Detailed Instructions can be found here: Pennsylvania Guidance for Completing Project Reviews (Updated February 25, 2026).
Link to the PAFO training of 6/11/2025 see: https://youtu.be/QNJmtPHZZxk
Step 1. Screen your project through the Pennsylvania Conservation Explorer (PNDI) tool at
https://conservationexplorer.dcnr.pa.gov/*
- If your PNDI Receipt says “no known impact”, this is equivalent to a “no effect” determination for ESA compliance, and no further coordination is needed (do not proceed to the below steps).
- If your PNDI Receipt says “potential impact”, follow the instructions under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Response portion of the receipt to log into the IPaC website and continue to Step 2.
Step 2. Obtain an official species list from the Information, Planning, and Consultation website IPAC
- Go to the IPaC website at: https://ipac.ecosphere.fws.gov/. Select GET STARTED.
- DO NOT ENTER THE CONSULTATION PACKAGE BUILDER – this tool is unnecessary at this stage.
- To obtain assisted determinations for the species on your list, continue to Step 3.
Step 3. Use IPaC to Help Determine Effects to Federally Listed Species
Assisted Determination Keys Available in PA:
- Northeast Dkey - covers all federally listed and proposed species in PA except northern long-eared bat, tricolored bat, monarch butterfly, and regal fritillary
- Rangewide Northern Long-eared bat and Tricolored Bat Dkey - northern long-eared bat and tricolored bat
- FHWA, FRA, FTA Programmatic Consultation for Transportation Projects Dkey - Indiana bat, northern long-eared bat and tricolored bat
- Only for transportation projects funded, authorized, or approved by the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Rail Authority, or Federal Transportation Authority
Once you complete your applicable key(s), Continue to Step 4.
Step 4. Finalize IPaC-Assisted Effect Determinations for Federally Listed Species
The Table below clarifies next steps to take based on your project’s Federal nexus status and the determination outcome listed in the IPaC Dkey letter.
IPaC-Assisted Effects Determination | Federal Nexus | Non-Federal Nexus |
| No effect (NE) | No further review is required by the Service (project complete). | No further review is required by the Service (project complete). |
| Not Likely to Adversely Affect (NLAA) | Letters are valid at the end of the appropriate grace period or after any questions are resolved through the vetting process; no further review is required by the Service (project complete). | Letters are valid at the end of the appropriate grace period or after any questions are resolved through the vetting process; no further review is required by the Service (project complete). |
| May Affect (MA) | Determine whether the project: 1) results in “no effect” to listed species or critical habitat; 2) is “not likely to adversely affect” listed species or critical habitat; or, 3) is “likely to adversely affect” listed species or critical habitat | Determine whether the project: 1) will result in take to listed species; or, 2) will not result in take to listed species |
Based on your IPaC-assisted effects determination and jurisdiction from the above table, your project review may be complete.
If your project is complete, do not proceed to Step 5.
If your project is not complete, see Appendix A in the Guidance Document for instructions on how to complete the determination process before moving to Step 5.
Step 5.Submit Project Information to PAFO
If you require additional coordination or consultation from the Service, the following three items must be submitted to IR1_ESPenn@fws.gov to initiate a project review with PAFO staff:
1) Your effects determination for each federally listed species and/or critical habitat on your Official Species List (see Table A1 (Federal nexus) or Table A3 (non-Federal nexus) in Appendix A of the Guidance Document for appropriate determination language).
2) Clear justification for your effects determination for each federally listed species and/or critical habitat on your Official Species List (see Table A2 (Federal nexus) or Table A4 (non-Federal nexus) in Appendix A of the Guidance Document for examples of clear justification).
3) Required Materials listed in Appendix B of the Guidance Document.
Note that we cannot provide concurrence or any required coordination until you have provided your effects determinations and justifications as outlined above.
**If you do not have enough information to complete an effects determination and you require technical assistance, clearly state this in your email to PAFO.
Project materials should be submitted to IR1_ESPenn@fws.gov with the following naming convention in the email subject title: IPaC Number; Project Name; PNDI Number (if available); Federal Action Agency or company.
Example: 2021-0000210; Flowing Water Dam Removal Project; PNDI #799255; US Army Corps of Engineers
