20081318 Ver 1_SageGutRestoration_BufferMitigationCloseout_20181023

NORTH CAROLINA
ROY COOPER Environmental Quality
Govtrnar
MICHAEL S. REGAN
secretary
LINDA CULPEPPER
rnterbn otrrctor October 23, 2018
Mr. Jeffrey C. Furness DWR Project # 08-1318
Nutrien (PCS Phosphate Company, Inc.) Beaufort County
Post Office Box 48
Aurora, NC 27806
Re: Sage Gut Wetland and Stream Restoration Mitigation Site
CLOSEOUT ACCEPTANCE LETTER
Dear Mr. Furness,
On August 29, 2018, the Division of Water Resources (DWR) received a close-out packet via hand delivery
from you on behalf of PCS Phosphate (PCS) requesting approval to close-out the subject site known as
Sage Gut Wetland and Stream Restoration (Sage Gut) mitigation site from monitoring and maintenance
of the riparian areas. The buffer mitigation for Sage Gut is part of the compensatory mitigation for impacts
to wetland, stream and protected riparian buffers within the PCS mine expansion authorized by DWR
Water Quality Certification #08-0868 V2. These mitigation activities for Sage Gut were permitted under
US Army Corps of Engineers Nationwide #27 dated May 30, 2009 (Action ID No. SAW -2008-02354) and
the 401 WQC and Buffer Authorization dated June 8, 2009 (DWR No. 08-1318). Under Condition 7 of 401
WQC (DWR No. 08-0868 V2) for mine expansion, DWR conditionally approved the use of flexible buffer
mitigation program if approved by the Environmental Management Commission, then PCS may submit a
list and description of those sites to DWR for written approval to satisfy 47.87 acres of buffer impacts
associated with mining expansion activities. On lune 15, 2015, DWR authorized PCS's request to utilize
the temporary consolidated buffer mitigation rule, Mitigation Program Requirements for Protection and
Maintenance of Riparian Buffers, defined under 15A NCAC 02B .0295 (i) and (m) in order to meet
Condition 7 of the modified 401 WQC (DWR No. 08-0868 V2).
On May 11, 2015, Anthony Scarbraugh with DWR, visited the subject site to assess the vegetation and
overall site conditions. Thomas Steffens with the US Army Corps of Engineers was also present. An asset
map and asset table, both initialed by Mr. Scarbraugh on October 23, 2018, are attached.
As a result of Mr. Scarbraugh's review of the close-out request, the following mitigation is approved and
inclusion of Sage Gut credits in the mitigation ledger is appropriate:
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality iDivision of Water Resources- Washington Regional Office
943 Washington Square Mall, Washington, North Carolina 27889
252-946-6481

Sage Gut Wetland and Stream
Restoration Site Closeout
October 23, 2018
Page 2 of 2
River Basin/Service Area
Mitigation Type
Mitigation
Mitigation Units
Distance from
Ratio'
stream
Tar-Pamlico/03020104
50 Foot Buffer
1:1
12.40 acres —
CPHV2.3
Restoration
Buffer Mitigation
Tar-Pamlico/03020104
50 Foot Buffer
10:1
0.23 acres — Buffer
0 -50' from top of
Preservation Main
Mitigation
bank
Stem of Sage Gut
TOTAL
12.63 acres
'Authorized to generate riparian buffer mitigation under 15A NCAC 02B .0295(i).
2 CPHV = Coastal Plain Headwater Valley.
3 Authorized to generated riparian buffer mitigation under 15A NCAC 02B .0295(m)(2)(A) where "the
area of the buffer shall be measured perpendicular to the length of the valley being restored".
Please feel free to contact Anthony Scarbraugh at [phone] if you have any questions
regarding this correspondence.
Sincerely,
Karen Higgins, Supervisor
401 & Buffer Permitting Branch
ADS/ads
ATTACHMENTS: Asset Map and Asset Table
cc: Ed Temple—Albemarle Restoration, LLC (via email)
Katie Merritt— DWR Central (via e-mail)
Laserfiche
Thomas Steffens — US Army Corps of Engineers Washington Regulatory Field Office (via e-mail)
Maria Dunn — NCWRC (via email)
Shane Staples —NCDMF (via email)
D Q�
Noah Carolina Department of Environmental Quality IDivision of Water Resources- Washington Regional Office
943 Washington Square Mall, Washington, North Carolina 27889
252-946-6481

cQ%]� 10/23/18
Figure 4. 2014 Hydrologic success and estimated hydrologic zones
Sage Gut Stream and Wetland Mitigation Project 13
Monitoring Report — 2014 — Year 5
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Sage Gut Stream and Wetland Mitigation Project 13
Monitoring Report — 2014 — Year 5

10/23/18
MITIGATION CREDIT CALCULATIONS FOR SAGE GUT MITIGATION SITE
(Based on Sage Gut Wetland and Stream Mitigation Project, Beaufort County, NC, 2014 Annual
Monitoring Report Year 5, by Albemarle Restorations, LLC, dated March 2015, refer to this report for
data)
WETLAND
Vegetation: 29 tree plots: Site density = 316 tpa after 5 years
Hydrology:
• Restoration: 46 of 47 wells > 6.0% hydrology for at least 3 out of 5 monitoring years.
Four wells actually did not make 6% hydrology over the monitoring period, however
three of those were located in areas not planned to be wetland areas (9797, 9808, and
9811). One well (5501) located in a planned hardwood flat wetland area was less than
6% hydrology over the 5 -year monitoring period. The 26 wells in the wetland flats are
spaced across 90 acres, therefore each well represents an area of 3.5 acres. Total
planned wetland acreage was 105.4 acres. Therefore, 105.4 ac.- 3.5 ac. = 101.9 ac. @
2:1 = 50.95 credits.
• Riparian preservation: 1.5 acres @ 10:1 = 0.15 credits.
TOTAL WETLAND CREDITS: 51.10
STREAM
• Coastal Plain Headwater Stream Restoration: 5,401 I.f. @ 1:1= 5,401 credits.
• Perennial Stream Preservation: Main Stem Sage Gut 1,006 Lf. @ 5:1= 201.20 credits.
TOTAL STREAM CREDITS: 5,602.2
BUFFER — Based on 15A NCAC 02B.0295 Temporary Rule Effective 10/24/14
• Coastal Plain Headwater Stream Buffer: 5,401 Lf. x 50 ft x 2 = 12.40 restoration acres
@1:1 =12.40 Mitigation Units
• Main Stem Sage Gut Buffer
1. 1,006 Lf, X 50 ft. X 2 = 2.31 preservation acres @ 10:1= 0.23 Mitigation Units
TOTAL BUFFER MITIGATION UNITS: 12.63