Pennsylvania Conservation Explorer Conservation Planning and PNDI Environmental Review. September 29, 2015 Greg Podniesinski Kent Taylor

Transcription

1 Pennsylvania Conservation Explorer Conservation Planning and PNDI Environmental Review September 29, 2015 Greg Podniesinski Kent Taylor

2 Current Conservation Planning Tool County Natural Heritage Inventories & Interactive Map View entire report by county Click to get individual area reports Limited threatened and endangered species information

3 PNDI Environmental Review Tool First of its kind launched in 2005 Model for other states that followed, AZ, VA, NC, LA Quickly screens projects for potential impacts to threatened and endangered species Existing tool has reached the end of its lifespan as software and technology age

4

5 Usage PNDI Screenings and Further Coordination Potential Impacts No Impact

6 Usage 50,000 Total number of Screenings 67% No coordination required or no species in vicinity 33% Further coordination required or species in vicinity 16,600 PNDI screenings in connection with DEP permitting programs 2% ( ) Surveys requested by DCNR, FBC, PGC

7 Species Habitat Surveys

8 Two Tools Combined

9 Goals Support conservation and project planning Address user needs and capabilities Improve access to conservation information Protect species from disturbance or potential impacts

10 Why the Upgrade? Improve visualization of species data Submit projects for review online Store and manage project documents online Update and fine-tune receipt and project screening area sizes Keep up with newest web mapping technology

11 Demo Topics Pennsylvania Conservation Explorer Conservation Planning PNDI Environmental Review Questions & Discussion

12 Pennsylvania Conservation Explorer Conservation Planning & PNDI Environmental Review Tool o View conservation information for land-use and conservation planning Anyone can view and create maps of conservation areas, statuses and values. Access to Conservation Planning is open to all users o Perform a PNDI Environmental Review and obtain a PNDI receipt Perform online screenings for potential impacts to threatened, endangered, special concern species and resources.

13

14 Mapping Enhancements Presque Isle State Park

15 Visible Information

16

17 Access to Conservation Information Summer 2015

18 Access to County Natural Area Inventory Reports

19 Conservation Planning Purpose: Conservation planning & project assessment Open access: No login required View conservation information Landscape level assessments Obtain custom planning reports Choose from 11 basemaps Add your own data layers

20 Conservation Planning Report Define an Area of Interest Generate a Conservation Report

21 Add Your Own Map Resources

22 Conservation Planning Municipal and County planning Landscape-level project planning Grant planning Conservation assessments Site assessments Conservation planning layers

23 PNDI Environmental Review

24 PNDI Environmental Review Purpose: Project-specific screening Register, data sharing agreement & login required Fee for PNDI Receipt View species, habitat & conservation layers Updated species habitat polygons Submit project materials via tool

25

26 Environmental Review Visible Species Habitat

27

28 Environmental Review Work Flow User signs data use agreement User logs in User locates an area of interest on the map User can see all conservation information User sees all polygons (T&E and SOSC) User must be zoomed in to see polygons Names of Species Of Special Concern visible Threatened and Endangered species names not visible but agencies are shown Sensitive species names are not visible

29 Environmental Review

30 Environmental Review Visible Polygons & Species Names

31 Environmental Review Visible Species Habitats

32 Environmental Review

33 Environmental Review Work Flow continued User defines the project type User provides project area and other information using drawing tools User may be required to answer questions Fee is collected Receipt is generated - T&E species names listed on receipt May require avoidance measures or BMPs Provides contact info for agency coordination User marks project Final and ready for agency review

34 Draw Project Area

35 Preview Project Screening Area

36

37

38

39 PNDI Receipt Fee To recover administrative costs of PNDI tool management and maintenance $40 per PNDI Receipt Anticipate approximately 12,000-16,000 PNDI receipts/year No cost option obtain review directly from agencies T&E Names will be displayed on PNDI Receipt

40 Project Receipt Summary results of the PNDI screening are displayed in the receipt

41 **Names of sensitive species withheld

42 Project Upload Upload Maps and Supporting Documents Users can upload project documents if there is a potential impact Users to have a shorter project review timeline Agencies would access info from site for review (then save to their files)

43 Improved User interface Clicking conservation info on/off Improved mapping User accounts save projects Improvements Visual Species Habitat Info Public: see conservation information for planning Environmental Review: users register see visible species habitat for the review process Updated species polygons: Move from the use of mostly Generic species buffers vs. Species Habitat-based polygons Improved ability to see areas of potential habitat conflict/impact Project Submission Submit to agencies via tool Summary of Enhancements Administrative functions Improved ability to make tool changes, upgrades and fixes