GC 3103

GENERAL CERTIFICATION FOR PROJECTS ELIGIBLE
FOR CORPS OF ENGINEERS NATIONWIDE PERMIT NUMBER 14 BROAD
CROSSINGS}
This General Certification is issued in conformity with the
requirements of Section 401, Public Laws 92-500 and 95-217 of the
United States and subject to the North Carolina Division of Water
Quality Regulations in 15A NCAC 2H, Section .0500 and 15A NCAC 2B
.0200 for the discharge of fill material to waters and wetland areas
as described in 33 CFR 330 Appendix A (B) (14) of the Corps of
Engineers regulations (i.e., Nationwide Permit No. 14).The category of
activities shall include any fill activity for road crossing and is
limited to fill less than one-third of an acre. This Certification
replaces Water Quality Certification Number 2177 issued on November 5,
1987, Water Quality Certification Number 2666 issued on January 21,
1992 and Water Quality Certification Number 2732 issued on May 1,
1992. This WQC is rescinded when the Corps of Engineers reauthorize
Nationwide Permit 14 or when deemed appropriate by the Director of the
DWQ.
The State of North Carolina certifies that the specified
category of activity will not violate applicable portions of Sections
301, 302, 303, 306 and 307 of the Public Laws 92-500 and 95-217 if
conducted in accordance with the conditions hereinafter set forth.
Conditions of Certification:
1. Proposed fill or substantial modification of wetlands or
waters under this General Certification requires written
concurrence from the Division of Water Quality;
2. The width of the fill is limited to the minimum needed for
the actual crossing;
3. The roadway width shall be minimized as much as practicable
and that no practicable alternative exists;
4. Pipes shall be installed under the road in all streams so as
to carry at least the 25 year storm event as outlined in the
most recent edition of the "North Carolina Erosion and
Sediment Control Planning and Design Manual" or "North
Carolina Surface Mining Manual" in order not to impede flow.
Pipes shall be placed at or below the elevation of the
streambed so as not to impede aquatic life movement;
5. That appropriate sediment and erosion control practices
which equal or exceed those outlined in the "North Carolina
Erosion and Sediment Control Planning and Design Manual" or
"North Carolina Surface Mining Manual" (available from the
Division of Land Resources in the DEHNR Regional and Central
Offices) are utilized to prevent exceedances of the
appropriate turbidity water quality standard (50 NTUs in
streams and rivers not designated as trout waters by DWQ; 25
NTUs in all saltwater classes, and all lakes and reservoirs;
and 10 NTUs in trout waters);
6. All sediment and erosion control measures placed in wetlands
or waters shall be removed and the natural grade restored
after the Division of Land Resources has released the
project;
7. Measures shall be taken to prevent live or fresh concrete
from coming into contact with waters of the state until the
concrete has hardened;

8. If this Certification is used to access building sites, all
lots must be buildable without additional fill beyond that
allowed under other General Certifications. Deed
restrictions must be placed on the remaining wetlands on
these lots to restrict future fill. DWQ shall be sent
copies of all deed restrictions applied to these lots;
9. This Certification shall be utilized for roads from natural
high ground to natural high ground. The Certification for
Nationwide Permit 18 may not be used in conjunction with
this Certification to create high ground for road access;
10. If an environmental document is required, this Certification
is not valid until a FONSI or ROD is issued by the State
Clearinghouse;
11. That additional site-specific conditions may be added to
projects proposed under this Certification in order to
ensure compliance with all applicable water quality and
effluent standards;
12. Concurrence from DWQ that this Certification applies to an
individual project shall expire three years from the date of
the cover letter from DWQ.
Non-compliance with or violation of the conditions herein set
forth by a specific fill project shall result in revocation of
this Certification for the project and may also result in criminal
and/or civil penalties.
The Director of the North Carolina Division of Water Quality may
require submission of a formal application for individual
certification for any project in this category of activity, if it is
determined that the project is likely to have a significant adverse
effect upon water quality or degrade the waters so that existing uses
of the wetland or downstream waters are precluded.
Public hearings may be held for specific applications or
group of applications prior to a Certification decision if deemed
in the public's best interest by the Director of the North Carolina
Division of Water Quality.
Effective date: 11 February 1997.
DIVISION OF WATER QUAL TY
By
A. Preston H r. P.E.
Director
gencert.l4
WQC # 3103