges from 10 minutes to 90 minutes depending on the activity.
No Changes — Renewal Without Change
The National Park Service is renewing its information collection (OMB Control Number 1024-0236) without any changes, so existing forms and requirements remain the same. The notice says there are no new costs or new rules as part of this renewal.
NPS Encourages Electronic RPRS Submissions
NPS encourages respondents to use the Research Permit and Reporting System (RPRS) at https://irma.nps.gov/RPRS/ to complete and submit applications and reports. Using RPRS is presented as the preferred method to file forms 10-741A/B, 10-226, 10-741C, and 10-741D.
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