20070768 Ver 1_Information Letter_20020129

United States Department of the Interior
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Raleigh Field Office
Post Office Box 33726
Raleigh, North Carolina 276363726
January 23, 2002

Mr. William D. Gilmore, P.E., Manager
NCDOT
Project Development and Environmental Analysis Branch
1548 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1548
Dear Mr. Gilmore:
Thank you for your letter of January 11, 2002, requesting information from the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service) for the purpose of evaluating the potential environmental impacts of
the proposed widening of SR 1178 (Keen Road) from I-95 to US 301, Four Oaks, Johnston
County, North Carolina (TIP No. R-4071). This report provides scoping information and is
provided in accordance with provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (FWCA)
(16 U.S.C. 661-667d) and section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended
(16 U.S.C. 1531-1543). This report also serves as initial scoping comments to federal and state
resource agencies for use in their permitting and/or certification processes for this project.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) proposes to widen SR 1178 from
I-95 to US 301 to three lanes. The following recommendations are provided to assist you in
your planning process and to facilitate a thorough and timely review of the project.
Generally, the Service recommends that wetland impacts be avoided and minimized to the
maximum extent practical as outlined in Section 404 (b)(1) of the Clean Water Act
Amendments of 1977. In regard to avoidance and minimization of impacts, we recommend that
proposed highway projects be aligned along or adjacent to existing roadways, utility corridors,
or previously developed areas in order to minimize habitat fragmentation and encroachment.
Areas exhibiting high biodiversity or ecological value important to the watershed and region
should be avoided. Crossings of streams and associated wetland systems should use existing
crossings and/or occur on a structure wherever feasible. Where bridging is not feasible, culvert
structures that maintain natural water flows and hydraulic regimes without scouring, or
impeding fish and wildlife passage, should be employed. Highway shoulder and median widths
should be reduced through wetland areas. Roadway embankments and fill areas should be
stabilized by using appropriate erosion control devices and techniques. Wherever appropriate,
construction in sensitive areas should occur outside fish spawning and migratory bird nesting
seasons.

The National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) map of the Four Oaks 7.5 Minute Quadrangle does not
show significant wetland resources in the specific work area. However, while the NWI maps
are useful for providing an overview of a given area, they should not be relied upon in lieu of a
detailed wetland delineation by trained personnel using an acceptable wetland classification
methodology.
We reserve the right to review any federal permits that maybe required for this project, at the
public notice stage. Therefore, it is important that resource agency coordination occur early in
the planning process in order to resolve any conflicts that may arise and minimize delays in
project implementation.
In addition to the above guidance, we recommend that the environmental documentation for this
project include the following in sufficient detail to facilitate a thorough review of the action:
A clearly defined and detailed purpose and need for the proposed project,
supported by tabular data, if available, and including a discussion of the project's
independent utility;
2. A description of the proposed action with an analysis of all alternatives being
considered, including the upgrading of existing roads and a "no action"
alternative;
A description of the fish and wildlife resources, and their habitats, within the
project impact area that maybe directly or indirectly affected;
4. The extent and acreage of waters of the U.S., including wetlands, that are to be
impacted by filling, dredging, clearing, ditching, or draining. Acres of wetland
impact should be differentiated by habitat type based on the wetland
classification scheme of the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI). Wetland
boundaries should be determined by using the 1987 Corps of Engineers Wetlands
Delineation Manual and verified by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps);
The anticipated environmental impacts, both temporary and permanent, that
would be likely to occur as a direct result of the proposed project. The
assessment should also include the extent to which the proposed project would
result in secondary impacts to natural resources, and how this and similar
projects contribute to cumulative adverse effects;
6. Design features and construction techniques which would be employed to avoid
or minimize the fragmentation or direct loss of wildlife habitat value;
7. Design features, construction techniques, or any other mitigation measures which
would be employed at wetland crossings and stream channel relocations to avoid
or minimize impacts to waters of the United States; and,

8. If unavoidable wetland impacts are proposed, we recommend that every effort be made
to identify compensatory mitigation sites in advance. Project planning should include a
detailed compensatory mitigation plan for offsetting unavoidable wetland impacts.
Opportunities to protect mitigation areas in perpetuity, preferably via conservation
easement, should be explored at the outset.
The enclosed list identifies the federally-listed endangered and threatened species, and Federal
Species of Concern (FSC) that are known to occur in Johnston County. The Service
recommends that habitat requirements for these federally-listed species be compared with the
available habitat at the project site. If suitable habitat is present within the action area of the
project, biological surveys for the listed species should be conducted. Environmental
documentation should include survey methodologies and results.
FSC's are those plant and animal species for which the Service remains concerned, but further
biological research and field study are needed to resolve the conservation status of these taxa.
Although FSC's receive no statutory protection under the ESA, we would encourage the
NCDOT to be alert to their potential presence, and to make every reasonable effort to conserve
them if found. The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program should be contacted for
information on species under state protection.
The Service appreciates the opportunity to comment on this project. Please continue to advise us
during the progression of the planning process, including your official determination of the
impacts of this project. If you have any questions regarding these comments, please contact
Tom McCartney at 919-856-4520, (Ext. 32).
Sincerely,
~~~~ ~~
~~
Garland B. Pardue, Ph.D.
Ecological Services Supervisor
Enclosure
cc: COE, Raleigh, NC (Eric Alsmeyer)
NCDWQ, Raleigh, NC (John Hennessy) ~
NCDNR, Creedmoor, NC (David Cox)
EPA, Atlanta, GA (Ted Bisterfeld)
FWS/R4:TMcCartney:TM:01/23/02:919/856-4520 extension 32:~R-4071.tip