20020033 Ver 1_Complete File_20020109

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
JAMES B. HUNT JR.
GOVERNOR
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Raleigh Field Office
6508 Falls of the Neuse Road
Suite 120
Raleigh, NC 27609
ATTENTION: Ms. Jean Manuele
NCDOT Coordinator
020033
DAVID MCCOY
SECRETARY

SUBJECT: Caswell County, Proposed Replacement of Bridge No. 10 on SR 1597
over Country Line Creek. Federal Aid Project No. MABRZ-1597(1),
State Project No. 8.248110 1, TIP No. B-3130.
Dear Ms. Manuele:
As you are aware, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has
requested authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) under Section
404 Nationwide Permit (NWP) 23 on October 19, 2001 to replace Bridge No. 10 over
Country Line Creek on SR 1597 with a new bridge. The purpose of the new letter is to
correct some mistakes that were found in the original letter. This letter will supercede the
October 19, 2001 letter that was sent out by NCDOT.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) proposes to replace Bridge
No. 10 on SR 1597, over Country Line Creek, in Caswell County. NCDOT will replace
Bridge No. 10 at a new location, `south of the existing bridge. The new bridge will be
approximately 246 feet (75 m) in length and 33 feet (10 m) wide. A paved travelway of
31 feet (9.5 m) will be accommodated. SR 1597 is a designated North Carolina Bicycling
Highway; thus the bridge wilYbe constructed with offsets of 3 feet (1.0 m) on each side to
accommodate bicycles. AASHTO standard bicycle rails, 54 inches (1.4 m) high, will be
used for the bridge. The approach roadway will also be designed to accommodate
bicycles, and will consist of a 25-foot (7.5 m) travelway, with 4-foot (1.2 m) grass
shoulders on each side. Where guardrail is required, shoulders will be increased by a
minimum of 3 feet (1.0 m). The new structure will be approximately 2-foot (0.6 m)
higher in elevation than the existing bridge. The project will require approximately 1600
feet of new work on approach ways. Traffic will be maintained on the existing structure
during construction.
MAILING ADDRESS:
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
1548 MAIL SERVICE CENTER
RALEIGH NC 27899-1548
December 12, 2001
TELEPHONE: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
WEBSITE: WWW.DOH.DOT STATE. NC. US
LOCATION:
TRANSPORTATION BUILDING
1 SOUTH WILMINGTON STREET
RALEIGH NC
M
Impacts to Waters of the United States
The project will temporarily impact 0.02 ha (.05 acres) of jurisdictional surface waters in
the construction of the temporary work pads. NCDOT will be using Class II Rip Rap.
The length of existing channel impacted will be 44 m (144 linear ft.) with the
construction of the proposed bridge. Surface water impacts associated with the placement
of the temporary causeway are depicted on sheets 4, 5 and 7 of the attached permit
drawings.
The existing bridge will be demolished. The existing bridge is composed of timber and
steel components, with an overlaid asphalt-wearing surface. The asphalt-wearing surface
will be removed prior to demolition, without dropping it into the water. The timber and
steel components will also be removed in their sequence without dropping these
components into the water. No temporary fill in the waters is expected. During
construction, Best Management Practices for Bridge Demolition and Removal will be
followed.
Federally-Protected Species
Plants and animals with federal classifications of Endangered, Threatened, Proposed
Endangered, and Proposed Threatened are protected under provisions of Section 7 and
Section 9 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. As of 22 March 2001, the
Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) lists one federally protected species for Caswell County
(Table 1). Since, the CE (dated June 2000) was completed the FWS has added the James
spinymussel. A survey was conducted on 16 August 2001 by NCDOT biologist Jeff
Burleson. NCDOT has a number of bridge replacement projects occurring in the Country
Line Creek subbasin including B-3130. Because of the large number of projects
impacting the same waterbody, a comprehensive survey effort was made in the drainage
from SR 1146 crossing above Farmer Lake downstream to the NC 57 crossing of Country
Line Creek. Survey sites were accessed by canoe. Survey methodology included wading
using visual batiscope and tactile methods. There were no James spinymussels located
during these surveys. Based on these surveys NCDOT is rendering a Biological
Conclusions of "No Effect" for the James spinymussel. Additionally, a review of the NC
Natural Heritage Program database of Rare and Unique Habitats on 17 August 2001
revealed that no known occuriences of James spinymussel occur within one mile of the
project area. Therefore, the Biological Conclusions of "No Effect" remain valid for each
of these species.
Table 1. Federally-Protected Species for Caswell County
Common Name Scientific Name Federal
Status Biological
Conclusion
James spinymussel Pleurobema collina E No Effect
"E" denotes Endangered (a species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or
a significant portion of its range).
Avoidance / Minimization
The following is a list of the project's jurisdictional stream avoidance/minimization
activities proposed or completed by NCDOT.
¦ Minimization: Best Management Practices will be strictly enforced for sedimentation
and erosion control for the protection of surface waters.
Minimization: Best Management Practices for Bridge Demolition and Removal for
the removal of the existing bridge.
Project Commitments
During construction, Best Management Practices for Bridge Demolition and Removal
will be followed.
The existing bridge and approaches will be removed after the new bridge is completed
and the area will be revegetated with appropriate plant species.
The Class II Rip Rap that will be used as temporary work pads will be removed once the
new bridge is completed.
Summary
Proposed project activities are being processed by the Federal Highway Administration
as a programmatic "Categorical Exclusion" in accordance with 23 CFR § 771.115(b).
The NCDOT requests that these activities be authorized by a Nationwide Permit 23 (61
FR 65874, 65916; December 13, 1996). NCDOT is also applying for a Nationwide
Permit 33 for the temporary causeway (0.02 acres of temporary stream impacts, 144
linear feet of stream impact), and any impacts associated with bridge demolition, which
none are expected.
Written notification is provided to the N. C. Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ) for
this project per 401 Water Quality Certification (WQC) General Certification under
Section 404 Nationwide Perm t 23 and 33. However, notification is not required from
DWQ for 401 WQC General Certification for Section 404 Nationwide Permit 23 and 33.
Thank you for your assistance with this project. If you have any questions or need
additional information, please contact Mr. Jared Gray at [phone] ext.331.
Sincerely,
1
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William D. Gilmore, P.E., Manager
Project Development and Environmental Analysis Branch
VCB/jg
cc: w/attachment
Mr. David Franklin, USACE, Wilmington Field Office
Mr. John Hennessy, DWQ
Mr. David Cox, NCWRC
Mr. John Alford, P.E., Roadway Design
Mr. Calvin Leggett, P.E., Program Development
Mrs. Debbie Barbour, P.E., Design Services
Mr. D.R. Henderson, P.E., Hydraulics
Mr. Tim Rountree, P.E., Structure Design
Mr. Mike Mills, P.E., 7 Division Engineer
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