To ensure that no endangered species will pose a conflict, the first step in many development projects is to request a Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI) database search for a threatened and endangered species impact review.

This process screens for potential conflicts with rare, candidate, threatened or endangered species under Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission jurisdiction (fish, reptiles, amphibians, aquatic invertebrates only) using the PNDI database and the Commission’s files. Species of special concern are listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the Wild Resource Conservation Act, and the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Code (Chapter 75) or the Wildlife Code.

The Eastern Spadefoot Toad (Scaphiopus Holbrookii, Threatened)

The Eastern Spadefoot is an elusive toad species with a rather unusual life history. This toad prefers sandy or other soft loamy, pliable soils that it uses for burrowing. Unlike the American Toad and Fowler’s Toad, the Eastern Spadefoot is a sporadic breeder, breeding in temporary pools only when the proper environmental conditions develop (steep barometric drops accompanied by heavy rainfall). Breeding may span several years (up to six) before the proper conditions take place. Eggs hatch in as little as two days and tadpole larvae may fully metamorphose within two weeks. The Eastern Spadefoot is threatened by habitat alteration and pollution.

If the Commission determines that, based on the proximity of the project to known element occurrences of the species of concern listed above, potential habitat could be present within the proposed disturbance area, then additional evaluations may be necessary to confirm whether or not the project site contains habitat and to determine the potential for adverse impacts to this species. In such cases, the Commission will request a habitat assessment to characterize and determine if potential habitat exists within the vicinity for the proposed project area.

This habitat assessment must be conducted by a qualified biologist who possesses the necessary Scientific Collector’s Permit and Threatened and Endangered Species Permit issued by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. A list of biologists recognized as qualified by the Commission to perform this assessment is available on the Environmental Services page of the Commission’s website. Upon completion of the habitat assessment, the qualified biologist is to submit a summary report to the Commission for further review and consultation.

For further information on this topic or how to resolve PNDI hits, please contact Robert W. Gundlach, Jr., Esquire, at rgundlach@foxrothschild.com or 215-918-3636.