Apply for a research permit
Contact for Apply for a research permit
DCR Office of Natural Resources
The Details of Apply for a research permit
What you need for Apply for a research permit
- Complete and submit a the research application: Please attach additional pages, including maps of proposed study areas and all agency letters or permit applications, including any from MHC, Conservation Commission, and NHESP.
- Certificate of Liability Insurance: It is requested that you secure a Certificate of Liability Insurance with a minimum amount of 1 million dollars for your site work. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Conservation and Recreation listing the above address, must be named as additional insured for the dates of your field research. Please submit your Certificate of Liability Insurance form to the DCR Ecology Program as soon as possible and before your field work. If this is a hardship, please discuss this issue with the Ecology Program Director.
How to apply Apply for a research permit
Send completed application, at least 30 days prior to proposed starting date, to:
Nancy Putnam, DCR Ecology Program Director
Bureau of Planning, Design and Resource Protection
251 Causeway Street, Boston, MA 02114
Email to nancy.putnam@state.ma.us
Next steps for Apply for a research permit
Approval
Final approval or rejection will be made by DCR staff and may require a site visit.
More info for Apply for a research permit
DCR’s Bureau of Planning, Design & Resource Protection issues research permits to educational institutions and others who propose appropriate studies on DCR properties. A research proposal, progress reports, a site visit, indemnification of DCR, and applicable insurance coverage may be required.
A research project may also require review, approval, or permitting from other local and state agencies, such as: Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife; Massachusetts Historical Commission; or the local Conservation Commission, depending on the location and scope of the project.