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HomeMy WebLinkAbout129-16 Minor Mod 11/2022 Dare County Inlet DredgingPermit Class MODIFICATIONIMINOR STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA Department of Environmental Quality and Coastal Resources Commission Vern't for X Major Development in an Area of Environmental Concern pursuant to NCGS 113A-118 X Excavation and/or filling pursuant to NCGS 113-229 Permit Number 129-16 Issued to Dare County, 954 Marshall C. Collins Drive Manteo NC 27954 Authorizing development in Hyde/Dare County at Pamlico Sound and Hatteras Inlet complex adi, to the NE tip of Ocracoke Island, as requested in the permittee's letter dated 9/2 2�/ 2, including workplan drawings (6)all dated 9/8/22 This permit, issued on November 2, 2022 is subject to compliance with the application (where consistent with the permit), all applicable regulations, special conditions and notes set forth below. Any violation of these terms may or civil 1) Unless specifically altered herein, this Minor Modification authorizes the one-time dredging event of the authorized channel via sidecast and/or special purpose hopper dredging, all as expressly and specifically set forth in the attached modification request and workplan drawings. Excavation 2) All excavation activities shall take place entirely within the areas indicated the workplan drawings and within the previously authorized channel dimensions. 3) In no case shall excavation exceed —12' Mean Low Water. (See attached sheet for Additional Conditions) This permit action may be appealed by the pertnittee or other qualified persons within twenty (20) days of the issuing date. This permit must be accessible on -site to Department personnel when the project is inspected for compliance. Any maintenance work or project modification not covered hereunder requires further Division approval. All work must cease when the permit expires on December 31, 2024 In issuing this permit, the State of North Carolina agrees that your project is consistent with the North Carolina Coastal Management Program. Signed by the authority of the Secretary of DEQ and the Chair of the Coastal Resource Commission. F,Q Braxton C. Davis, Director ivision of Coastal Management This permit and its conditions are hereby accepted. Signature of Permittee Dare County Permit No. 129-16 Page 2 of 2 ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS General 4) This Minor Modification shall be attached to the original of Permit No. 129-16, which was issued on 12/20/16, as well as all subsequent modifications and renewals, and copies of all documents shall be readily available on site when a Division representative inspects the project for compliance. 5) All conditions and stipulations of the active permit remain in force under this Minor Modification unless specifically altered herein. NOTE: This permit does not eliminate the need to obtain any additional state, federal or local permits, approvals or authorizations that may be required. NOTE: A permit renewal application processing fee of $100 was received by DCM for this project. NOTE: The N.C. Division of Water Resources has previously assigned the proposed project under DWR Project No. 13-1279. NOTE: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assigned the proposed project COE Action Id. No. SAW- 2016-02140. From:Pelletier, Josh R CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) To:Ken Willson; Coats, Heather; Wojoski, Paul A Cc:Grover, Barton B; Bodnar, Gregg; Howell, Jonathan; Brad Rosov; Horton, James Todd CIV USARMY CESAW (USA); Cordeiro, Coley H CIV USARMY CESAW (USA); Fennel, Tommy E CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) Subject:[External] RE: [Non-DoD Source] RE: Request for minor modification to CAMA Major Permit #129-16 Date:Monday, October 24, 2022 3:32:06 PM Attachments:image001.png CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an attachment to Report Spam. Ken, Thanks for the information. I will have the loop closed on my coordination for the Merritt if need be depending on the timeline of the FONSI finalization. It would be similar to the letter of extension we have issued in the past. I have copied others to keep them in the loop due to the time-sensitive nature of the issue just in case I am out of the office. If any other information becomes available that would manipulate that timeline, just let us know! Josh From: Ken Willson <kwillson@coastalprotectioneng.com> Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 3:14 PM To: Pelletier, Josh R CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Josh.R.Pelletier@usace.army.mil>; Coats, Heather <heather.coats@ncdenr.gov>; Wojoski, Paul A <paul.wojoski@ncdenr.gov> Cc: Barton Grover (barton.grover@darenc.com) <barton.grover@darenc.com>; Bodnar, Gregg <gregg.bodnar@ncdenr.gov>; Howell, Jonathan <jonathan.howell@ncdenr.gov>; Brad Rosov <brosov@coastalprotectioneng.com>; Horton, James Todd CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <James.T.Horton@usace.army.mil>; Cordeiro, Coley H CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Coley.H.Cordeiro@usace.army.mil> Subject: [Non-DoD Source] RE: Request for minor modification to CAMA Major Permit #129-16 Heather/Josh/Paul, Just following up on this correspondence. I spoke with Heather on Friday and explained that the USACE Wilmington District expects to have the FONSI completed soon for the realignment of Rollinson Channel. The relevance of this action is that once the FONSI is signed, this request for a minor modification, which would allow the Dredge Merritt to perform up to 7 days of dredging in the area outside the existed permitted corridor would not be needed as the USACE would conduct the dredging under it’s FONSI. That said, this morning we are hearing that the FONSI could be delayed until next week. The last we heard was that the Merritt could be in Hatteras Inlet by October 27. I have copied Todd Horton and Coley Cordeiro on this email to try to get an update on that schedule. That said, if the USACE dredge is still looking to arrive on October 27, we would need this minor modification to be issued to allow the dredging until either the 7 days of maintenance work are completed or the USACE FONSI is signed. Heather/Josh/Paul, could you all provide an update on the status of this minor modification? Josh, I’m not sure how you were planning to handle this (granting of relief, minor modification, or something else). I realize that there are a lot of moving pieces to this, but please note that this minor modification is separate from the Major Modification that was requested to expand the extent of the channel corridor. Kind Regards, Ken Willson Senior Project/Program Manager Main: 910-399-1905 Mobile: 910-443-4471 kwillson@coastalprotectioneng.com Coastal Protection Engineering 4038 Masonboro Loop Road Wilmington, NC 28409 From: Ken Willson Sent: Friday, October 7, 2022 9:35 AM To: Pelletier, Josh R CIV CESAW CESAD (US) <josh.r.pelletier@usace.army.mil>; Coats, Heather <heather.coats@ncdenr.gov>; Wojoski, Paul A <paul.wojoski@ncdenr.gov> Cc: Barton Grover (barton.grover@darenc.com) <barton.grover@darenc.com>; Bodnar, Gregg <gregg.bodnar@ncdenr.gov>; Howell, Jonathan <jonathan.howell@ncdenr.gov>; Brad Rosov <brosov@coastalprotectioneng.com> Subject: RE: Request for Importance: High Josh/Heather/Paul, I wanted to follow up on the original request submitted September 15 and following our discussions earlier this week on the pre-con call for the Hatteras Inlet Connector Channel Maintenance. As I understand it, you are all waiting to receive comments back from a few agencies before a decision can be made to grant the requested relief. On behalf of Dare County, I ask that you please reach back out to these agencies and again request any comments so that a decision can be made soon. As most are aware, the shallow draft channel that runs between the southern end of Sloop Channel and the Hatteras Inlet gorge has been plagued with high shoaling rates that require frequent dredging to maintain the channel. This channel is critical for both the fishing industry in Hatteras and the US Coast Guard Station Hatteras. The establishment of the northern route last April/May has provided much more reliable navigation than the “South Ferry Channel” route had provided over the previous year. However, in order to maintain the channel to a depth where dredges like the Merritt and the Miss Katie can operate, routine maintenance is required. Reports from early September indicated that shoaling is starting to fill in the Alternate Route and the concern is that if the USACE cannot get the dredge Merritt in the channel in the next couple weeks, the channel could shoal to a point where dredging can’t be conducted. I also want to stress that the requested action 1) Would occur within the dredge window allowed by the permit (Oct. 1 – March 31); 2) would take place in the same area dredged in April/May 2022 under the permit modification that allowed a one-time event; 3) would occur in an area that DNCR has now stated is cleared for cultural resources; and 4) is in an area that was originally included in the proposed corridor that was reviewed by the agencies during the initial permitting in 2016. Please let us know if there is any additional information we can provide to facilitate a timely decision. Sincere Regards, Ken Willson Senior Project/Program Manager Main: 910-399-1905 Mobile: 910-443-4471 kwillson@coastalprotectioneng.com Coastal Protection Engineering 4038 Masonboro Loop Road Wilmington, NC 28409 From: Brad Rosov <brosov@coastalprotectioneng.com> Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2022 4:10 PM To: Pelletier, Josh R CIV CESAW CESAD (US) <josh.r.pelletier@usace.army.mil>; Coats, Heather <heather.coats@ncdenr.gov>; Wojoski, Paul A <paul.wojoski@ncdenr.gov> Cc: Barton Grover (barton.grover@darenc.com) <barton.grover@darenc.com>; Bodnar, Gregg <gregg.bodnar@ncdenr.gov>; Howell, Jonathan <jonathan.howell@ncdenr.gov>; Ken Willson <kwillson@coastalprotectioneng.com> Subject: Request for Good afternoon Josh, Heather, and Paul, I believe that my colleague Ken Willson has been in touch with you over the past few days in regards to the dynamic situation at Hatteras Inlet. As you know, the inlet complex is prone to rapid shoaling. In an attempt to maintain navigation between Sloop Channel and the inlet gorge, the County has been working in cooperation with the USACE to ensure that all efforts are made to keep the passage safe for mariners. As you will see in the attached letter and supporting documents, the County is seeking permission to respond to the latest shoaling within several discrete areas within the channel that now connects Sloop Channel to the inlet gorge. Specifically, this entails the use of the USACE sidecaster dredge Merritt for up to 7 days of operation between the dates of Oct. 7 and Oct. 31. Please feel free to reach out directly to myself of Ken any time should you have any questions or require any additional information. Regards, Brad Rosov Senior Marine Biologist/Project Manager Main: 910-399-1905 Mobile: 910-352-1555 brosov@coastalprotectioneng.com Coastal Protection Engineering 4038 Masonboro Loop Road Wilmington, NC 28409 COASTAL PROTECTION ENGINEERING OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC 4038 MASONBORO LOOP ROAD WILMINGTON, NC 28409 910-399-1905 September 22, 2022 Heather Coats Beach & Inlet Management Project Coordinator North Carolina Division of Coastal Management 127 Cardinal Drive Wilmington, NC 28405 Subject: Hatteras Inlet Channel Maintenance Project – Written Notice of Project Initiation Dear Ms. Coats: The Division of Coastal Management (DCM) issued a CAMA Major Permit for the Hatteras Inlet Channel Maintenance Project on December 22, 2016 (#129-16). This permit was subsequently renewed on January 22, 2020 and has an expiration date of December 31, 2024. This letter serves as written notice of project initiation as required in Condition 7 of the permit. Please find attached to this letter revised permit drawings dated September 8, 2022, which provide the location of the proposed channel for the upcoming event. The project includes maintenance dredging within a portion of the Hatteras Inlet Connector Channel, which runs between the inlet gorge and the ferry channel in proximity to Ocracoke Island. This channel is locally referred to as the “Hatteras Connector Channel”. The attached plan view drawing shows the locations along the Hatteras Connector Channel in which maintenance dredging is proposed for this event. Three (3) separate channel segments were identified in which maintenance dredging is required, namely North, Middle, and South Connector Channels. The attached plans also include the disposal area, avoidance areas identified through cultural resource surveys, submarine cables, and previously mapped submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) resources in the vicinity. Also included on the drawings is the “Expanded Dredge Corridor”, which is an area the County has requested be added to the existing Major CAMA Permit through the permit modification process. That request was submitted in August and deemed complete by DCM on August 22. The request is still under review. In a letter dated September 15, 2022, Dare County also requested relief to allow for the USACE sidecast dredge “Merritt” to perform maintenance dredging for up to (7) days between October COASTAL PROTECTION ENGINEERING OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC. Page | 2 7 and October 31, 2022. This maintenance dredging was proposed to occur within a portion of the “Proposed Middle Connector Channel” and the “Proposed North Connector Channel”, as depicted on Sheets 2 and 3 in the attached drawings. However, the request specifically included dredging of only a portion of the “Proposed Middle Connector Channel” limited to 1) the ~700 ft southern portion of this area that is situated within the permitted Connector Channel Corridor and 2) the ~500 ft segment that extends into the Expanded Dredge Corridor, that was previously dredged during the April and May 2022 maintenance event (Figure 1). In addition, much of the ~700 ft “Proposed Northern Connector Channel” has also been dredged in the recent past under NCDOT permits. Dare County is still waiting for a response to this request for relief. At present, the proposed maintenance event would include a 7-day event that would be limited to portions of the North and Middle Connector Channels as well as a 14 to 20-day event anticipated to occur after November 1. This assumes that both the permit modification request to expand the dredge corridor is approved by November 1 and that relief is granted for a 7-day event to occur as described in the letter dated September 15, 2022. The 7-day event is proposed to utilize the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) side cast Dredge Merritt. Material dredged from the channel will be sidecasted to either side of the proposed channel. The longer maintenance event, anticipated to be conducted after November 1, is planned to be conducted using the Dredge Miss Katie. Material dredged from the channel by the Miss Katie will be placed in the nearshore disposal location shown on the attached drawings. As you are aware, the Major CAMA Permit (#129-16) allows for maintenance of a 200 ft. wide channel to a depth of -12 ft. MLW. Based on the availability of funds, dredge availability, and conditional surveys conducted August 12, 2022, the proposed channel dimensions for this upcoming dredging event are to establish a 200-foot wide channel at elevation -8 ft MLW. Again, the dredge event includes both the 7-day event in October and a 14 to 20 day event after November 1. Based on the conditional survey from August 12, 2022, the establishment of the proposed channel will require the dredging of approximately 23,000 cy of material. Please note that these channel dimensions and configurations are what is anticipated, but Dare County reserves the authorization to increase the depth up to the permitted -12 ft. MLW depth, depending on production rates and dredge availability. The proposed channel is shown on the attached drawings, including both plan view and cross-sectional view. COASTAL PROTECTION ENGINEERING OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC 4038 MASONBORO LOOP ROAD WILMINGTON, NC 28409 910-399-1905 Figure 1. Map indicating the portion of the proposed middle connector channel (orange polygon) previously dredged during the April/May 2022 event. COASTAL PROTECTION ENGINEERING OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC 4038 MASONBORO LOOP ROAD WILMINGTON, NC 28409 910-399-1905 As required by Condition #7D in CAMA Major Permit #129-16, DCM must be notified of the location of any known SAV beds at least two (2) weeks in advance of dredging. On June 14-15, 2019, and June 1, 2020, the Albemarle Pamlico National Estuary Partnership (APNEP) acquired high-resolution aerial imagery from within Pamlico Sound from the Hwy 64 bridge at Roanoke Sound south to Ocracoke Inlet. These images were then used to digitally delineate the boundaries of visible SAV beds. The resultant SAV maps were then made available to the public in August 2022. The closest SAV bed, as delineated from the 2019/2020 assessment, are found within 2,107 ft from the dredging footprint within the Proposed Middle Connector Channel and 938 ft from the Proposed North Connector Channel. Regarding contact information during dredge activities, Coley Cordeiro of the USACE will be the point of contact for the USACE (Merritt) dredging operations. Coley’s phone number is (910) 530- 0228 and her email is coley.h.cordeiro@usace.army.mil. Jordan Hennessy will be the EJE Dredging point of contact for the Miss Katie dredging operations. Jordan’s phone number is (252) 619-3606 and his email is jhennessy@ejedredging.com. I will be the County’s agent and can be contacted via cell phone at (910) 443-4471 or via email at kwillson@coastalprotectioneng.com. Please feel free to contact me anytime for further clarification or explanation of the project. Sincerely, Ken Willson Senior Program Manager Coastal Protection Engineering of North Carolina, Inc. Office: 910-399-1905 Mobile: 910-443-4471 kwillson@coastalprotectioneng.com CC: Barton Grover, Dare County Jonathan Howell, NC DCM Paul Wojoski, NC DWR Brad Rosov, CPE From:Coats, Heather To:Dunn, Maria T.; Harrison, James A; Pelletier, Josh R SAW; Wojoski, Paul A Cc:Renaldi, Ronald; Spivey, Kelly; Daisey, Greg; Brittingham, Cathy Subject:FW: [External] Request for Date:Friday, September 23, 2022 11:04:00 AM Attachments:image001.png DCM Written Notice 2022_09_22.pdf Hello everyone, I know a major modification request just went out this week for your review to permanently allow an expanded dredge corridor for the South Ferry Channel project, but due to recent shoaling and shallow water depths, Dare Co is also requesting expedited consideration to allow them to dredge with the Merritt and Miss Katie in October. Note that I have updated the attachments to include the most recent request (rather than just use of the Merritt as Brad describes in his email below). Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns regarding this proposed October work as soon as you are able and/or by September 30, if at all possible. Thanks in advance and I hope you all have a great weekend! Heather Heather Coats Beach & Inlet Management Project Coordinator Division of Coastal Management North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality 910 796 7302 office heather.coats@ncdenr.gov 127 Cardinal Drive Extension Wilmington, NC 28405 Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties. From: Brad Rosov <brosov@coastalprotectioneng.com> Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2022 4:10 PM To: Pelletier, Josh R CIV CESAW CESAD (US) <josh.r.pelletier@usace.army.mil>; Coats, Heather <heather.coats@ncdenr.gov>; Wojoski, Paul A <Paul.Wojoski@ncdenr.gov> Cc: Grover, Barton B <barton.grover@darenc.com>; Bodnar, Gregg <gregg.bodnar@ncdenr.gov>; Howell, Jonathan <jonathan.howell@ncdenr.gov>; Ken Willson <kwillson@coastalprotectioneng.com> Subject: [External] Request for CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an attachment to Report Spam. Good afternoon Josh, Heather, and Paul, I believe that my colleague Ken Willson has been in touch with you over the past few days in regards to the dynamic situation at Hatteras Inlet. As you know, the inlet complex is prone to rapid shoaling. In an attempt to maintain navigation between Sloop Channel and the inlet gorge, the County has been working in cooperation with the USACE to ensure that all efforts are made to keep the passage safe for mariners. As you will see in the attached letter and supporting documents, the County is seeking permission to respond to the latest shoaling within several discrete areas within the channel that now connects Sloop Channel to the inlet gorge. Specifically, this entails the use of the USACE sidecaster dredge Merritt for up to 7 days of operation between the dates of Oct. 7 and Oct. 31. Please feel free to reach out directly to myself of Ken any time should you have any questions or require any additional information. Regards, Brad Rosov Senior Marine Biologist/Project Manager Main: 910-399-1905 Mobile: 910-352-1555 brosov@coastalprotectioneng.com Coastal Protection Engineering 4038 Masonboro Loop Road Wilmington, NC 28409 From:Harrison, James A To:Coats, Heather Subject:Re: [External] RE: Request for Date:Tuesday, October 18, 2022 1:23:08 PM Attachments:image001.png image002.png image003.png Outlook-hyiwzcvp.png Heather, Thanks again for calling to discuss this. I went back and looked and what was throwing me off regarding distance from SAV is that this monitoring letter was only in regards to the small dredging footprint, not the entire connector channel. Also, the SAV shown in Figure 1 is from 2014. The 2020 APNEP mapping basically shows the 2 patches closest to the bird island to be gone, moving the closest SAV further away than what this letter shows. With that in mind, accepting this should be suitable for the current efforts, particularly considering that we're getting to the end of the growing season for most areas. I think that what we (DMF, NMFS, WRC, etc.) are hoping for regarding imagery to be provided is aerial imagery that shows SAV delineation. My hope for this is to show what immediate impact, if any, the dredging operations are having on SAV habitat. The proposed approach - determining if SAV exists within 1,000' of the dredge area(s) - is fine on my end. I will note that CPE should change the language from "...utilize the existing 2013 APNEP SAV data..." should be changed to something along the lines of "...utilize the most recent available SAV mapping data..." Thanks Heather! Jimmy Jimmy Harrison Habitat and Enhancement Section NC Division of Marine Fisheries james.harrison@ncdenr.gov 252-948-3835 (Office) 757-272-3230 (Mobile) "Every pizza can be a personal pizza if you try hard enough and believe in yourself" Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties. From: Coats, Heather <heather.coats@ncdenr.gov> Sent: Monday, October 10, 2022 15:49 To: Harrison, James A <James.Harrison@ncdenr.gov> Subject: RE: [External] RE: Request for Hi again Jimmy, Hope you had a nice weekend! Just following up on your last email, I also want to make sure you saw this that Ken submitted at the end of last month for the spring dredging event they did in the area. I’ve attached it again here for your reference. Thanks again! H. Heather Coats Beach & Inlet Management Project Coordinator Division of Coastal Management North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality 910 796 7302 office heather.coats@ncdenr.gov 127 Cardinal Drive Extension Wilmington, NC 28405 From: Coats, Heather Sent: Friday, October 7, 2022 3:01 PM To: Harrison, James A <James.Harrison@ncdenr.gov> Subject: RE: [External] RE: Request for Thanks Jimmy. It looks like they’ve relied on 2013 APNET mapping data thus far to establish their 100’ SAV dredge buffer (including in both this request and the major mod request). So if they need to provide more than that for dredging outside of the moratorium (for this currently proposed work), what kind of high quality imagery do you have in mind (and how recent does it need to be)? Thanks again, Heather Heather Coats Beach & Inlet Management Project Coordinator Division of Coastal Management North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality 910 796 7302 office heather.coats@ncdenr.gov 127 Cardinal Drive Extension Wilmington, NC 28405 From: Harrison, James A <James.Harrison@ncdenr.gov> Sent: Friday, October 7, 2022 2:20 PM To: Coats, Heather <heather.coats@ncdenr.gov>; Dunn, Maria T. <maria.dunn@ncwildlife.org>; Wojoski, Paul A <Paul.Wojoski@ncdenr.gov> Cc: Pelletier, Josh R SAW <Josh.R.Pelletier@usace.army.mil> Subject: Re: [External] RE: Request for Good afternoon Heather, As long as Dare County is operating under and adhering to the same restrictions/limitations, DMF is amenable to allowing the requested/proposed work to occur. Specifically, for DMF concerns, Dare should adhere to measures meant to protect SAV from impacts that may result from the proposed dredging. A buffer should be maintained around SAV as follows: 300' if dredging 1 April -30 September, 100' if dredging 1 October to 31 March. Also, high quality aerial imagery identifying locations of SAV should be provided to resource agencies before and after dredging events. Finally, the County should coordinate with the resource agencies any time the SAV buffer and/or environmental windows are unable to be adhered to. To touch base regarding the permit mod request, will that be impacted at all by the USACE's agreement to lead the development of a Hatteras Inlet Management Plan, as recommended by NMFS? Jimmy Jimmy Harrison Habitat and Enhancement Section NC Division of Marine Fisheries james.harrison@ncdenr.gov 252-948-3835 (Office) 757-272-3230 (Mobile) "Every pizza can be a personal pizza if you try hard enough and believe in yourself" Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties. From: Coats, Heather <heather.coats@ncdenr.gov> Sent: Friday, October 7, 2022 10:35 To: Harrison, James A <James.Harrison@ncdenr.gov>; Dunn, Maria T. <maria.dunn@ncwildlife.org>; Wojoski, Paul A <Paul.Wojoski@ncdenr.gov> Cc: Pelletier, Josh R SAW <Josh.R.Pelletier@usace.army.mil> Subject: FW: [External] RE: Request for Hi everyone, Ken has sent this plea for a response on behalf of Dare County regarding their previously submitted request for dredging this month at Hatteras Inlet- South Ferry Channel. Please see my previous emails sent 9/23 and 9/29. As detailed below, they have expressed concerns that failure to dredge the channel in the coming weeks will result in shoaling to the point that the dredge plants will not be able to access the channel to work. Also as noted below, we are currently within the permitted dredge window and they are proposing to work in the channel location that was authorized for a one time dredge event in the spring. (In case that info helps speed your consideration of the request.) Please submit comments, either regarding their one-time authorization request for dredging in October and/or their more comprehensive corridor major modification request, or let me know if you have any questions or need additional info or time to make your determination, this week if at all possible. Please note the requested comment deadline for the major modification was Oct 16, so we are also nearing that date. Thanks! Heather Heather Coats Beach & Inlet Management Project Coordinator Division of Coastal Management North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality 910 796 7302 office heather.coats@ncdenr.gov 127 Cardinal Drive Extension Wilmington, NC 28405 From: Ken Willson <kwillson@coastalprotectioneng.com> Sent: Friday, October 7, 2022 9:35 AM To: Pelletier, Josh R CIV CESAW CESAD (US) <josh.r.pelletier@usace.army.mil>; Coats, Heather <heather.coats@ncdenr.gov>; Wojoski, Paul A <Paul.Wojoski@ncdenr.gov> Cc: Grover, Barton B <barton.grover@darenc.com>; Bodnar, Gregg <gregg.bodnar@ncdenr.gov>; Howell, Jonathan <jonathan.howell@ncdenr.gov>; Brad Rosov <brosov@coastalprotectioneng.com> Subject: [External] RE: Request for Importance: High CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an attachment to Report Spam. Josh/Heather/Paul, I wanted to follow up on the original request submitted September 15 and following our discussions earlier this week on the pre-con call for the Hatteras Inlet Connector Channel Maintenance. As I understand it, you are all waiting to receive comments back from a few agencies before a decision can be made to grant the requested relief. On behalf of Dare County, I ask that you please reach back out to these agencies and again request any comments so that a decision can be made soon. As most are aware, the shallow draft channel that runs between the southern end of Sloop Channel and the Hatteras Inlet gorge has been plagued with high shoaling rates that require frequent dredging to maintain the channel. This channel is critical for both the fishing industry in Hatteras and the US Coast Guard Station Hatteras. The establishment of the northern route last April/May has provided much more reliable navigation than the “South Ferry Channel” route had provided over the previous year. However, in order to maintain the channel to a depth where dredges like the Merritt and the Miss Katie can operate, routine maintenance is required. Reports from early September indicated that shoaling is starting to fill in the Alternate Route and the concern is that if the USACE cannot get the dredge Merritt in the channel in the next couple weeks, the channel could shoal to a point where dredging can’t be conducted. I also want to stress that the requested action 1) Would occur within the dredge window allowed by the permit (Oct. 1 – March 31); 2) would take place in the same area dredged in April/May 2022 under the permit modification that allowed a one-time event; 3) would occur in an area that DNCR has now stated is cleared for cultural resources; and 4) is in an area that was originally included in the proposed corridor that was reviewed by the agencies during the initial permitting in 2016. Please let us know if there is any additional information we can provide to facilitate a timely decision. Sincere Regards, Ken Willson Senior Project/Program Manager Main: 910-399-1905 Mobile: 910-443-4471 kwillson@coastalprotectioneng.com Coastal Protection Engineering 4038 Masonboro Loop Road Wilmington, NC 28409 From: Brad Rosov <brosov@coastalprotectioneng.com> Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2022 4:10 PM To: Pelletier, Josh R CIV CESAW CESAD (US) <josh.r.pelletier@usace.army.mil>; Coats, Heather <heather.coats@ncdenr.gov>; Wojoski, Paul A <paul.wojoski@ncdenr.gov> Cc: Barton Grover (barton.grover@darenc.com) <barton.grover@darenc.com>; Bodnar, Gregg <gregg.bodnar@ncdenr.gov>; Howell, Jonathan <jonathan.howell@ncdenr.gov>; Ken Willson <kwillson@coastalprotectioneng.com> Subject: Request for Good afternoon Josh, Heather, and Paul, I believe that my colleague Ken Willson has been in touch with you over the past few days in regards to the dynamic situation at Hatteras Inlet. As you know, the inlet complex is prone to rapid shoaling. In an attempt to maintain navigation between Sloop Channel and the inlet gorge, the County has been working in cooperation with the USACE to ensure that all efforts are made to keep the passage safe for mariners. As you will see in the attached letter and supporting documents, the County is seeking permission to respond to the latest shoaling within several discrete areas within the channel that now connects Sloop Channel to the inlet gorge. Specifically, this entails the use of the USACE sidecaster dredge Merritt for up to 7 days of operation between the dates of Oct. 7 and Oct. 31. Please feel free to reach out directly to myself of Ken any time should you have any questions or require any additional information. Regards, Brad Rosov Senior Marine Biologist/Project Manager Main: 910-399-1905 Mobile: 910-352-1555 brosov@coastalprotectioneng.com Coastal Protection Engineering 4038 Masonboro Loop Road Wilmington, NC 28409 From:Dunn, Maria T. To:Coats, Heather Subject:RE: [External] RE: Request for (Hatteras Inlet South Ferry Channel) Date:Wednesday, October 19, 2022 10:33:03 AM Attachments:image002.png image003.png Heather, NCWRC has reviewed the request for Dare County’s October one-time dredge request. Specifically, …a 7-day event that would be limited to portions of the North and Middle Connector Channels as well as a 14 to 20-day event anticipated to occur after November 1. This assumes that both the permit modification request to expand the dredge corridor is approved by November 1 and that relief is granted for a 7-day event to occur as described in the letter dated September 15, 2022. The 7-day event is proposed to utilize the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) side cast Dredge Merritt. Material dredged from the channel will be sidecasted to either side of the proposed channel. The longer maintenance event, anticipated to be conducted after November 1, is planned to be conducted using the Dredge Miss Katie. Material dredged from the channel by the Miss Katie will be placed in the nearshore disposal location shown on the attached drawings. Major CAMA Permit (#129-16) allows for maintenance of a 200 ft. wide channel to a depth of -12 ft. MLW. Based on the availability of funds, dredge availability, and conditional surveys conducted August 12, 2022, the proposed channel dimensions for this upcoming dredging event are to establish a 200-foot wide channel at elevation -8 ft MLW. Again, the dredge event includes both the 7-day event in October and a 14 to 20 day event after November 1. Based on the conditional survey from August 12, 2022, the establishment of the proposed channel will require the dredging of approximately 23,000 cy of material. Please note that these channel dimensions and configurations are what is anticipated, but Dare County reserves the authorization to increase the depth up to the permitted -12 ft. MLW depth, depending on production rates and dredge availability. Our agency does not object to the one-time dredge allowance in October as described above as long as all other existing permit conditions are upheld. This includes a 100’ buffer from SAV since dredging is proposed during the month of October. Thank you for the opportunity to review and provide comment on this one-time October dredge request for Dare County in the Hatters Inlet South Ferry Channel. I will provide comments on the modification request for South Ferry Channel at another time. Please don’t hesitate to call or email if there is anything additional. Maria ------------------------------ Maria T. Dunn Coastal Coordinator NC Wildlife Resources Commission 943 Washington Sq. Mall Washington, NC 27889 office: 252-948-3916 www.ncwildlife.org Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties. From: Coats, Heather <heather.coats@ncdenr.gov> Sent: Friday, October 7, 2022 10:36 AM To: Harrison, James A <James.Harrison@ncdenr.gov>; Dunn, Maria T. <maria.dunn@ncwildlife.org>; Wojoski, Paul A <Paul.Wojoski@ncdenr.gov> Cc: Pelletier, Josh R SAW <Josh.R.Pelletier@usace.army.mil> Subject: FW: [External] RE: Request for Importance: High Hi everyone, Ken has sent this plea for a response on behalf of Dare County regarding their previously submitted request for dredging this month at Hatteras Inlet- South Ferry Channel. Please see my previous emails sent 9/23 and 9/29. As detailed below, they have expressed concerns that failure to dredge the channel in the coming weeks will result in shoaling to the point that the dredge plants will not be able to access the channel to work. Also as noted below, we are currently within the permitted dredge window and they are proposing to work in the channel location that was authorized for a one time dredge event in the spring. (In case that info helps speed your consideration of the request.) Please submit comments, either regarding their one-time authorization request for dredging in October and/or their more comprehensive corridor major modification request, or let me know if you have any questions or need additional info or time to make your determination, this week if at all possible. Please note the requested comment deadline for the major modification was Oct 16, so we are also nearing that date. Thanks! Heather Heather Coats Beach & Inlet Management Project Coordinator Division of Coastal Management North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality 910 796 7302 office heather.coats@ncdenr.gov 127 Cardinal Drive Extension Wilmington, NC 28405 From: Ken Willson <kwillson@coastalprotectioneng.com> Sent: Friday, October 7, 2022 9:35 AM To: Pelletier, Josh R CIV CESAW CESAD (US) <josh.r.pelletier@usace.army.mil>; Coats, Heather <heather.coats@ncdenr.gov>; Wojoski, Paul A <Paul.Wojoski@ncdenr.gov> Cc: Grover, Barton B <barton.grover@darenc.com>; Bodnar, Gregg <gregg.bodnar@ncdenr.gov>; Howell, Jonathan <jonathan.howell@ncdenr.gov>; Brad Rosov <brosov@coastalprotectioneng.com> Subject: [External] RE: Request for Importance: High CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an attachment to Report Spam. Josh/Heather/Paul, I wanted to follow up on the original request submitted September 15 and following our discussions earlier this week on the pre-con call for the Hatteras Inlet Connector Channel Maintenance. As I understand it, you are all waiting to receive comments back from a few agencies before a decision can be made to grant the requested relief. On behalf of Dare County, I ask that you please reach back out to these agencies and again request any comments so that a decision can be made soon. As most are aware, the shallow draft channel that runs between the southern end of Sloop Channel and the Hatteras Inlet gorge has been plagued with high shoaling rates that require frequent dredging to maintain the channel. This channel is critical for both the fishing industry in Hatteras and the US Coast Guard Station Hatteras. The establishment of the northern route last April/May has provided much more reliable navigation than the “South Ferry Channel” route had provided over the previous year. However, in order to maintain the channel to a depth where dredges like the Merritt and the Miss Katie can operate, routine maintenance is required. Reports from early September indicated that shoaling is starting to fill in the Alternate Route and the concern is that if the USACE cannot get the dredge Merritt in the channel in the next couple weeks, the channel could shoal to a point where dredging can’t be conducted. I also want to stress that the requested action 1) Would occur within the dredge window allowed by the permit (Oct. 1 – March 31); 2) would take place in the same area dredged in April/May 2022 under the permit modification that allowed a one-time event; 3) would occur in an area that DNCR has now stated is cleared for cultural resources; and 4) is in an area that was originally included in the proposed corridor that was reviewed by the agencies during the initial permitting in 2016. Please let us know if there is any additional information we can provide to facilitate a timely decision. Sincere Regards, Ken Willson Senior Project/Program Manager Main: 910-399-1905 Mobile: 910-443-4471 kwillson@coastalprotectioneng.com Coastal Protection Engineering 4038 Masonboro Loop Road Wilmington, NC 28409 From: Brad Rosov <brosov@coastalprotectioneng.com> Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2022 4:10 PM To: Pelletier, Josh R CIV CESAW CESAD (US) <josh.r.pelletier@usace.army.mil>; Coats, Heather <heather.coats@ncdenr.gov>; Wojoski, Paul A <paul.wojoski@ncdenr.gov> Cc: Barton Grover (barton.grover@darenc.com) <barton.grover@darenc.com>; Bodnar, Gregg <gregg.bodnar@ncdenr.gov>; Howell, Jonathan <jonathan.howell@ncdenr.gov>; Ken Willson <kwillson@coastalprotectioneng.com> Subject: Request for Good afternoon Josh, Heather, and Paul, I believe that my colleague Ken Willson has been in touch with you over the past few days in regards to the dynamic situation at Hatteras Inlet. As you know, the inlet complex is prone to rapid shoaling. In an attempt to maintain navigation between Sloop Channel and the inlet gorge, the County has been working in cooperation with the USACE to ensure that all efforts are made to keep the passage safe for mariners. As you will see in the attached letter and supporting documents, the County is seeking permission to respond to the latest shoaling within several discrete areas within the channel that now connects Sloop Channel to the inlet gorge. Specifically, this entails the use of the USACE sidecaster dredge Merritt for up to 7 days of operation between the dates of Oct. 7 and Oct. 31. Please feel free to reach out directly to myself of Ken any time should you have any questions or require any additional information. Regards, Brad Rosov Senior Marine Biologist/Project Manager Main: 910-399-1905 Mobile: 910-352-1555 brosov@coastalprotectioneng.com Coastal Protection Engineering 4038 Masonboro Loop Road Wilmington, NC 28409