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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20140957 Ver 2_More Info Requested_20171026LNV I Pi:�NIILN tAl, C',,u��j October 26, 2017 Atlantic Coast Pipeline, LLC Attn: Ms. Leslie Hlartz 707 E, Main Street, 19th, Floor Richmond, VA 23219 Subject: REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Atlantic Coast Pipeline Dear Ms, Hartz: S. J A Y N1 N1 I � R N4 A N DWR Project #14-0957 v2 Northampton, Halifax, Nash, Wilson, Johnston, Sampson, Cuimberland and Robeson Counties On May 8, 2017, the Division of Water Resources (Division) received your application dated May 3, 20'17, requesting an Individual Water Quality Certification / Buffer Authorization from the Division for the subject project. Additional information was requested by the Division on June 27, 2017 and received' on July 12, 2017'. Two public hearings were held on July 18 and 20, 2017 in Fayetteville and Rocky Mount, respectively, with a, pulbilic comment period from June 16 — August 19, 2017, to receive public comments o'in the proposed project. Comments received are available for review at the following link: hitp;tJ ,f docLdeq.!1c.p ,oy/WaterResqurcesL0 foIL548242/Row1,asQx. L_ Based on the comments received, additional information wars requested by the Division on September 14, 2017 and responses were received by the Division on September 22 and 29, 2017. Department of Environmental Quality, Division and Atlantic Coast Piipeline (ACIP) representatives met on September 29, 2017 to discuss the additional information that was received by the Division on September 22, 2017. On October 16, 2017', the Division, received' folllow-up information from that meeting. The Division hias determined that the following additional information is necessary to continue to process your application [15A NCAC 0,2H .0502(c), 15A NCAC 02B.0233(8) and .0259 (8)): 1. In the Division's September 14, 2017 letter, site-specific justification for not working in the dry and a crossing plan for each open cult crossings [sic] proposed was requested (1.b.ii.). ACP's response on September 291h provided site-specific crossing plans for perennial crossings only and a general justification for not planning to work in the dry. State ofNodi Carofina � EnvironnicnWQuahiy WaterResoutc" 161�7 Mai I Semlice Center I Raleigh, North Call 27699-1617 919807 6300 Atlantic Coast Pipeline, LLC Request for Additional information DWR Project # 14-0957 Q Page 2 of 5 The justification cited that dry crossings would! require more time and more traffic within the adjacent wetland potentially leading to more compaction of wet soils, and duration of time the waterbody and wetland are exposed to the disturbance. Additional measures to ensure the excavation is not exposed to flowing water would prevent sedimentation impacts that may impact downstream water quality well beyond: the work area, which outweighs the additional time and traffic required within the work area. Additionally, a review of past natural gas pipeline projects previously certified and applications iin review, some of which are located in areas also crossed by the proposed project and involve pipelines up to 30 inches in diameter, shows that they all comply with the requirement to complete stream crossings using a dry method. This includes crossing intermittent streams and streams, within wetland areas, a,. Change the crossing method of all stream crossings to a, dry method. Provide an updated impact table reflecting which type of dry method will be used at each crossing. b. This Office recommends the use of mats to avoid soil compaction within wetland a rens. c. ACP may propose provisions to allow for the use of the open, cut method instead of work -in -the -dry method's for specific stream crossings that are dry at the start of construction and are expected to remain; dry thirolughout completion of the pipeline installation and restoration. This will require approval by Division staff prior to beginning the individual crossing. 2. In the Divisiion's September 14, 2017 letter, this Office asked whether all the wetlands adjacent to stream crossings were actually inundated (1.b.2.). ACP's response on September 22nd stated that 11 stream/wetland crossing were changed to a dry crossing method, but that 16 of these crossings included adjacent wetlands with, hydrology indicators that demonstrate inundation during the growing season or where photos indicate that standing water was present at the time of the field study. During our meeting on September 29', Division staff pointed out that the data sheets provided did not reflect that the wetlands were inundated and photographs provided did not show inundated wetlands, In ACP's October 13th clarification, ACP stated that most of these waterbodies are less than 20 feet in width and are not large enough to warrant the use of dry construction techniques, that it would be very difficult to achieve a dry ditch condition, and that additional workspace would be reqluired. Again, other natural gas pipeline projects certified by the Division have been, able to comply with the requirement to complete stream crossings using a dry method even when crossing streams, within wetland areas. a. Change, the crossing method of these 1,6 stream crossings to a dry method. Provide an updated impact table ireflecting,which type of dry method will be, used at each crossing. b. ACP may propose provisions to allow for the use of the open cut method instead of work -in -the -dry methods for specific crossings that are dry at the start of construction and are expected to remain dry throughout completion, of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, LLC Request for Additional information DDR Project # 14-0957 v2 Page 3 of 5 pipeline installation and restoration., This will require approval by Division, staff prior to beginning the individual crossing. 3. In your response to 1.b.v you state: "[s]tream crossings where the banks are deeply incised and narrow would be an example where a temporary bridge would not be used," In your response to 2 you state: Wn instances where streombanks are incised prior to construction, Atlantic would grade the banks to a stable slope and toper the new contours into the adjacent, undisturbed conditions outside of the right-of-way as part of the restoration of streombo,nks.," In your response provided on October 13 you state: "Atlantic does not anticipate crossing incised streams in North Carolina, and therefore Atlantic is not providing a typical drawing for incised stream restoration." a,. Explain this discrepancy. b. If Atlantic is not crossing any inciis,ed streams in North Carolina, under what circumstances, would a temporary bridge not be used? c. If Atlantic is not crossing any incised streams in North Carolina, under what circumstances would stream banks not be restored to preconstruction conditions? cl. If Atlantic is crossing incised streams, provide a typical drawing for incised stream restoration and a list of stream crossings that will employ this type of restoration instead of Type 1. 4,, In, your response to 1.c you state you anticipate using Type I but will use Type 2 if Type I is unsuccessful. a. What is the timeframe Atlantic will determiine if stabilization is unsuccessful? What is the timeframe within which Type 2 will be installed? b. You state that rock riprap or geogrid will not be place below the ordinary high watermark, however the plans provid'+edl in Appendix B show riprap below the ordinary high water mark. Correct this, discrepancy in either the narrative or the plans.Note that placing rip rap below the ordinary high water mark may require a perm,iit from the U.S. Army Corps, of Engineers and a certification from the Division. c. In your response to 2. you state "[iff woterbody flow forces require greater stabilization, Atlantic would use riprop or a geogrid type material, as outlined in response to item 1.c. above.,", which is different than using Type, 2 only if Type 1 fails. Explain this discrepancy. d. Two types of restoration Iplans were provided however they were not assigned to each stream crossing as requested. Assign Type I or Type 2 to each stream crossiing listed in, your impact table. Atlantic Coast Pipeline, LLC Request for Additional Information D'WR Project # 14-0957 Q Page 4 of 5 In your response to 2. you state "Atlantic will use clean rock over culverts for access across the majority of streams crossed by the pipeline that are otherwise too wide to be crossed by a single timber mot bridge." What is "too wide"? 6. Also, in your response to 2. you state ""[t]imber mots supported by flurries will be used for access across streams crossed by the pipeline that have too much flow for use of clean rock over culverts." What is "too much flow"? 7. lin 6.c. the Division requested a cumulative impact analysis for Johnston, Cumberland and Robeson Counties, however we received a cumulative analysis only for the constructiion footprint of the three M&R stations withiiln those counties. As, previously requested, provide a, qualitative cumulative impact analysis for all of Johnston, Cumberland and Robeson Counties not just the construction footprint of the M&R stations. This analysis should incliucle potential secondary and cumulative impacts (e.g. from anticipated development resulting from the construction of the pipeline). Refer to, the Division's Cumulative Impact Policy for the 401 and Isolated Wetland Permitting Programs (Ver2.1, dated) April 10, 2004) for guidance, available online: blipsi files.nc ov ncdeWater/o2OQualilyL�urfacle%2OWater%2OProtect�gn ..... qL_ _J4 01/Policies Guides Mgnual§&im_qIatLvelnn actPoicy. df, b. Note this analysis iis for past or reasonably anticipated future impacts, including expansion of the pipeline beyond the current terminus, in Robeson County, c. Attachment I i:n the cumulative implact analysis: i. There were, several duplicate entries. Remove any duplicate projects from the Table. There are several Atlantic projects listed (e.g. Atlantic Coast Pipeline Office Building, Atlantic Coast Pipeline Utility Services, etc.). These should be part of the current application under review, not listed within the Table as projects that may have a cumulative impact. Remove these from the Table and confirm that these projects are included within the current application under review. iii. Add a column to indicate which, projects have or you anticipate to have impacts to surface waters. B. Provide an HDD design for the Neuse River crossing and updated impact tables to reflect elimination of the impact to the river and additional impacts, to surface waters and/or wetlands that will be necessary to accomplish the crossing with the HDD method. "'Secondary impact" means actions, or actions directly linked to an activity, that may affect classified surface waters or wetlands that would not occur but for the proposed activity. "Cumulative impact" means environmental impacts resulting from incremental effects of an activity when added to other past, present, and reasonable, foreseeable future activities regardless of what entities undertake such other actions. Atlantic Coast Pipeline, LLC Request for Additional information DDR Project # 14-0957 Q Page 5 of 5 Pursuant to 15A NCAC 02H .0502(e) / 15A NCAC 02B .0233 / 15A NCAC 0213.0259, the applicant shall furnish all the above requested information for the proper consideration of the application. Please respond in writing withiiin 30 days by sending one copy of all the above requested information to the 4011 & Buffer Permitting Branch, 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617. Please be aware that you have no authorization under the Section 401 of the Clean Water Act or the Neuse or Tar -Pamlico Buffer Rules for this activity and any work done within waters of the state or protected riparian buffers may be a violation of North Carolina General Statutes and Administrative Code. Sincerely, Karen Higgins, Supervisor 401 & Buffer Permitting Branch cc: Richard Dangle, Dominion Resources Services, Inc. (via richard.b,gangle@dom.comi) Spencer Trichell, Dominion Resources Services, Inc, (via spencer.trichelll@dom.com) USAGE Raleigh Regulatory Field Office DWR 401 & Buffer Permitting Branch file Filename: 140957v2AtlanticCoastPipeline(Multi)_401_IC—NRB—TAR—Ad