Carboniferous, Inc. Research Project Overview and Permitting Status
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Overview
On May 13, 2025, the EPA received a complete permit application from Carboniferous, Inc. for a research permit under the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act. As part of its research project, the applicant proposes to transport and place up to 20 biomass packages within a 3.14 square mile Study Area on the seafloor (centered at 26°56'04.3"N 91°19'37.6"W (NAD 1983)) in the Orca Basin. The Orca Basin is a 61 square mile anoxic, hypersaline basin located 2,200 meters below the ocean surface on the continental shelf in the Gulf of America. The closest U.S. shoreline to the Study Area is Raccoon Island, Louisiana, approximately 168 miles northeast of the study area. Each biomass package would contain up to 1 metric ton of compressed sugarcane bagasse (bound together with burlap bags, manila rope, and bailing twine) and would be attached to a steel anchor using steel shackles. Each biomass package and anchor would be connected to a Sampler System, a steel frame affixed with scientific monitoring equipment designed to collect samples from the seawater surrounding the biomass package. The biomass packages and steel anchors would remain on the seafloor after the conclusion of the research project.
Please refer to the information below for the status of the EPA's assessment of the permit application and opportunities for providing public comment.
Project Timeline
Current Status
The EPA is requesting comment until 11:59 pm EDT on July 14, 2025, on its tentative determination to issue a research permit for the project.
Project Timeline
- May 13, 2025: The EPA received a complete permit application from Carboniferous, Inc. for the transportation and placement of up to 20 biomass packages into the ocean as part of a research project.
- May 14, 2025: The EPA initiated Tribal Consultation for a "Permit Application under MPRSA for a Scientific Research Activity by Carboniferous, Inc." with the federally recognized Indian Tribes located in the states along the coast of the Fuld of America (Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas). Information for the Tribal Consultation is available on the EPA's Tribal Consultation Opportunities Tracking System.
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June 12, 2025: The EPA published a notice on June 12, 2025, inviting public review and comment on the EPA's tentative determination to issue a research permit and the conditions of the proposed permit during a public comment period ending on July 14, 2025. A public listening session is scheduled for June 25, 2025, during the public comment period.
Supporting Documents
Supporting documents are available in the public docket on Regulations.gov (Docket ID EPA-HQ-OW-2025-0198). Documents in the docket include:
- Memorandum of Public Notice and Posting of Docket for MPRSA Proposed Research Permit No EPA-HQ-MPRSA-2025-001 (June 2025)
- EPA Fact Sheet for Proposed MPRSA Research Permit No. EPA-HQ-MPRSA-2025-001 (June 2025)
- Proposed MPRSA Research Permit No. EPA-HQ-MPRSA-2025-001 for the Carboniferous, Inc. Research Project (June 2025)
- Carboniferous, Inc. MPRSA Research Permit Application (May 2025)
Public Comment Opportunities
The current public comment period closes at 10:59 pm CDT (11:59 EDT) on July 14, 2025. The EPA may not consider comments received after the comment period closing time.
The EPA is requesting comment on (1) the EPA’s tentative determination to issue a permit to Carboniferous, Inc. for the proposed research project and (2) the conditions of the proposed research permit.
For example, the EPA invites commenters to provide specific comments or references to specific information that would inform the EPA’s assessment of the potential for adverse impacts on the environment and other uses, the scientific merit of the research project, and the appropriateness of conditions in the proposed permit, including the amount of material and the time or location of the activities. Commenters are also invited to provide specific suggestions on how the EPA should address the comments.
The EPA encourages commenters to review the supporting documents in the public docket when preparing comments, including the Memorandum of Public Notice, EPA Fact Sheet, the proposed MPRSA research permit and the permit application materials submitted by Carboniferous, Inc.
More information about commenting on EPA dockets and tips for providing effective comments.
Comments may be provided to the EPA in the following ways:
- Written comments may be submitted to the EPA through the public docket on Regulations.gov. Click the “comment” button on Docket ID EPA-HQ-OW-2025-0198.
- Verbal comments may be provided to the EPA during a virtual listening session on June 25, 2025, from 6 to 7 pm CDT (7 to 8 pm EDT). Registration is required to attend the listening session (Registration link). Please submit any requests for language translation or other accommodations through the registration link no later than June 18, 2025.
Comments submitted during this comment period will be considered by the EPA in its final determination on whether to issue an MPRSA research permit to Carboniferous, Inc. for the proposed research project and the conditions of any such permit, if issued.