Expedition 301 is based on Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP drilling proposal number 545-Full3 (available at iodp.tamu.edu/scienceops/expeditions/exp301.html). Following ranking by the IODP Scientific Advisory Structure, the expedition was scheduled by the IODP Operations Committee for the research vessel JOIDES Resolution, operating under contract with the U.S. Implementing Organization (USIO). The expedition is currently scheduled to depart Astoria, Oregon (USA), on 28 June 2004 and to end in Astoria, Oregon (USA), on 21 August 2004 (for the current detailed schedule, see www.iodp.tamu.edu/scienceops/). A total of 52 days will be available for the drilling, coring, and downhole measurements and installation of subseafloor observatories described in this report. Further details on the JOIDES Resolution can be found at iodp.tamu.edu/publicinfo/drillship.html.