20050355 Ver 1_Scoping Comments_20040521

WETLANDS l 401 GROUP

MAY 2 1 2004

STA'!'E OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEP/\.RTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WATER OUALiTY SECTION

MICHAEL F. EASLEY
GoVERNOR

L YNDO TIPPETT
SECRUARY

May 5, 2004

Mr. John Hennessey
NCDENR-Division of Water Quality
1621 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1621

RE: Request for comments on NCDOT NC Moving Ahead Bridge Replacement Projects
NCMA 100lE - Bridge No.8 on SR 1107 over Indian Town Creek, Camden County
NCMA 1002B - Bridge No. 40 on SR 1301 over Hoggard Creek, Bertie County
NCMA 1003B - Bridge No. 39 on SR 1301 over Cas hie River, Bertie County
NCMA 1004B - Bridge No. 15 on SR 1112 over Roquist Creek, Bertie County
NCMA 1006B - Bridge No. 13 on SR 1341 over Burnt Mill Creek, Perquimans County
NCMA 1007B - Bridge No. 78 on SR 1367 over Little River, Perquimans County

Dear Mr. Hennessey:

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is preparing the planning and
environmental studies for the above referenced bridge projects. The projects are part of NCDOT' s NC
Moving Ahead program. They are located in NCDOT Division 1.

The purpose of this letter is to solicit your input concerning the potential impact of the proposed
projects upon social, economic, demographic, land use or environmental conditions near the project sites.
Project location maps are attached for your convenience.

There will be no formal interagency scoping meeting for these projects. This letter constitutes
solicitation for scoping comments. To allow us to fully evaluate the impacts of the proposed projects,
please respond in writing by June 7, 2004 to the address below concerning any beneficial or adverse
impacts of the proposed projects relating to the interest of your agency.

If you have any questions or comments concerning the projects, please contact me at
[phone], ext. 8277. Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,

;7u11/ ~

Mike Summers
Project Manager
Bridge Maintenance Unit

LSW/ms

Attachment

MAILING ADDRESS:
BRIDGE MAINTENANCE UNIT
1565 MAIL SERVICE CENTER
RALEIGH NC 27699-1565

TELEPHONE: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

LOCATION:
4809 BERYL ROAD
RALEIGH, NC

WEBSITE: WWW.DOH.DOT.STATENC.US

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CAMDEN COUNTY
BRIDGE NO,8 ON SR 1107
OVER INDIANTOWN CREEK
NORTH CAROLINA MOVING AHEAD!
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PROJECT TOPOGRAPHY
MA 1001
Bridge NO.8 On SR 1107 Over Indiantown Creek
Camden County, North Carolina

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BRIDGE NO. 40 ON SR 1301
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MA 1 002
Bridge No. 40 On SR 1301 Over Hoggard Mill Creek
Bertie County, North Carolina

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BERTIE COUNTY
BRIDGE NO. 39 ON SR 1301
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MA 1003
Bridge No. 39 On SR 1301 Over Cashie River
Bertie County, North Carolina

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MA 1004
Bridge No. 15 On SR 1112 Over Roquist Creek
Bertie County, North Carolina

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BRIDGE NO.13 ON SR 1341
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PROJECT TOPOGRAPHY
MA 1006
Bridge No. 13 On SR 1341 Over Burnt Mill Creek
Perquimans County, North Carolina

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MA 1007
Bridge No. 78 On SR 1367 Over Little River
Perquimans County, North Carolina

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Michael F. Easley, Governor
William G, Ross Jr., Secretary
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Alan w. Klimek, P,E., Director
Division of Water Quality
Coleen H. Sullins, Deputy Director
Division of Water Quality

July 9, 2004

MEMORANDUM

TO:

Mike Summers, Project Manager
NCDOT Bridge Maintenance Unit

FROM:

Nicole J. Thomson, NC Division of Water Quality

SUBJECT:

Scoping Review of NCDOT' s proposed NC Moving Ahead Bridge Replacement Projects:
NCMA 1001B, NCMA 1002B, NCMA 1003B, NCMA 1004B, NCMA 1006B and NCMA
1007B in Camden, Bertie and Perquimans Counties,

In reply to your correspondence dated May 5, 2004 (received May 21, 2004) in which you requested comments
for the referenced projects, the NC Division of Water Quality has the following comments:

1. General Comments Ref!ardinf! Bridf!e Revlacement Proiects
1. If corrugated metal pipe arches, reinforced concrete pipb, or concrete box culverts are used to replace the
bridge, then DWQ recommends the use of Nationwide Pemnt No, 14 rather than Nationwide Permit 23.
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2. Bridge demolition should be performed using the guidance developed and approved by the USACOE.

3. DWQ prefers spanning structures, Spanning structures usually do not require work within the stream and do
not require stream channel realignment. The horizontal and vertical clearances provided by bridges allows for
human and wildlife passage beneath the structure, does not block fish passage, and does not block navigation by
canoeists and boaters.

4. Bridge deck drains should not discharge directly into the stream; stormwater should be directed across the
bridge and pre-treated through site-appropriate means (grassed swales, pre-formed scour holes, vegetated
buffers, etc.) before entering the stream, Please refer to NCDOT Best Management Practices for the
Protection of Surface Waters

5. Live concrete should not be allowed to contact the water in or entering into the stream. Concrete is mostly
made up of lime (calcium carbonate) and when in a dry or wet state (not hardened) calcium carbonate is very
soluble in water and has a pH of approximately 12, In an unhardened state concrete or cement will change the
. _ .. ____.. "'___...... .pH..of fresh water to very basic and will cause fish and other macroinvertebrate kills.

6. If possible, bridge supports (bents) should not be placed in the stream,

7. If temporary access roads or detours are constructed, they should be removed back to original ground
elevations immediately upon the completion of the project. Disturbed areas should be seeded or mulched to
stabilize the soil and native tree species should be planted with a spacing of not more than lO'xlO', If
possible, when using temporary structures the area should be cleared but not grubbed. Clearing the area with
chain saws, mowers, bush-hogs, or other mechanized equipment and leaving the stumps and root mat intact,
allows the area to re-vegetate naturally and minimizes disturbed soil.

8. A clear bank (rip rap-free) area of at least 10 feet should remain on each side ofthe steam underneath the
bridge.

N. C. Division of Water Quality, 401 Wetlands Certification Unit,
1650 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1650 (Mailing Address)
2321 Crabtree Blvd" Raleigh, NC 27604-2260 (Location)
[phone] (phone), 919-733-6893 (fax), (htto://h2o,enr.state,nc.us/ncwetlands)
rnotnmpr .<:prv;I'P #. 1.R77.h?1_h7.d.R

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9. Sedimentation and erosion control measures sufficient to protect water resources must be implemented prior
to any ground disturbing activities. Structures should be maintained regularly, especially following rainfall
events,

10. Bare soil should be stabilized through vegetation or other means as quickly as feasible to prevent sedimentation
of water resources,

11, All work in or adjacent to stream waters should be conducted in a dry work area, Sandbags, rock berms,
cofferdams, or other diversion structures should be used where possible to prevent excavation in flowing
water.

12. Heavy equipment should be operated from the bank rather than in stream channels in order to minimize
sedimentation and reduce the likelihood of introducing other pollutants into streams. This equipment should
be inspected daily and maintained to prevent contamination of surface waters from leaking fuels, lubricants,
hydraulic fluids, or other toxic materials.

II. General Comments if Revlacin1! the Brid1!e with a Culvert
1. The culvert must be designed to allow for aquatic life and fish passage. Generally, the culvert or pipe invert
should be buried at least 1 foot below the natural streambed (measured from the natural thalweg depth), If
multiple barrels are required, barrels other than the base flpw barrel(s) should be placed on or near stream
bankfull or floodplain bench elevation (similar to Lyonsfielp design). These should be reconnected to
floodplain benches as appropriate. This may be accomplish~d by utilizing sills on the upstream end to restrict
or divert flow to the base flow barrel(s), Silled barrels shoul~ be filled with sediment so as not to cause noxious
or mosquito breeding conditions. Sufficient water depth should be provided in the base flow barrel during low
flows to accommodate fish movement. If culverts are longer than 40-50 linear feet, alternating or notched
baffles should be installed in a manner that mimics existing stream pattern. This should enhance aquatic life
passage: 1) by depositing sediments in the barrel, 2) by maintaining channel depth and flow regimes, and 3) by
providing resting places for fish and other aquatic organisms, In essence, the base flow barrel(s) should provide
a continuum of water depth and channel width without substantial modifications of velocity,

2, If multiple pipes or cells are used, at least one pipe or box should be designed to remain dry during normal
flows to allow for wildlife passage,

3. Culverts or pipes should be situated along the existing channel alignment whenever possible to avoid channel
realignment. Widening the stream channel must be avoided, Stream channel widening at the inlet or outlet
end of structures typically decreases water velocity causing sediment deposition that requires increased
maintenance and disrupts aquatic life passage,

~ -.. - " ~,.~ '.- .. -4-. . -Riprap'should-not 'be-placed-in the active thalweg channel or placed in the streambed in a manner-that
precludes aquatic life passage, Bioengineering boulders or structures should be professionally designed, .
sized, and installed,

In most cases, we prefer the replacement of the existing structure at the same location with road closure, If road
closure is not feasible, a temporary detour should be designed and located to avoid wetland impacts, minimize the
need for clearing and to avoid destabilizing stream banks, If the structure will be on a new alignment, the old
structure should be removed and the approach fills removed from the 100-year floodplain, Approach fills should
be removed down to the natural ground elevation. The area should be stabilized with grass and planted with
native tree species. Tall fescue should not be used in riparian areas. If the area that is reclaimed was previously
wetlands, NCDOT should restore the area to wetlands. If successful, the site may be used as wetland mitigation
for the subject project or other projects in the watershed,

III. Pro;ect-Svecific Comments

NCMA 1001B Bridge No.8 on SR 11 07 over Indian Town Creek. Camden Co.
NCMA 1002B Bridge No. 40 on SR 1301 over Hoggard Creek. Bertie Co.
NCMA 1003B Bridge No. 39 on SR 1301 over Cashie River. Bertie Co.
NCMA 1004B Bridge No. IS on SR 1112 over ROQuist Creek. Bertie Co.
NCMA 1006B Bridge No. 13 on SR 1341 over Burnt Mill Creek. PerQuimans Co.
NCMA 1007B Bridge No. 78 on SR 1367 over Little River. PerQuimans Co.
Although these streams are listed as Class C, Swamp waters, there are surrounding wetlands for each of these
streams and avoidance and minimization measures need to be applied. DWQ would prefer these bridges to be
replaced with bridges. Sediment and erosion control measures should not be placed in the wetlands. Also, it is
unclear whether the efforts being proposed for the bridge replacements are crossing both the riparian streamside
wetland and the main stream channel or are the maintenance efforts impacting additional wetlands. In addition,
all utility line crossings associated with the area must be built with full compliance with GC 3374 (NW 12 Utility
Line Backfill and Bedding) as well as 15A NCAC 2H .0219,

Thank you for requesting our input at this time. The DOT is reminded that issuance of a 401 Water Quality
Certification requires that appropriate measures be instituted to ensure that water quality standards are met and
designated uses are not degraded or lost. If you have any que~tions or require additional information, please
contact Nicole Thomson at [phone]. . \

cc: Bill Biddlecombe, USACE Washington Field Office
Chris Militscher, USEP A
Travis Wilson, NCWRC
Cathy Brittingham, NCDCM
Gary Jordan, USFWS
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