20160804 Ver 1 _ 401 Letter _20160816

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
WILMINGTON DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS
69 DARLINGTON AVENUE
WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA 28403-1343
August 10, 2016
Environmental Resources Section
North Carolina Division of Water Resources
ATTN: Ms Karen Higgins
401 Wetland & Buffer Permitting Unit
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
Dear Ms. Higgins:
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is proposing the construction of dike raises to
elevation 50 feet NAVD88 for Cells 1-3 on Eagle Island in the Cape Fear River, New Hanover
and Brunswick Counties, North Carolina to ensure adequate dredged material disposal capacity
for the Upper Wilmington Harbor Federal Navigation Project. The USACE, Wilmington
District, has prepared a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) which evaluates raising the dikes
to 50 feet, including a required outer toe berm that will permanently impact approximately 39
acres of phragmites-dominated coastal marsh habitat. Impact areas are shown on the enclosed
plans.
An electronic version of this EA is available on the USACE, Wilmington District, website
at: http://www.saw.usace.aimy.mil/Missions/Navigation/Dredging/Wilmington-Harbor/Eagle-
Island/.
Enclosed are three (3) copies of the completed and signed Pre -Construction Notification
(PCN) Form, project plans, and Division of Mitigation Services (DMS) acceptance form for your
review. Since there is no existing General Certificate that fits this particular activity, we are
requesting a 401 Individual Permit. Also, included is the application fee in the amount of $570
(check #1460).
Thank you for your attention to this matter. Should you have any questions or require
additional information, please contact Ms. Emily Hughes of my staff at [phone] or by
email at [e-mail].
Sincerely,
Jennifer L. Owens
Chief, Environmental Resources Section
Enclosures

-2 -
Copy Furnished (w/PCN and DMS acceptance form):
North Carolina Division of Water Resources
ATTN: Mr. Chad Coburn
127 Cardinal Drive Extension
Wilmington, North Carolina 28405-3845