The Practice Approval System (PAS) provides a path for conservation district employees to design, review, and approve conservation practices funded through the Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP).
PAS was developed by the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission (SCC) in partnership with the Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training (CACAT) and Herbert, Rowland & Grubic Inc.
What is PAS?
PAS allows conservation professionals to design, review, and approve conservation practices that do not require certification by a registered professional engineer.
Who is PAS for?
PAS is intended for conservation professionals working under a delegation agreement with the PA State Conservation Commission (SCC) to implement projects for ACAP. Others may take training offered through PAS, but coverage only extends to the staff of those entities that have delegation agreements with the PA State Conservation Commission.
How do you gain approval to work under PAS?
To work under PAS, you must receive approval for specific conservation practices, which are grouped into six certification packages. Each package reflects a set of practices commonly implemented together as a system. Training and approval are granted by a certification package, and your approval will cover only the practices and limits outlined within that package. You must obtain separate approvals if you wish to work under multiple packages.
How is work done under PAS reviewed?
Annual Spot Checks are conducted, often as part of broader ACAP programmatic reviews. These reviews serve as both quality assurance and training opportunities for practitioners. They also help evaluate the overall effectiveness of the PAS program.
Keystone: Foundational training for new conservation professionals
Fundamentals: Intro to package-specific conservation practices, design tools, and planning
Applied: Real-world examples, design templates, and calculation guidance for that package
Mock Plan: Practice with farm scenarios to test package skills and knowledge
Project Review: Complete a “real-world” project design and check out
*Depending on individual experience or qualifications, professionals may enter the process at different stages
**Training for fundamentals, applied, mock plan, and project review is package-specific. Multiple training sessions will be completed by individuals seeking coverage under multiple packages.
What liability coverage is provided through PAS?
Districts are covered by the SCC for liability when administering the program in line with their delegation agreement (see Section 5.6 of your Delegation Agreement). Under Section 4(5)(a) of the Conservation District law, the SCC may offer training, assistance, and certification as appropriate to conservation district directors, staff, or volunteers. Staff working within the limits specified in their PAS certification letter are considered to be in compliance and are protected by the indemnification clause.
Emergency Temporary Approval
As SCC, CACAT, and HRG continue to develop and implement PAS, the Commission recognizes that in certain cases, experienced district staff are well-qualified to design and construct low-risk BMPs. Allowing this flexibility helps alleviate bottlenecks and preserves engineering resources for more complex projects. To obtain coverage under Emergency Temporary Approval, staff must submit individual requests outlining their qualifications and the project’s proposed BMPs. For more details, refer to the ACAP Emergency Temporary Approval Webinar.
