20080691 Ver 1_Other Agency Comments_20080728

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DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
WILMINGTON DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS 9 Is " ~ 710
P.O. BOX 1890
WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA 28402-1890?~q~`~fJ~
July 24, 2008 41t
IN REPLY REFER TO f p' ,
Regulatory Division X42"y
Action ID No. SAW-200801454

North Carolina Department of Transportation
Attn: Ms. Erica McLamb
Project Development and Environmental Analysis
Natural Environment Unit
1598 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1598

Dear Ms. McLamb:

Reference is made to the application of April 16, 2008, for individual Department of the
Army (DA) permit authorization to permanently impact approximately 468 linear feet of stream
channel and 0.03 acre of adjacent wetlands, and temporarily impact approximately 125 linear feet
of the jurisdictional waters within the Cape Fear River basin (Hydrologic Categorical Unit
03030002). These impacts are associated with the proposed improvements and widening of 2.4
miles of Mebane Street (SR 1306), which is composed of two (2) sections. Segment A, or U-
3303A, is located from the existing Huffman Mill Road (SR 1158) to Alamance Road (NC 62)
and Segment B, or U-330313, is located from Alamance Road (NC 62) to Chapel Hill Road (NC
54), in Burlington, Alamance County, North Carolina.

After review of your proposal, the United States Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife
Services (USFWS) submitted comments by letter dated July 2, 2008. A copy of this letter is
enclosed for your consideration and response. Specifically, the USFWS stated the following:

1. Due to the urban/suburban nature of the project area, minimal fish and wildlife habitat
is available and impacts are likely to be minimal.
2. There are no federally threatened or endangered species listed in Alamance County.
3. Based on the available information, USFWS does not oppose issuance of a permit for
this project.

Written comments were also received from an individual dated July 11, 2008. A copy of
this correspondence is enclosed for your consideration and response. This individual expressed,
in general, concerns regarding the increased stream pollution associated with runoff, loss of trees
and barriers, and air and noise pollution both during and after road construction.

Comments were received from The United States Environmental Protection Agency
(USEPA) on July 17, 2008. A copy is enclosed for your consideration and response.
Specifically, the USEPA stated the following:

One of the receiving waters, Little Alamance Creek is listed as impaired on the North
Carolina 2006 and Draft 2008 Clean Water Act Section 303(d) list. Specifically, there
are exceedances of the biological criteria for the benthic communities in the Little
Alamance Creek. Also, Little Alamance Creek is classified as a Nutrient Sensitive
Water. The USEPA understands that the North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement
Program (NCEEP) is conducting a watershed planning effort in the Little Alamance
Creek, Travis Creek, and Tickle Creek watersheds in Burlington. This is a collaborative
effort with other state and local governments, to prioritize restoration and preservation
activities in these watersheds. Based on this information, the USEPA recommends the
NCDOT mitigate for the stream and wetland impacts at a 2:1 ratio.

Your response to these comments must be given full consideration before we can make a
final decision on your application. We need your information to address the concerns/issues
raised over the proposed project. You may submit additional information, revise your plans to
help resolve the issues, rebut the issues made or request a decision based on the existing record.
We must hear from you within 30 days from the date of this letter, otherwise your application
will be withdrawn. If you have questions or comments, please contact me at my Raleigh
Regulatory Field Office address, telephone [phone] ext. 26.

Sincerely,

e".

Andrew Williams
Regulatory Project Manager
Raleigh Field Office

Enclosures

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Copies Furnished (without enclosure):

Ms. Cyndi Karoly
North Carolina Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Wetlands/401 Unit
1650 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1650

Mr. Ronald J. Mikulak, Chief
Wetland Regulatory Section
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
61 Forsyth Street, SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960

Mr. Pete Benjamin, Field Supervisor
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Raleigh Field Office
Post Office Box 33726
Raleigh, NC 27636-3726

Mr. Travis W. Wilson
Eastern Region Highway Project Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program NC Wildlife Resources Commission
1142 I-85 Service Rd. '
Creedmoor, NC 27522

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