20001195 Ver 7_Other Agency Comments_20090122

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
WILMINGTON DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS
151 PATTON AVENUE
ROOM 208
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28801-5006
REPLY TO
ATTENTION OF
Regulatory Division
Action ID. 2008-03090
Mr. Ike Reeves
Charlotte-Douglas International Airport
PO Box 19066
Charlotte, NC 28219
Dear Mr. Reeves:
January 16, 2009
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Reference is made to your November 13, 2008, Department of the Army permit application
in which you requested a permit for impacts to stream channels and wetlands for the construction
of three parking decks to service the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, in Charlotte,
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. The purpose of this letter is to provide you with comments
received in response to the Public Notice dated December 11, 2008 and request that additional
information be submitted to continue the review of your permit request.
By letter dated January 7, 2009, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) provided
comments in response to the Public Notice which are attached for your review. USFWS
provided specific comments related to the potential affects on federally threatened or endangered
species and suggestions for low-impact development techniques such as stringent erosion control
measures and preserving riparian buffers where practicable. In regards to threatened and
endangered species, USFWS concurred that no federally listed species are present on the site and
that obligations under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act have been fulfilled.
By letters dated December 29, 2008, the N.C. Division of Water Quality (DWQ) provided
comments regarding lack of avoidance and minimization efforts to aquatic resources on the site,
inadequate alternative analysis, and questions regarding the mitigation plan. We agree with
DWQ's concerns regarding avoidance and minimization efforts and the submitted alternatives
analysis. Please provide more detailed information that addresses the location and capacity of
current parking facilities in addition to information regarding the availability of other parcels in
the vicinity that may be suitable for the proposed parking facility. With regards to your
mitigation plan, we have recently received correspondence from the City of Charlotte Storm
Water Services (CSWS) indicating that they could provide a portion of the stream channel
mitigation through site specific mitigation known as Nightingale Stream Restoration and then
provide the remainder through use of the CSWS Umbrella Mitigation Bank. This approach needs
to be reviewed in further detail by our office and DWQ, however, if approved, your mitigation
plan should be revised to include this approach and also clarify how wetland impacts will be
mitigated for.
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Please be reminded that the requested information, including responses to specific agency
comments, is essential for our permit review. If you have any questions, please contact me at
(828)-271-7980, extension 231.
Sincerely,
Amanda Jones
Project Manager
Asheville Regulatory Field Office
Enclosures
Copy Furnished with enclosures:
Ms. Rebekah Newton
ClearWater Environmental Consultants, Inc.
718 Oakland Street
Hendersonville, NC 28791
Copies Furnished without enclosures:
Mr. Ian McMillan
N.C. Division of Water Quality
401 Wetlands Certification Unit
1650 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1650
Mr. Brian Cole
Asheville Field Office
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
160 Zillicoa Street
Asheville, NC 28801