Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI) Environmental Review (PA)

Tracked preemption from the Pennsylvania overlay bundle.

Overview

Effective
2008-01-01
Sunset
Authority
state
Scope
state:PA

Trigger predicate

When this evaluates true for a parcel, the law's preempted fields take precedence over base zoning.

OR
  • project.requires_dep_permit == True
  • project.requires_dcnr_grant == True
  • project.has_federal_nexus == True

Preempted fields

2 fields on the base district schema are rewritten when the trigger fires.

FieldOpValueNote
review_typerequirepndi_receipt_via_conservation_explorerApplicants for PA DEP permits (Ch. 102 E&S/NPDES construction, Ch. 105 waterway/wetland, Ch. 78/78a oil & gas, Surface Mining, NPDES industrial, etc.) and many DCNR/PennDOT/PEMA-administered grants must submit a PNDI Receipt generated by the PA Conservation Explorer / PNDI environmental review tool. Receipts identify potential impacts to state and federal threatened/endangered/special-concern species and habitats.
review_typerequirepndi_jurisdictional_agency_clearanceWhen the PNDI Receipt identifies a 'potential impact,' the applicant must consult with the jurisdictional agency (PA Game Commission for birds/mammals; PA Fish and Boat Commission for fish/reptiles/amphibians/invertebrates; DCNR Bureau of Forestry/PNHP for plants and natural communities; US Fish and Wildlife Service for federally listed species). Avoidance/minimization/mitigation may be required as a permit condition.

Citation

Authority source
Wild Resource Conservation Act, 32 P.S. §§5301–5314; Game and Wildlife Code, 34 Pa.C.S. §§2167 (wild plant sanctuary), 2924 (endangered species); Fish and Boat Code, 30 Pa.C.S. §2305; PA DEP Policy 012-0700-001 'PNDI Coordination Procedure'; Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program partnership (DCNR, PGC, PFBC, Western PA Conservancy)
§ 32 P.S. §5305; 34 Pa.C.S. §2167; 30 Pa.C.S. §2305; DEP Policy 012-0700-001
https://conservationexplorer.dcnr.pa.gov/

Research notes

PNDI runs in parallel with — and often satisfies the state-coordination component of — federal Endangered Species Act §7 consultation for projects with federal nexus. The PNDI Receipt itself is not a permit but is a precondition to most DEP permit applications. Conservation Explorer is the public-facing tool; logged-in 'Pro' users (consultants) generate official receipts. PNHP partners: DCNR Bureau of Forestry, PA Game Commission, PA Fish and Boat Commission, Western PA Conservancy.