MPRSA Research Permit Adjudicatory Hearing Request
Summary
EPA filed an adjudicatory hearing request document (EPA-HQ-OW-2025-0198) in the MPRSA research permit proceeding. Environmental groups Friends of the Earth, Biofuelwatch, and OceanCare submitted public comments opposing the permit for Carboniferous-related activities in the Gulf of Mexico. Scientific declarations from researchers Craig R. McClain and Samantha B. Joye were filed, referencing journal articles on the Orca Basin's marine snow distribution and microbial ecology.
What changed
EPA filed a hearing request document in the MPRSA research permit adjudicatory proceeding (EPA-HQ-OW-2025-0198). The docket includes public comments from Friends of the Earth U.S., Biofuelwatch, and OceanCare submitted July–October 2025, along with expert declarations from marine scientists Craig R. McClain and Samantha B. Joye filed April 2026, referencing Gulf of Mexico Orca Basin research. Some scientific attachments are restricted due to copyright.
Research institutions and energy companies involved in the permitted activity should monitor this proceeding closely, as the scientific record and public opposition may influence EPA's adjudicatory determination on whether to grant the MPRSA research permit for Carboniferous-related activities.
What to do next
- Monitor the EPA-HQ-OW-2025-0198 docket for further proceedings
- Review public comments from environmental groups opposing the permit
- Track declarations from scientific experts for potential impact on permit evaluation
Archived snapshot
Apr 9, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Content
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Attachments 31
2025 7 14 - FOE Comments on MPRSA Permit for Carboniferous
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- Abstract Copy of Public comment submitted to the Docket EPA-HQ-OW-2025-0198 from Friends of the Earth U.S. and Biofuelwatch on July 11, 2025.
- Author(s) Friends of the Earth U.S. (FOE) and Biofuelwatch
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2025 10 23 - FOE Additional Comments on MPRSA permit
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- Abstract Copy of public response submitted to the Docket EPA-HQ-OW-2025-0198 from Friends of the Earth U.S. and OceanCare on October 23, 2025.
- Author(s) Friends of the Earth U.S. (FOE) and Ocean Care
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2026 4 5 - Declaration Craig McClain Final
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- Abstract Declaration and declaration attachment for Craig McClain.
- Author(s) Craig R. McClain
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2026 4 6 - Declaration Samantha Joye Final
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- Abstract Declaration for Samantha Joye
- Author(s) Samantha B. Joye
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2026 4 6 - Declaration Samantha Joye Final-attachment 1
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- Abstract Attachment 1 provided with the declaration for Samantha Joye. Journal Article Titled: Vertical marine snow distribution in the stratified, hypersaline, and anoxic Orca Basin (Gulf of Mexico), Open Access. [Duplicate of Diercks et al-2019 elementa]
- Author(s) Arne Diercks, et al.
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2026 4 6 - Declaration Samantha Joye Final-attachment 2
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- Abstract Attachment 2 provided with the declaration for Samantha Joye. Journal Article Titled: Microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of hypersaline sediments in Orca Basin, Open Access. [Duplicate of Nigro et al-Microbial ecology and biogeochemistry in Orca Basin 2020]
- Author(s) Lisa M. Nigro et al.
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2026 4 6 - Declaration Samantha Joye Final-attachment 3
Restricted: Copyrighted
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- Abstract Attachment 3 provided with the declaration for Samantha Joye. Book Chapter Titled: Chapter 4 The Gulf of Mexico: An Introductory Survey of a Seep-Dominated Seafloor Landscape. [Duplicate of Teske and Joye-2020-Gulf-Brines-Hitchhikers-Guide] Please contact the EPA Docket Center, Public Reading Room to view this document. Address: 1301 Constitution Ave, NW Room 3334, Washington, DC 20004. Telephone: 202-566-1744. Fax: 202-566- 9744. Email: docket-customerservice@epa.gov.
- Author(s) Andreas Teske and Samantha B. Joye
- Publication Reference © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
2026 4 6 - Declaration Samantha Joye Final-attachment 4
Restricted: Copyrighted
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- Abstract Attachment 4 provided with the declaration for Samantha Joye. Significance of Acetate as a Microbial Carbon and Energy Source in the Water Column of Gulf of Mexico: Implications for Marine Carbon Cycling, Free Access. [Duplicate of Zhuang et al-2019-Global Biogeochemical Cycles] Please contact the EPA Docket Center, Public Reading Room to view this document. Address: 1301 Constitution Ave, NW Room 3334, Washington, DC 20004. Telephone: 202-566-1744. Fax: 202-566- 9744. Email: docket-customerservice@epa.gov.
- Author(s) Guang‐Chao Zhuang et al.
- Publication Reference ©2019. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.
2026 4 6 - Declaration Samantha Joye Final-attachment 5
Restricted: Copyrighted
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- Abstract Attachment 5 provided with the declaration for Samantha Joye. Journal Article Titled: Multiple evidence for methylotrophic methanogenesis as the dominant methanogenic pathway in hypersaline sediments from the Orca Basin, Gulf of Mexico.Please contact the EPA Docket Center, Public Reading Room to view this document. Address: 1301 Constitution Ave, NW Room 3334, Washington, DC 20004. Telephone: 202-566-1744. Fax: 202-566- 9744. Email: docket-customerservice@epa.gov.
- Author(s) Guang-Chao Zhuang, et al.
- Publication Reference Geochimica et. Cosomochimica Acta 187 (2016): 1-20 Published by Elsevier Ltd
2026 4 6 - Declaration Samantha Joye Final-attachment 6
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- Abstract Attachment 6 provided with the declaration for Samantha Joye. Photos captured and supplied by Samantha Joye as part of a declaration without explicit permissions to share.
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Diercks et al-2019 elementa
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- Abstract Journal Article Titled: Vertical marine snow distribution in the stratified, hypersaline, and anoxic Orca Basin (Gulf of Mexico), Open Access
- Author(s) Arne Diercks et al.
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DOSI Life Moves Slowly in the Deep Ocean 2024
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- Abstract DOSI Information Sheet Titled: Life Moves Slowly in the Deep Ocean
- Author(s) Aria Finkelstein et al.
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DOSI Macroalgae-Crop-Waste Deposition into Deep Water-Policy-Brief 2021
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- Abstract DOSI Policy Brief Titled: Macroalgal and Crop-Waste Deposition into Deep Water
- Author(s) Lisa A. Levin et al.
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Gallo et al-Extremophile Biotechnological Applications 2024
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- Abstract Journal Article Titled: Advances in Extremophile Research: Biotechnological Applications through Isolation and Identification Techniques, Open Access
- Author(s) Giovanni Gallo et al.
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Gallo et al-Illuminating deep-sea considerations for mCDR proposals 2025
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- Abstract Journal Article Titled: Illuminating deep-sea considerations and experimental approaches for mCDR proposals, Open Access
- Author(s) Natalya D Gallo, et al.
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Glass et al-Habitable environments in ocean world systems 2022
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- Abstract Journal Article Titled: Defining and Characterizing Habitable Environments in Ocean World Systems, Open Access
- Author(s) Jennifer B. Glass et al.
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Hilmi et al-Deep sea nature based solutions to climate change 2023
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- Abstract Journal Article Titled: Deep sea nature-based solutions to climate change, Open Access
- Author(s) Nathalie Hilmi et al.
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LCLP 2023 Statement on Marine Geoengineering
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- Abstract Statement adopted by the 45th Consultative Meeting of Contracting Parties to the London Convention and the 18th Meeting of Contracting Parties to the London Protocol (LC 45/LP 18), taken from LC 45/18, annex 4.
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LCLP Ocean Fertilization Assessment Framework 2010
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- Abstract Resolution LC-LP.2(2010) On the assessment framework for scientific research involving ocean fertilization (Adopted on 14 October 2010).
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Li et al-Review of Whale Fall in Deep Sea Ecosystems 2022
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- Abstract Journal Article Titled: Review of the Impact of Whale Fall on Biodiversity in Deep-Sea Ecosystems, Open Access
- Author(s) Qihui Li, et al
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McClain et al-Disentangling mechanisms in experimental deep sea wood falls 2023
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- Abstract Journal Article Titled: Disentangling mechanisms of species–energy relationships in experimental deep-sea wood falls, Open Access
- Author(s) Craig R. McClain et al.
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McClain et al-Sunken trees in deep sea link biodiversity 2023
Restricted: Copyrighted
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- Abstract Journal Article Titled: Sunken trees in the deep sea link terrestrial and marine biodiversity. Please contact the EPA Docket Center, Public Reading Room to view this document. Address: 1301 Constitution Ave, NW Room 3334, Washington, DC 20004. Telephone: 202-566-1744. Fax: 202-566- 9744. Email: docket-customerservice@epa.gov.
- Author(s) Craig R. McClain et al.
- Publication Reference © 2023 The Ecological Society of America.
Merino et al-Living at Extremes Extremophiles in a Planetary Context 2019
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- Abstract Journal Article Titled: Living at the Extremes: Extremophiles and the Limits of Life in a Planetary Context, Open Access
- Author(s) Nancy Merino et al.
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Merlino et al-Microbial ecology of DHABs 2018
Restricted: Copyrighted
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- Abstract Journal Article Titled: Microbial ecology of deep-sea hypersaline anoxic basins. Please contact the EPA Docket Center, Public Reading Room to view this document. Address: 1301 Constitution Ave, NW Room 3334, Washington, DC 20004. Telephone: 202-566-1744. Fax: 202-566- 9744. Email: docket-customerservice@epa.gov.
- Author(s) Giuseppe Merlino et al.
- Publication Reference © FEMS 2018. All rights reserved
Nigro et al-Microbial ecology and biogeochemistry in Orca Basin 2020
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- Abstract Journal Article Titled: Microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of hypersaline sediments in Orca Basin, Open Access
- Author(s) Lisa M. Nigro et al.
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Nigro et al-PLoS-One-Orca 2020
More Information
- Abstract Journal Article Titled: Microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of hypersaline sediments in Orca Basin, Open Access [duplicate of Nigro et al-Microbial ecology and biogeochemistry in Orca Basin 2020]
- Author(s) Lisa M. Nigro et al.
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Renn et al-Red Sea Brine Pools Potential 2021
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- Abstract Journal Article Titled: Novel Enzymes From the Red Sea Brine Pools: Current State and Potential, Open Access
- Author(s) Dominik Renn et al.
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Shah et al-Carbon supply to Orca Basin 2013
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- Abstract Journal Article Titled: Carbon isotopic evidence for microbial control of carbon supply to Orca Basin at the seawater–brine interface, Open Access
- Author(s) S. R. Shah et al.
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Teske and Joye-2020 Gulf-Brines-Hitchhikers-Guide
Restricted: Copyrighted
More Information
- Abstract Book Chapter Titled: Chapter 4 The Gulf of Mexico: An Introductory Survey of a Seep-Dominated Seafloor Landscape. Please contact the EPA Docket Center, Public Reading Room to view this document. Address: 1301 Constitution Ave, NW Room 3334, Washington, DC 20004. Telephone: 202-566-1744. Fax: 202-566- 9744. Email: docket-customerservice@epa.gov.
- Author(s) Andreas Teske and Samantha B. Joye
- Publication Reference © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
Varrella DHABs Reservior of Biotechnological Interest 2020
More Information
- Abstract Journal Article Titled: Deep Hypersaline Anoxic Basins as Untapped Reservoir of Polyextremophilic Prokaryotes of Biotechnological Interest, Open Access
- Author(s) Stefano Varrella et al.
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Zhuang et al-2019-Global Biogeochemical Cycles
Restricted: Copyrighted
More Information
- Abstract Journal Article Titled: Significance of Acetate as a Microbial Carbon and Energy Source in the Water Column of Gulf of Mexico: Implications for Marine Carbon Cycling. Please contact the EPA Docket Center, Public Reading Room to view this document. Address: 1301 Constitution Ave, NW Room 3334, Washington, DC 20004. Telephone: 202-566-1744. Fax: 202-566- 9744. Email: docket-customerservice@epa.gov.
- Author(s) Guang‐Chao Zhuang et al.
- Publication Reference © 2019. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.
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