20040180 Ver 2_Other Agency Comments_20040216

day, February 16, 2004 4 07 PM Danielle R. Pender [phone]
P.01
® North CarohnaWildlife Resources Commission
Charles R. Fullwood, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: John Dorney, Wetland Scientist
Wetlands/401 Water Quality Certification Unit
sion of Water ity
FROM: anielle R. Pender, Ac ng i ortheast Coastal Region Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
DATE: 16 February 2004
SUBJECT: Application for a General Major Variance to 'Tar-Pamlico River Basin Buffer
Rules, Warren Field Airport, Beaufort County, North Carolina. D)ArQ ID: 040180
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NC WRC) have
reviewed the subject document and we are familiar with the habitat values of the area. Our
comments are provided in accordance with provisions of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (as
amended), the Fish and Wildlife Coordination. Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-
667d), and the North Carolina General Statutes (G.S. 113-131 et seq.).
The applicant proposes to impact 1,856 linear feet (2.55 acres) of'I'ar-Pamlico Riparian
Buffer; removing trees from Zones I and II. The impacts to the buffer are proposed to ensure a
safe approach zone for landing aircraft to Runway 23 and to come into compliance with FAA
regulations. The stream is an unnamed tributary of'Cherry Run. The airport owns an 890-foot
section of the proposed impact area and 966 feet is on property not owned by the airport, for
which the airport will need to obtain landowner permission. No mitigation measures were
offered.
The Pamlico River and many of its tributaries provide spawning or nursery habitat for
anadromous fishes. Forested riparian areas perform many functions that are essential to
maintaining water quality, aquatic species survival, and biological productivity. Should the
Division of Water Quality decide to issue the permit, we recommend that the applicant provide
offsite (but within the same subbasin) mitigation for buffer impacts.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide input during the planning stages for this project.
If we can be of further assistance, please contact our Washington office at [phone]
extension 345.
E-mail: Tom Steffan, DWQ
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries - 1721 Mail Service Center - Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] ext. 281 - Fax: [phone]
FE6-16-2084 MON 15:53 TEL: [phone] NAHE: D4• Q-WETLANDS P