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  1. Introduction
  2. Large Projects
  3. Jurisdiction
  4. Early Coordination

Introduction

The Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory Environmental Review Tool (PNDI ER Tool) enables the public to perform online PNDI searches for potential impacts to threatened, endangered, special concern species and special concern resources in PA. Anyone including property owners, consultants, project planners and PA DEP or PA CCD staff can access the tool for PNDI project screening.

The PNDI ER Tool is used prior to submitting permit applications to DEP or during any project pre-planning phases. The user performs the search online using the ER Tool, prints the results from the search (called “PNDI Environmental Review Receipt”) and follows the instructions on the receipt. For more information about the receipt results and what they mean, please visit the PNDI Receipt page.

In order to adequately provide for the protection of special concern species and resources while also reducing the number of false hits when conducting PNDI searches, it is important that the correct project area and type is entered into the PNDI ER Tool. If you believe you have entered the information incorrectly, please rerun the search.

Large Projects

Some projects are too large to be drawn in the PNDI Environmental Review Tool and are therefore called “Large Projects”. To find out if your project is a Large Project, please visit the Large Project Information Page.

Resource Agency Jurisdiction

A PNDI ER Tool web-site inquiry generates on-line search results concerning the potential impacts of a project to special concern species and resources. Four government agencies have jurisdiction over the protection of these resources:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Federally listed, proposed & candidate species

Statute: Endangered Species Act of 1973 16 U.S.C. §§ 1531 et seq.
Pennsylvania Game Commission
PA state-listed birds and mammals

Statute: Game and Wildlife Code 34 Pa. C.S.A. §§ 101 et seq.
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
PA state-listed fish, reptiles, amphibians, and aquatic organisms

Statute: Fish and Boat Code 30 Pa. C.S.A. §§ 101 et seq.
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
PA state-listed plants, natural communities, terrestrial invertebrates and geological features

Statute: Wild Resources Conservation Act 32 P.S. §§ 5301 et seq.

Early Coordination

Because the Environmental Review Tool is easily accessible to the public, it is recommended that PNDI coordination be completed prior to project development and submission of any permit applications. During instances when the PNDI search indicates potential impacts, early consultation with the proper special concern species or resource jurisdictional agencies (preferably prior to plan development) is crucial. Early consultation not only minimizes associated delays and cost, but also facilitates the integration of more effective conservation measures into project planning.