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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20220902_ADI_ResponseHood Richardson, PA C-576 110 West Second Street Washington, N. C. 27889 252-975-3472 August 30, 2022 Mr. Adam Parr, PE Assistant State Mining Engineer Division of Energy, Mineral and land Resources Department of Environmental Quality 1612 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1612 RE: Cutler Mine RECEIVED Beaufort County Tar -Pamlico River Basin SEP 0 2 1011 LAND QUALITY Dear Mr.Parr: MINING PROGRAM Responding to your letter of August 24, 2022 requesting additional information: Proof of notice to adjoining land owners is attached in the form of copies of Certified Mail green cards. 2. Regarding Erosion and Sediment Control Stabilization of the existing outfalls, please see the detail on the left side of the drawing labeled "Sheet 1" of the Mine Permit Application. The boundary line ditch was dug more than 50 years ago. Soil from the excavation of the ditch forms the berm that ponds flow from the mine site. Note the concave surface on the back side of the berm. There are abundant trees averaging 12 inches in diameter growing in the fifty foot wide buffer measured from the ditch. This ditch is usually dry and does not pond water. There is no evidence of sedimentation accumulated in the ditch, nor in the fifty feet of woods approaching the outlets to the ditch. This 50 wide natural old growth buffer is not to be disturbed by mining operations. Outlets are stabilized by trees, tree roots and vines. Outlets do not show evidence of erosion in the walls or bottoms. 3. This writer is experienced in the delineation of Corps of Engineers wetlands. The Beaufort County Soils map shows the presence of a narrow strip of Mucklee Soil Page 2 Cutler Mine August 30, 2022 along a southern boundary. This boundary line is also the ditch referenced in Item 2. This ditch is dry during the growing season and lowers the seasonal water table removing the hydrology requirement for declared Corps of Engineers wetlands. The applicant will not mine Corps of engineers wetlands if present. The soils map indicates the Mucklee Soils are inside the 50 foot wide buffer naming along the ditch. Regarding the stream determination. Even if the boundary line ditch were to be declared a jurisdictional stream, the applicant has set aside a 50 foot wide, natural, un disturbed, old growth tree buffer running with the ditch.. Therefore, we believe we are in compliance with the designated stream buffer requirements if a regulatory stream were present. Should these explanations not be satisfactory, I am available to make a site visit with representatives of your Department for purposes of clarification. Sincerely r s:ew Hood A PFi Ord oft E6 - ti • cz, t . P