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Home My WebLink About20111003 Ver 1_Other Agency Comments_20120124rt1110- ll� PROGRAM January 24 2012 Mr Gregory J Thorpe PhD Manager Project Development and Environmental Analysis Branch North Carolina Department of Transportation 1548 Mail Service Center Raleigh North Carolina 27699 1548 Dear Dr Thorpe Subject EEP Mitigation Acceptance Letter R 3307, US 70 from Existing 4 Lanes at Radio Island to US 70 North of Beaufort near SR 1429 (Olga Road) Carteret County The purpose of this letter is to notify you that the Ecosystem Enhancement Program (EEP) will provide the compensatory stream and wetland mitigation for the subject project Based on the information supplied by you on January 24 2012 the impacts are located in CU 03020106 of the White Oak River Basin in the Southern Outer Coastal Plain (SOCP) Eco Region and are as follows White Oak 03020106 Stream Wetlands Buffer (Sq Ft ) Non Coastal SOCP Cold Cool Wann Riparian p Riparian Marsh Zone 1 Zone 2 Impacts 0 0 /304 178 469 0 0 0 feet/acres This mitigation acceptance letter replaces the mitigation acceptance letters issued on July 27 and October 27, 2011 EEP commits to implementing sufficient compensatory stream riparian and non riparian wetland mitigation credits to offset the impacts associated with this project in accordance with the N C Department of Environment and Natural Resources Ecosystem Enhancement Program In Lieu Fee Instrument dated July 28 2010 If the above referenced impact amounts are revised then this mitigation acceptance letter will no longer be valid and a new mitigation acceptance letter will be required from EEP If you have any questions or need additional information please contact Ms Beth Harmon at 919 715 1929 Sincerely - V M1CW Ellison 4� 1 EEP Deputy Director cc Mr Tom Steffens USACE — Washington Regulatory Field Office Mr Brian Wrenn Division of Water Quality Wetlands /401 Unit File R 3307 Revised K"toru�5 £ Protrctr. Our Stag MA CDEEIR North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program 1652 Mad Service Center Raleigh NC 27699 1652 / 919 715 0476 1 www nceep net Turner Street Marsh Restoration Plan (REVISED) R -3307, Highway 70 Improvements Beaufort, Carteret County Federal Aid Project No STPNHF - 70(43) State Project No 8 1162501 WBS No 34528 1 1 February 3, 2012 The North Carolina Department of Transportation ( NCDOT) will perform on site mitigation for impacts associated with R 3307 Improvements to US 70 from existing four lanes at Radio Island to US 70 North of SR 1429 (Olga Road) The mitigation site is located dust north of the town of Beaufort along Turner Street adjacent to Town Creek The mitigation is proposed to restore 1 4 acres of salt marsh by causeway removal along Turner Street This mitigation will be used to offset the 0 66 acres of impacts to salt marsh at a 1 1 ratio associated with TIP R 3307 The residual restoration will be retained by the NCDOT as on site assets for future projects in the area Existing Conditions Turner Street is currently a two lane secondary road that crosses Town Creek approximately 300 feet south of West Beaufort Road Town Creek flows to the west under Turner Street through four 60 ft long 95 x 67 corrugated aluminum pipes To the south of the crossing a salt marsh wetland dominated by smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) runs along the both sides of the causeway and extends outward along Town Creek The Environmental Assessment (EA) dated October 2004 and the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) dated August 2006 for TIP R 3307 provide further details concerning natural resource and roadway conditions Proposed Conditions The mitigation site will consist of 14 acres of salt marsh restoration at the proposed Turner Street Bridge The total restoration acreage will be confirmed with the as built survey after site construction is completed The NCDOT will remove the existing culverts and approximately 560 ft of causeway The causeway and any higher knolls within the right of way will be graded to a target elevation of 0 2 ft msl This elevation is slightly higher than the mean tide level and is within the range of elevations taken in the adjacent marsh The restoration area will be planted on three foot centers with smooth cordgrass The Natural Environment Unit shall be contacted to provide construction oversight to ensure that the wetland mitigation area is constructed appropriately cc Mr' Scott McLendon USACE Wilmington (w /o attachment) Mr Brian Wrenn NCDWQ (w /o attachment) Mr Rob Ridings NCDWQ (w /attachment) Mr Travis Wilson NCWRC (w /o attachment) Mr Gary Jordan USFWS (w /o attachment) Ms Jennifer Derby USEPA (w /o attachment) Mr Matt Green NCDOT REU (w/ attachment) Mr Corey McLamb NCDOT Div 4 Resident Engineer (w /attachment) Mr Randy Griffin NCDOT NES Mr Chad Coggms NCDOT Div 4 Environmental Officer (w /attachment) PROJECT COMMITMENTS US 70 From Four Lanes at Radio Island J to North of Beaufort near Olga Road (SR 1429) Beaufort, Carteret County Federal -Aid Project No STPNHF- 70(43) State Project No 8 1162501 TIP No R -3307 WBS No 34528 l 1 Roadway Design Unit/ Hydraulics Unit/ Roadside Environmental Unit/.Division 2 NCDOT's High Quality Water Guidelines (Design Standards in Sensitive Watersheds) will be implemented Roadway Design Unit/ Division 2 The project will include 3 1 fill slopes in wetland areas to eliminate the need for guardrail Roadway Design Unit/ Hydraulics Unit NCDOT will remove of a portion of the causeway at Town Creek to aid the hydrology and ecological system for the area Division NCDOT will implement the Guidelines for Avoiding Impacts to the West Indian Manatee Precautionary Measures for North Carolina Waters " NCDOT "Best Management Practices for Bridge Demolition and Removal will be implemented on this project Prom ect Development & Environmental Analysis Branch/ Roadway Design Unit NCDOT will coordinate the proposed design of the new bridge with N C Maritime Museum officials to minimize the project's effect on the museum expansion site (see Memorandum of Agreement) Protect Development & Environmental Analysis Branch The measures outlined in the MOA and the Programmatic Section 4(f) Evaluation are recommended to minimize harm to Bridge #29 and the Beaufort Historic District These include the following R 3307 Finding Of No Significant impact Page i August 2006 4 r Roadway Design Unit • As part of the subject project improvements along Turner Street within the Beaufort Historic District will be completed within the existing right -of -way No additional right -of -way will be obtained • No more than three lanes will result from any lane reconfigurations on Turner Street within the Beaufort Historic District • Bicycle travel will be accomodated by the use of 4 -foot paved shoulders on roadway sections and 4 -foot offsets with 54 in bicycle safe railings • Any sections of existing sidewalk on Turner Street within the Beaufort Historic District affected by construction will be replaced Protect Development & Environmental Analysis Branch/ Roadway Design Unit/ Structure Design Unit • NCDOT will consult with the SHPO to address the design options and height for the proposed new bridge on Turner Street over Town Creek • NCDOT will consult with SHPO to address the design options for the proposed new bridge over Gallants Channel to limit visual and audible impacts on the National Register - listed Beaufort Historic District R 3307 Finding Of No Significant Impact August 2006 Page in