20191453 Ver 1_Fish-WildlifeComments_20191021

United States Department of the Interior
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Raleigh Field Office
Post Office Box 33726
Raleigh, North Carolina 27636-3726
February 10, 2015
Tamara Makhlouf
North Carolina Department of Transportation
Project Development and Environmental Analysis
1548 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1548
Dear Ms. Makhlouf:
This letter is in response to your request for comments from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service) on the potential environmental effects of the following proposed bridge replacements
in Division 2.
TIP No.
County
Bridge No.
Road
Stream
B-4414
Beaufort
43
US 264
Pungo Creek
B-4433
Beaufort
40
SR 1932
Durham Creek Tributary
B-4709
Beaufort
14
SR 1932
Branch of Durham Creek
B-4603
Pitt
29
SR 1715
Fork Swamp
B-4605
Pitt
5
SR 1777
Chicod Creek
B-4606
Pitt
17
SR 1780
Chicod Creek
B-4607
Pitt
43
SR 1923
Swift Creek
B-4786
Pitt
38
US 13
Tar River
B-4788
Pitt
171
SR 1418
Johnson Mill Run
These comments provide information in accordance with provisions of the National
Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(c)) and Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act
of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543). The Service will not be attending the scheduled
field scoping meetings.
Specific Comments
B-4414
Although there are no records in the vicinity of this location, it is possible the federally
endangered West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) could be present in Pungo Creek from
June to October. The Service's GUIDELINES FOR AVOIDING IMPACTS TO THE
WEST INDIAN MANATEE: Precautionary Measures for Construction Activities in North
Carolina Waters should be implemented during this timeframe.

B-4786
The West Indian manatee has been observed in the Tar River immediately downstream of the
City of Greenville. The aforementioned GUIDELINES should be implemented from June to
October.
General Comments
For bridge replacement projects, the Service recommends the following general conservation
measures to avoid or minimize impacts to fish and wildlife resources:
1. Wetland, forest and designated riparian buffer impacts should be avoided and minimized
to the maximum extent practical;
2. If unavoidable wetland or stream impacts are proposed, a plan for compensatory
mitigation to offset unavoidable impacts should be provided early in the planning
process;
3. Off -site detours should be used rather than construction of temporary, on -site bridges.
For projects requiring an on -site detour in wetlands or open water, such detours should be
aligned along the side of the existing structure which has the least and/or least quality of
fish and wildlife habitat. At the completion of construction, the detour area should be
entirely removed and the impacted areas be replanted with appropriate tree species;
4. In streams utilized by anadromous fish, the NCDOT policy entitled "Stream Crossing
Guidelines for Anadromous Fish Passage" should be implemented;
5. New bridges should be long enough to allow for sufficient wildlife passage along stream
corridors;
6. Where possible, avoid the use of riprap on the top of the bank under bridges to allow for
wildlife passage under the bridge;
7. "Best Management Practices (BMP) for Construction and Maintenance Activities"
should be implemented;
8. Bridge designs should include provisions for roadbed and deck drainage to flow through
a vegetated buffer prior to reaching the affected stream. This buffer should be large
enough to alleviate any potential effects from run-off of storm water and pollutants;
9. Bridge designs should not alter the natural stream and stream -bank morphology or
impede fish passage. To the extent possible, piers and bents should be placed outside the
bank -full width of the stream; and
10. Bridges and approaches should be designed to avoid any fill that will result in damming
or constriction of the channel or flood plain. If spanning the flood plain is not feasible,
culverts should be installed in the flood plain portion of the approach to restore some of

the hydrological functions of the flood plain and reduce high velocities of flood waters
within the affected area.
Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act requires that all federal action agencies (or their
designated non-federal representatives), in consultation with the Service, insure that any action
federally authorized, funded, or carried out by such agencies is not likely to jeopardize the
continued existence of any federally threatened or endangered species. To assist you, a county -
by -county list of federally protected species known to occur in North Carolina and information
on their life histories and habitats can be found on our web page at
http://www.fws.gov/raleigh/species/entvlist/iic counties.html.
Although the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NCNHP) database does not indicate any
known occurrences of listed species near the project vicinities, use of the NCNHP data should
not be substituted for actual field surveys if suitable habitat occurs near the project sites. The
NCNHP database only indicates the presence of known occurrences of listed species and does
not necessarily mean that such species are not present. It may simply mean that the area has not
been surveyed. If suitable habitat occurs within the project vicinities for any listed species,
surveys should be conducted to determine presence or absence of the species.
If you determine that the proposed actions may affect (i.e. likely to adversely affect or not likely
to adversely affect) a listed species, you should notify this office with your determination, the
results of your surveys, survey methodologies and an analysis of the effects of the actions on
listed species, including consideration of direct, indirect and cumulative effects, before
conducting any activities that might affect the species. If you determine that the proposed
actions will have no effect (i.e. no beneficial or adverse, direct or indirect effect) on listed
species, then you are not required to contact our office for concurrence.
The Service appreciates the opportunity to comment on these projects. If you have any questions
regarding our response, please contact Mr. Gary Jordan at [phone], ext. 32.
Sincerely,
got
Pete Benjamin
Field Supervisor
Electronic copy: Tom Steffens, USACE, Washington, NC