Help

Last Updated 1/31/2024

KNOWN ISSUES

1. REQUEST FOR NATURAL HERITAGE REVIEW NOT SUBMITTING - The permit number field is causing an unspecified error that prevents the form from submitting. If you try to submit a project and are taken to the top of the form with no indication of successful submission, make sure the permit number field is empty and try submitting again. Not filling out the optional TDEC Permit Number field is the accepted workaround to this issue. 

2. NOT RECEIVING LOG IN EMAILS OR REPORT NOTIFICATION EMAILS - Some ERT users have reported not receiving a confirmation email when setting up an ERT account, not receiving emails when resetting an ERT password, and/or not receiving notification emails when an ERT report has been generated. From what we can tell, some users' email services are blocking automatically generated emails from the ERT. We are working to resolve by ensuring our email address is not getting added to block lists, but we are sure to run into this issue again. We have two recommended workarounds - (1.) Make sure to add the ERT email address, environmental.review@tn.gov to your address book/trusted senders list in your email account and (2.) If you are not receiving a password set-up email at registration or are not receiving a password reset email within 10 minutes (and have verified the email did not go to a Spam folder), email the ERT admin staff directly at environmental.review@tn.gov describing your issue.

3. ISSUES ADDING PEOPLE TO GROUPS - If you encounter any issues adding people to an activated group, please contact us at environmental.review@tn.gov so we can assist with resolving the issue. 

COMING SOON

Example ERT Reports (March 2024)
Define Area of Interest with .kmz (December 2024)
Define MULTIPLE Areas of Interest (December 2024)

LATEST UPDATES

An online payment option has arrived!

We are excited to offer an electronic payment option for the TDEC-DNA Environmental Review Tool (ERT). All invoices generated in the ERT now include a link to the Division of Natural Areas Environmental Review Payment Form in MyTDEC Forms where you can pay with a credit card, debit card, or e-check. This is the preferred and recommended payment method and we hope it will enhance your ERT experience. Instructions are included on invoice pages and within MyTDEC Forms. You do not have to create an account in MyTDEC Forms to make a payment (just select “Continue as Guest User” when prompted to sign in), but you are also welcome to create an account or sign in with an existing account.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the ERT?

The ERT is a web application that provides a map viewer with conservation-oriented spatial data and generates environmental review reports that can be used for determining potential impacts to rare species at a user-specified location. The ERT automates much of the consultation that was previously undertaken with TDEC-DNA by submitting requests through a web portal and receiving response letters compiled by DNA staff. The ERT replaces a 30-day turnaround time with a 5-10 minute turnaround time and provides information comparable to what was provided previously - lists of rare species documented within 1- and 4- miles of a project area, recommendations for how to determine if those species are present at a site, and other resources - including ways to document use of the ERT as consultation with the Division of Natural Areas.

Who is the ERT for?

The ERT is multi-purpose product - providing a way to view conservation-oriented spatial data and the tools to generate environmental review reports. The map viewer component may be appreciated by many general users, but the environmental review report is intended for environmental consultants, grant administrators, and project managers who are responsible for considering rare, threatened, and endangered plant species as a part of their work. We encourage conservation entities and members of the public interested in knowing which rare species are known from more generalized geographic areas to use the Rare Species Data Viewer, to generate free lists of rare species by county, USGS 24k quad, and watershed.

Can I access the ERT without creating an account?

You do not have to have an account to access the map viewer ("Explore" tab) of the ERT, but you must create an account to access additional functionality.

I created an account and logged in. How do I generate reports?

Once you have created an account, you must attend a live virtual training hosted by TDEC-DNA , after which your account permissions can be elevated to submit project areas and generate reports in the ERT. Additional information regarding scheduled training events can be found on the TDEC-DNA Environmental Review Web Page. Once you have attended the training and had your permissions elevated, you can define an area of interest (using the Define an Area of Interest pane within the "Explore" tab) by drawing on the map or uploading a shapefile (as a zipped folder). After answering a few questions about the project area, you can submit the project for review by the ERT, which will provide a link to your report within 5-10 minutes via email. You can also see your projects in the ERT's "My Projects" tab.

Is there a fee associated with using the ERT?

While all ERT users are welcome to access and explore the map viewer at no cost, a data services fee of $275.00 is charged for each site-specific report requested by a user. Reports requiring payment include an invoice on the first page with instructions for where and how to pay for the report. An e-payment option is expected in August 2023

Why is training required to generate environmental review reports in the ERT?

As the ERT automates and expedites most consultation with TDEC-DNA, it is important for users to know how to use it appropriately and to understand the fee structure associated with generating reports. Both of these topics are covered in the virtual training events, which also provide opportunities to interact with DNA staff and learn more about considering rare plant species in the course of a project. Additional information regarding scheduled training events can be found on the TDEC-DNA Environmental Review Web Page.Scheduled events can be found HERE. Additional dates and times will be added weekly, as needed.

My project includes multiple project areas, but the ERT will only allow me to define one area of interest. What should I do?

The ERT will allow you to draw one polygon, one buffered point, or one buffered line and does not allow you to submit multiple points using the "Draw on Map" feature. In cases where project areas are several miles apart, we recommend you consider submitting them as separate projects. When the multiple project areas are close together (i.e. several short sections of water line replacements within the core of a municipality) it is typically okay to draw a polygon around the total extent of the project area for the environmental review report. In the latter case, the content of the environmental review report will be accurate insofar as the full extent of the project area is captured by the polygon you drew, but the maps will, of course, reflect the total polygon area. Some users have been able to upload a shapefile (as a zipped folder) containing multiple project areas, which can be analyzed by the ERT, but this workaround requires some level of GIS expertise. We hope to add multi-area functionality in a future update of the ERT.