Advancing Safe Scientific Research and Protecting Against Unproven Large-Scale Geoengineering Activities

The EPA may issue research permits, special permits, emergency permits and general permits for the transportation and disposition of material into the ocean. For additional information about these permits, please visit our MPRSA Permits webpage.

Under the MPRSA, the EPA neither supports nor opposes specific aims of research projects as a general matter. By law, the EPA must permit appropriate scientific research that (1) is sited within a project location that exhibits environmental conditions necessary to effectively conduct the research, and (2) guided by robust methodology that demonstrably reflects strong considerations for minimizing potential impacts to the marine environment, marine resources, human health, navigation, and other uses of the ocean. For additional information, please visit our MPRSA Research Permits webpage.

There are serious concerns about the potential adverse human health and environmental impacts of geoengineering, including marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) or marine solar radiation management (mSRM) techniques.

Any proposed activities, including proposed marine geoengineering activities, that would involve the disposition of material into ocean waters may not proceed without completing a rigorous evaluation process to ensure such activities would not “degrade or endanger human health, welfare, or amenities, or the marine environment, ecological systems, or economic potentialities” (33 U.S.C. 1412(a)).  To date, no projects to conduct marine geoengineering activities have met the high thresholds required to secure a permit.