20130144 Ver 2_Public Comments_20130725

Dare County, North Carolina
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Public Comments on the NCDOT Application Seeking Army Corps of
Engineers Authorization to Dredge Sand from Oregon Inlet and Place
the Material along NC Highway 12 in Dare County, North Carolina
Corps Action ID Number: SAW- 2013 -01129
July 23, 2013
The County of Dare strongly supports the application that NCDOT has filed with the
Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) seeking authorization to dredge sand from Oregon
Inlet and place the material along NC Highway 12 in Dare County.
Granting authorization for this project will greatly enhance the safety and economy of
Dare County by simultaneously addressing two important issues.
1. It will allow sand to be removed from parts of Oregon Inlet that now pose a
threat to marine navigation. The importance of a reliable channel through
Oregon Inlet has long been established with the Corps of Engineers. It
represents an annual economic benefit of 9,851 jobs and over 682 million
dollars.
Dare County commends the Army Corps of Engineers for their hard work and
efforts to provide safe passage through the inlet. We believe the NCDOT
request will enhance the Corps' effort to keep the channel clear and produce
a tangible benefit for all of northeastern North Carolina, which is highly
dependent on a navigable channel through Oregon Inlet.
2. It will allow sand from Oregon Inlet to be placed somewhere where it can
accomplish something beneficial. Placing the unwanted sand from Oregon
Inlet along 2.13 miles of beach adjacent to NC Highway 12 will provide much
needed stability to the only highway that provides access to and from the
Villages of Hatteras Island.
Dare County believes there are compelling public safety and other reasons to approve
NCDOT's request to use sand from Oregon Inlet to stabilize NC Highway 12. We call
upon the Corps to carefully consider the following —

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A. Placing 1.7 million cubic yards of sand adjacent to NC Highway 12 will help
stabilize the only road in and out of Hatteras Island. The NCDOT proposal will
substantially improve reliable transportation access to the barrier island. On a
routine day, more than 5,000 vehicles use NC Highway 12, with double that
number during the busy summer tourism months.
B. As the transportation lifeline for Hatteras Island, NC Highway 12 has a direct
bearing on the public health, safety, and welfare of over 4,000 residents and
50,000 peak season visitors per day. It is the corridor through which Hatteras
Island residents and visitors receive their electrical service and essential
commodities such as food, fuel, mail, and medication.
C. Throughout the year, on an on -going basis, NC Highway 12 is the lifeline that
connects its residents and visitors to hospitals and specialized medical care.
Especially during times of adverse weather when medical helicopters cannot fly,
Highway 12 is the means by which Dare County ambulances transport critically ill
and injured patients to trauma centers and advanced cardiac care facilities.
D. Adverse weather happens frequently on North Carolina's barrier islands and NC
Highway 12 is the only road available for sick and injured patients who cannot be
flown by helicopter due to dangerous weather conditions. Without a stable and
reliable highway, countless lives could be lost due to lack of transportation
access to advanced health care.
E. NC Highway 12 serves a vital role during emergency hurricane evacuations. It is
the road that residents and visitors on both Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands
depend upon to escape from harm's way. It is an official evacuation route that
when stabilized by NCDOT will provide a path to safety for thousands of people
during times of crisis.
F. Following a hurricane, NC Highway 12 serves as the only corridor for getting
medical supplies, food, fuel, cleaning and reconstruction materials to the Villages
of Hatteras Island. It also used by local, state, and federal disaster assessment
teams, insurance adjusters, and recovery personnel.
G. Stabilizing NC Highway 12 will contribute in a direct way to the economic health
and wellbeing of Dare County and the State of North Carolina. Hatteras Island
accounts for approximately 25% of Dare County's economy and generates
millions each year in local, state, and federal taxes. Without a reliable highway,
the economy of both Dare County and the State of North Carolina will suffer
adverse and irreparable harm.

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H. As a tourism destination, Hatteras Island depends on efficient and reliable
transportation. In addition to providing access for vacationers, NC Highway 12 is
the route that brings workforce support for Hatteras Island's businesses and
schools. Without a stable and reliable highway, Hatteras Island would literally be
choked off from the support and infrastructure it needs to survive.
In addition to its public safety and economic benefits, NC Highway 12 plays an
important part in facilitating the education of Hatteras Island's young people. The
highway opens the door to vast educational opportunities for students to
participate in field trips beyond the boundaries of Hatteras Island. It also
provides a means for college students to gain access to the classrooms of the
College of the Albemarle and other higher education facilities that are not
available on Hatteras Island.
J. NCDOT has well documented their plans to avoid and minimize any adverse
environmental impact related to this project. They have initiated a program with
the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission N.E.S.T. program for Sea Turtles and
have complied with the consultation requirements of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH)
pursuant to the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
Furthermore, the project would not harm water quality or affect any federally
listed endangered or threatened species or their critical habitat.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons outlined above, Dare County urges the Army Corps of Engineers to
approve the NCDOT request pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C.
1344) and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.G. 403).
Dare County believes this project if vital for reasons of public safety and economic
importance. We respectfully ask the Corp to expeditiously grant approval for the benefit
of Dare County and the entire State of North Carolina.
Warren C. Judge, Chairman
Dare County Board of Commissioners