20220107_USFWS

United States Department of the Interior
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Raleigh ES Field Office
Post Office Box 33726
Raleigh, North Carolina 27636-3726
January 7, 2021
Brian Wrenn
Director
NC Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
217 West Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27603
Dear Mr. Wrenn,
As part of Wake Stone's efforts to expand the Triangle Quarry, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service) recommended surveys be conducted for the Neuse River waterdog, a Federally listed
threatened species. Three Oaks Engineering shared the study design with the Service and NC
Wildlife Resources Commission staff before completing the work, and Service staff visited the
site while the work was being done. Wake Stone provided the Service a copy of Three Oaks'
summary (attached) of the survey results on December 1, 2021 and will be providing a more
detailed report later. No specimens of the Neuse River waterdog were captured. If there was a
Federal nexus for this project, the Service would concur with a "may affect, not likely to
adversely affect" determination regarding the proposed expansion and Neuse River waterdog,
and Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultation would be complete. It is our understanding
that there is no Federal nexus for the proposed project, and thus no required Section 7
consultation. We are providing this information to the Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land
Resources for use in the permitting process. If you have further questions, please contact John
Ellis of this office at [e-mail].
Sincerely,
Digitally signed by THOMAS
THOMAS AUGSPURGER AUGSPURGER
Date: 2022.01.07 16:42:23-05'00'
fOf
Pete Benjamin
Field Supervisor