---
kind: "section"
citation: "50 C.F.R. § 37.11"
title: "50"
number: "37.11"
heading: "General standards for exploratory activities."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/50/37.11"
---

# §37.11. General standards for exploratory activities.

- (a) No exploratory activities shall be conducted without a special use permit. Requirements and procedures for obtaining a special use permit are prescribed in [§§ 37.21 through 37.23](/cfr/50/37.21..37.23.md).
- (b) Exploratory activities shall be conducted so that they do not:
  - (1) Significantly adversely affect the refuge's wildlife, its habitat, or the environment;
  - (2) Unnecessarily duplicate exploratory activities of the permittee or another permittee; and
  - (3) **Unreasonably or significantly interfere with another permittee's activities.**
- (c) Reexamination of an area may be permitted by the Regional Director if necessary to correct data deficiencies or to refine or improve data or information already gathered.
- (d) **Drilling of exploratory wells is prohibited.**

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: Sec. 1002, Pub. L. 96-487, 94 Stat. 2449, as amended by sec. 110, Pub. L. 97-394, 96 Stat. 1982 (16 U.S.C. 3142); sec. 110, Pub. L. 89-665, as added by sec. 206, Pub. L. 96-515, 94 Stat. 2996 (16 U.S.C. 470h-2); sec. 401, Pub. L. 148, 49 Stat. 383, as amended (16 U.S.C. 715s); 31 U.S.C. 9701; 5 U.S.C. 301; 209 DM 6.1.

### Source

Source: 48 FR 16858, Apr. 19, 1983, unless otherwise noted.