20080691 Ver 1_Other Agency Comments_20080722

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~~~ATFS UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
yW REGION 4 11 Awl i r ATLANTA FEDERAL CENTER , f
'NC PROZeO 61 FORSYTH STREET
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303-8960

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July 17, 2008 cy

Mr. Andrew E. Williams
Project Manager
Raleigh Regulatory Field Office
Wilmington District
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
3331 Heritage Trade Drive, Suite 105
Wake Forest, NC 27587

Subject: North Carolina Department of Transportation; Widening and Improvements to Mebane
Street (TIP Numbers U-3303 A and U-3303 B), Alamance County. Action I.D. #SAW-2008-
01454

Dear Mr. Williams:

This is in response to the Public Notice for North Carolina Department of Transportation
(NCDOT), dated June 24, 2008, to widen and improve Mebane Street in Burlington, Alamance
County, North Carolina (TIP Numbers U-3303 A and U-3303 B). As proposed, the project
would impact 0.03 acres of jurisdictional wetlands and 317 linear feet of stream. Mitigation is
proposed at a 1:1 ratio for the stream impacts by payment to the Ecosystem Enhancement
Program (EEP). It does not appear that wetland mitigation is proposed.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 4 Wetland Regulatory
Section has reviewed the public notice. Alamance County and the Cape Fear watershed in
general (03030002) are facing increasing development pressure. 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. In addition, Little Alamance Creek is
classified as a Nutrient Sensitive Water. Further, EPA understands that EEP 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. All entities involved in
the watershed planning process recognize the value of the wetland and stream resources for
water quality improvement, water storage/hydrology, and habitat functions. We recommend that
the NCDOT be required to mitigate for the stream and wetland impacts at a 2:1 ratio.

Internet Address (URL) • http://www.epa.gov
RecycledlRecyclable • Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on Recycled Paper (Minimum 30°x, Postconsumer)

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this project. If you have any questions or
comments, please contact Kathy Matthews, of my staff, at [phone].

Sincerely,

-z' c. d'
Thomas C. Welborn
Chief
Wetlands, Coastal and Nonpoint Source Branch

cc: Gary Jordan, USFWS, Raleigh
Brian Wrenn, NCDWQ, Raleigh
Travis Wilson, NCWRC, Creedmoor
Greg Thorpe, NCDOT, Raleigh