GC 3125

GENERAL CERTIFICATION FOR PROJECTS ELIGIBLE
FOR CORPS OF ENGINEERS REGIONAL GENERAL} PERMIT NUMBER
199303393 FOR THE DISCHARGE OF DREDGED OR FILL MATERIAL ASSOCIATED
WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE PLOW LINES FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRAINING
FOREST EQUIPMENT OPERATORS
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 Regional (General) Permit Number 199303393. The
category of activities shall include any fill activity for the
construction of fire plow lines for the purpose of training forest
fire equipment operators by the U.S. Forest Service or N.C. Division
of Forest Resources within non-tidal waters of the U.S. in the state
of North Carolina. This Certification replaces Water Quality
Certification Number 2862 issued on January 14, 1994. This WQC is
rescinded when the Corps of Engineers reauthorize Regional (General)
Permit 199303393 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. The applicant must notify the 401 Certification Program of
the Division of Water Quality by submitting a plan of the
proposed work including a detailed location map. The plan
will be reviewed to determine the applicability of this
General Certification. If the plan satisfies the conditions
of this General Certification, the applicant will be
informed in writing. No work may be undertaken until after
receipt of this written approval;
2. Training activities which impact one acre (0.405 ha) or less
of wetlands at locations previously approved by the DWQ in
Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Cumberland, Dare, Greene, Hyde,
Jones and Onslow Counties may be conducted without prior
notification to DWQ;
3. Berms that separate the roads from any canals shall be
repaired after the completion of any training activity;
4. That appropriate sediment and erosion control practices
which equal or exceed those outlined in the most recent
version 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);
5. 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 ;
6. If an environmental document is required, this Certification
is not valid until a FONSI or ROD is issued by the State
Clearinghouse;
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. Compensatory mitigation shall not be required for this
Certification unless more than one acre of wetlands is
permanently converted to upland. In this case, written
approval is required from DWQ for the wetland mitigation
plan;
9. The applicant shall submit an annual report of the use of
this General Certification to the 401 Certification Program
no later than December 31 of each year. This report shall
include a summary of all training activities authorized by
this Certification, the areas where the permit was used, the
lengths and widths of fire plow lines constructed, and any
problems encountered or violations of the conditions
contained in this General Certification of the General
Permit;
10. 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;
11. 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 ENVIR NME TAL MANAGEMENT
By Y,. ,
A. Preston I~ ;~ Jr. P.E,
Director
gencert.fre
WQC # 3125