GC 3124

GENERAL CERTIFICATION FOR PROJECTS ELIGIBLE
FOR CORPS OF ENGINEERS NATIONWIDE PERMIT NUMBER 31 (FOR
MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING FLOOD CONTROL FACILITIES)
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) (Maintenance of Existing
Flood Control Structures). This WQC is rescinded when the Corps of
Engineers reauthorize this Nationwide Permit 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 waters or
wetlands for this General Certification requires written
concurrence from the Division of Water Quality;
2. That appropriate sediment and erosion control practices
which equal or exceed those outlined in the most recent
edition of the "North Carolina Sediment and Erosion Control
Planning and Design Manual" or the "North Carolina Surface
Mining Manual" (available from the Division of Land
Resources in the DEHNR Regional or 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) ;
3. 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 ;
4. If an environmental document is required, this Certification
is not valid until a FONSI or ROD is issued by the State
Clearinghouse;
5. 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;
6. 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 QUALITY
By
A. Preston Howard, P.E.
Director
gencert.31
WQC # 3124