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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20131308 Ver 1_Approval Letter_20140324NCDENR • North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Coastal Management Pat McCrory Braxton C. Davis John E. Skvarla, 1111 Governor Director Secretary TO: Memorandum David Wainwright NCDENR - Division of Water Resources 1650 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1650 FROM: Cathy Brittingham, Transportation Project Coordinator DATE: January 24, 2014 SUBJECT: Federal Consistency Certification, Proposed new route from US 64 to NC 32, Washington County, TIP No. R-3620 Please review and comment by February 14, 2014. Your responses will assist DCM in determining whether the proposed project would be consistent with the State's Coastal Management Program. If the proposed project does not conform to your requirements, please identify the measures that would be necessary to bring the proposed project into conformance. If you have any additional questions regarding the proposed project you may contact me at 919-707-9149 or e-mail at cathy.brittingham@ncdenr.gov. REPLY No Comment :' This office supports the project as proposed Comments to this project are attached This office objects to the roject as proposed Signed : iJ� /" Date: J7Zy / S/ ('V ��,✓R 2613 i30F w4 C, 06 :3 qyc RETURN COMPLETED FORM to Cathy Brittingham, Transportation Project Coordinator N.C. Division of Coastal Management 1638 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1638 or, via e-mail attachment to cathy.brittingham@ncdenr.gov 1638 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1638 Internet: www.nccoastalmanagement.net An Equal Opportunity 1 Affirmative Action Employer NCDENR North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Water Resources Water Quality Programs Pat McCrory Thomas A. Reeder John E. Skvarla, III Governor Director Secretary March 24, 2014 Mr. Richard W. Hancock, P.E., Manager Project Development and Environmental Analysis North Carolina Department of Transportation 1598 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina, 27699 -1598 Subject: 401 Water Quality Certification Pursuant to Section 401 of the Federal Clean Water Act and ISOLATED WATERS PERMIT with ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS for the proposed new route from US 64 to NC 32 in Washington County, Federal Aid Project No. STP- OOOS(252), TIP R -3620. NCDWR Project No. 20131308 Dear Mr. Hancock: Attached hereto is a copy of Certification No. 003986 issued to The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) dated March 24, 2014. If we can be of further assistance, do not hesitate to contact us. Sincerely, 0 �f Thomas A. Reeder Attachments cc: Tracey Wheeler, US Army Corps of Engineers, Washington Field Office (electronic copy only) Jerry Jennings, PE, Division 1 Engineer Clay Willis, Division I Environmental Officer Chris Militscher, Environmental Protection Agency (electronic copy only) Cynthia Van der Wiele, Environmental Protection Agency (electronic copy only) Travis Wilson, NC Wildlife Resources Commission (electronic copy only) Cathy Brittingham, Division of Coastal Management (electronic copy only) Beth Harmon, Ecosystem Enhancement Program (electronic copy only) Garcy Ward, NCDWR Washington Regional Office (electronic copy only) File Copy Transportation and Permitting Unit 1650 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699 -1650 Location. 512 N Salisbury St. Raleigh, North Carolina 27604 Phone: 919 -807 -63001 FAX: 919 - 733 -1290 Internet. www.ncwaterguality.org An Equal Opportunity 1 Affirmative Action Employer NorthCarohna Natma!!ff 401 Water Quality Certification Pursuant to Section 401 of the Federal Clean Water Act and ISOLATED WATERS PERMIT with ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS THIS 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 Resources (NCDWR) Regulations in 15 NCAC 2H .0500 and Isolated water s permit. This certification authorizes the NCDOT to impact 12.23acres of jurisdictional wetlands, 120 linear feet of isolated stream, and 158 linear feet of jurisdictional stream in Washington County. The project shall be constructed pursuant to the application dated received December 18, 2013. The authorized impacts are as described below: Stream Impacts in the Pasquotank River Basin Total Stream Impact for Project: 278 linear feet Wetland Impacts in the Pasquotank River Basin Site Station Permanent Fill Temporary Fill Excavation (ac) Total Stream Stream Impacts Total Wetland Impact (ac) Station in Perennial in Perennial Isolated Waters Impact Requiring Site 0.73 Stream Stream (linear feet) (linear ft) Mitigation -- -- (linear ft) (linear ft) 0.00 0.00 (linear ft) 1 20 +22 -Lr -- -- 120 120 0 14 148 +73 -L- 114 44 -- 158 0 TOTAL 114 44 120 278 0 Total Stream Impact for Project: 278 linear feet Wetland Impacts in the Pasquotank River Basin Site Station Fill (ac) Fill (temporary) (ac) Excavation (ac) Mechanized Clearing (ac) Hand Clearing (ac) Total Wetland Impact (ac) Impacts Requiring Mitigation (ac) 1 12 +35/44 +78 LT -L- 2.36 - - 0.01 0.73 3.10 2.37 1 24 +22/24 +57 RT -L- -- -- -- -- <0.01 0.00 0.00 1 30+15/32 +90 RT -L- 0.05 - - -- 0.09 0.14 0.05 5 90+10/109+22 -L- 3.20 - -- 0.79 3.99 3.20 7 111 +39 LT -L- <0.01 - - - 0.01 0.01 0.00 9 113+25/118+90 -L- 1.02 -- -- -- 0.26 1.28 1.02 11 134 +35 -L- 0.05 - 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.09 0.08 12 137 +70 RT -L- 0.09 - -- -- 0.04 0.13 0.09 13 141 +10 0.07 -- -- -- -- 0.07 0.07 14 146 +00 RT -- - <0.01 -- <0.01 0.01 0.01 14 147 +73/157 +50 1.80 - -- 0.01 0.44 2.25 1.81 15 170+30/172+90 -L- 0.39 - - -- 0.06 0.45 0.39 16 179+05 -L- <0.01 - - -- -- 0.00 0.00 19 25 +60 LT -Yl- 0.04 -- - - 0.02 0.06 0.04 1 -L -11 +67/20+25 Utility <0.01 - - 0.23 0.23 0.00 2 -L-24 +17/37 +33 Utility <0.01 -- -- -- 0.33 0.33 0.00 3 -L -40- 14/50+65 Utility -- - - -- 0.03 0.03 0.00 4 -L -174 +15/174 +43 Utility - -- - 0.02 0.02 0.00 5 -L -178 +85/179+45 Utility -- 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.03 0.00 7 -Y1 -25 +30/25 +78 Utility -- <0.01 <0.01 -- 0.01 0.01 0.00 Total 9.07 0.01 0.02 0.04 3.08 12.23 9.13 Total Wetland Impact for Project: 12.23 acres. Open Water Impacts in the Pasquotank River Basin Total Open Water Impact for Project: 0.11 acres. i� Permanent Fill in Temporary Fill in Total Fill in Open Site Open Waters (ac) I Open Waters (ac) Waters (ac) 15 0.11 -- 0.11 TOTAL 0.11 0.00 0.11 Total Open Water Impact for Project: 0.11 acres. i� The application provides adequate assurance that the discharge of fill material into the waters of the Pasquotank River Basin in conjunction with the proposed development will not result in a violation of applicable Water Quality Standards and discharge guidelines. Therefore, the State of North Carolina certifies that this activity will not violate the applicable portions of Sections 301, 302, 303, 306, 307 of PL 92 -500 and PL 95 -217 if conducted,in accordance with the application and conditions hereinafter set forth. This approval is only valid for the purpose and design that you submitted in your application dated received December 18, 2013. Should your project change, you are required to notify the NCDWR and submit a new application. If the property is sold, the new owner must be given a copy of this Certification and approval letter, and is thereby responsible for complying with all the conditions. If any additional wetland impacts, or stream impacts, for this project (now or in the future) exceed one acre or 150 linear feet, respectively, additional compensatory mitigation may be required as described in 15A NCAC 2H .0506 (h) (6) and (7). For this approval to remain valid, you are required to comply with all the conditions listed below. In addition, you should obtain all other federal, state or local permits before proceeding with your project including (but not limited to) Sediment and Erosion control, Coastal Stormwater, Non - discharge and Water Supply watershed regulations. This Certification shall expire on the same day as the expiration date of the corresponding Corps of Engineers Permit. Conditions of Certification: Project Specific Conditions: Unless otherwise approved in this certification, placement of culverts and other structures in open waters and streams, shall be placed below the elevation of the streambed by one foot for all culverts with a diameter greater than 48 inches, and 20 percent of the culvert diameter for culverts having a diameter less than 48 inches, to allow low flow passage of water and aquatic life. Design and placement of culverts and other structures including temporary erosion control measures shall not be conducted in a manner that may result in dis- equilibrium of wetlands or streambeds or banks, adjacent to or upstream and downstream of the above structures. The applicant is required to provide evidence that the equilibrium is being maintained if requested in writing by the NCDWR. If this condition is unable to be met due to bedrock or other limiting features encountered during construction, please contact the NCDWR for guidance on how to proceed and to determine whether or not a permit modification will be required. 2. If multiple pipes or barrels are required, they shall be designed to mimic natural stream cross section as closely as possible including pipes or barrels at flood plain elevation and /or sills where appropriate. Widening the stream channel should be avoided. Stream channel widening at the inlet or outlet end of structures typically decreases water velocity causing sediment deposition that requires increased maintenance and disrupts aquatic life passage. At locations where ponds will be drained, proper measures will be taken to drain the pond with limited impact to upstream and downstream channel stability as well as to native aquatic species. Proper measures will be taken to avoid sediment release and /or sediment accumulation downstream as a result of pond draining. If typical pond draining techniques will create significant disturbance to native aquatic species, additional measures such as collection and relocation may be necessary to prevent a significant fish kill. NCDOT shall consult with NC Wildlife Resources staff to determine if there are any sensitive species, and the most appropriate measures to limit impacts to these species. 4. Riprap shall not be placed in the active thalweg channel or placed in the streambed in a manner that precludes aquatic life passage. Bioengineering boulders or structures should be properly designed, sized and installed. 5. The stream channel shall be excavated no deeper than the natural bed material of the stream, to the maximum extent practicable. Efforts must be made to minimize impacts to the stream banks, as well as to vegetation responsible for maintaining the stream bank stability. Any applicable riparian buffer impact for access to stream channel shall be temporary and be revegetated with native riparian species. 6. Pipes and culverts used exclusively to maintain equilibrium in wetlands, where aquatic life passage is not a concern, will not be buried. These pipes shall be installed at natural ground elevation. 7. NCDOT shall be in compliance with the NCS00250 issued to the NCDOT, including the applicable requirements of the NCGO 1000. Please note the extra protections for the sensitive watersheds. 8. Tall fescue shall not be used in the establishment of temporary or permanent groundcover within riparian areas. For the establishment of permanent herbaceous cover, erosion control matting shall be used in conjunction with an appropriate native seed mix on disturbed soils within the riparian area and on disturbed steep slopes with the following exception. Erosion control matting is not necessary if the area is contained by perimeter erosion control devices such as silt fence, temporary sediment ditches, basins, etc. Matting should be secured in place with staples, stakes, or wherever possible, live stakes of native trees. Erosion control matting placed in riparian areas shall not contain a nylon mesh grid, which can impinge and entrap small animals. For the establishment of temporary groundcover within riparian areas, hydroseeding along with wood or cellulose based hydro mulch applied from a fertilizer- and limestone -free tank is allowable at the appropriate rate in conjunction with the erosion control measures. Discharging hydroseed mixtures and wood or cellulose mulch into surface waters in prohibited. Riparian areas are defined as a distance 25 feet landward from top of stream bank. 9. Mitigation a. Compensatory mitigation for impacts to 9.13 wetlands is required. We understand that you have chosen to perform compensatory mitigation for impacts to wetlands through the North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program (EEP), and that the EEP has agreed to implement the mitigation for the project. EEP has indicated in a letter dated November 25, 2013 that they will assume responsibility for satisfying the federal Clean Water Act compensatory mitigation requirements for the above - referenced project, in accordance with EEP's Mitigation Banking Instrument signed July 28, 2010. b. The project, as proposed, does not currently require compensatory mitigation for stream impacts. However, should additional stream impacts occur, mitigation may be required. General Conditions: 10. If concrete is used during construction, a dry work area shall be maintained to prevent direct contact between curing concrete and stream water. Water that inadvertently contacts uncured concrete shall not be discharged to surface waters due to the potential for elevated pH and possible aquatic life and fish kills. 11. During the construction of the project, no staging of equipment of any kind is permitted in waters of the U.S., or protected riparian buffers. 12. The dimension, pattern and profile of the stream above and below the crossing shall not be modified. Disturbed floodplains and streams shall be restored to natural geomorphic conditions. 13. The use of rip -rap above the Normal High Water _Mark shall be minimized. Any rip -rap placed for stream stabilization shall be placed in stream channels in such a manner that it does not impede aquatic life passage. 14. The Permittee shall ensure that the final design drawings adhere to the permit and to the permit drawings submitted for approval. 15. All work in or adjacent to stream waters shall be conducted in a dry work area. Approved BMP measures from the most current version of NCDOT Construction and Maintenance Activities manual such as sandbags, rock berms, cofferdams and other diversion structures shall be used to prevent excavation in flowing water. 16. Heavy equipment shall be operated from the banks rather than in the stream channel in order to minimize sedimentation and reduce the introduction of other pollutants into the stream. 17. All mechanized equipment operated near surface waters must be regularly inspected and maintained to prevent contamination of stream waters from fuels, lubricants, hydraulic fluids, or other toxic materials. 18. No rock, sand or other materials shall be dredged from the stream channel except where authorized by this certification. 19. Discharging hydroseed mixtures and washing out hydroseeders and other equipment in or adjacent to surface waters is prohibited. 20. The permittee and its authorized agents shall conduct its activities in a manner consistent with State water quality standards (including any requirements resulting from compliance with §303(d) of the Clean Water Act) and any other appropriate requirements of State and Federal law. If the NCDWR determines that such standards or laws are not being met (including the failure to sustain a designated or achieved use) or that State or federal law is being violated, or that further conditions are necessary to assure compliance, the NCDWR may reevaluate and modify this certification. 21. All fill slopes located in jurisdictional wetlands shall be placed at slopes no flatter than 3: I, unless otherwise authorized by this certification.. 22. A copy of this Water Quality Certification shall be maintained on the construction site at all times. In addition, the Water Quality Certification and all subsequent modifications, if any, shall be maintained with the Division Engineer and the on -site project manager. 23. The outside buffer, wetland or water boundary located within the construction corridor approved by this authorization shall be clearly marked by highly visible fencing prior to any land disturbing activities. Impacts to areas within the fencing are prohibited unless otherwise authorized by this certification. 24. The issuance of this certification does not exempt the Permittee from complying with any and all statutes, rules, regulations, or ordinances that may be imposed by other government agencies (i.e. local, state, and federal) having jurisdiction, including but not limited to applicable buffer rules, stormwater management rules, soil erosion and sedimentation control requirements, etc. 25. The Permittee shall report any violations of this certification to the Division of Water Resources within 24 hours of discovery. 26. Upon completion of the project (including any impacts at associated borrow or waste sites), the NCDOT Division Engineer shall complete and return the enclosed "Certification of Completion Form" to notify NCDWR when all work included in the 401 Certification has been completed. 27. Native riparian vegetation must be reestablished in the riparian areas within the construction limits of the project by the end of the growing season following completion of construction. 28. There shall be no excavation from, or waste disposal into, jurisdictional wetlands or waters associated with this permit without appropriate modification. Should waste or borrow sites, or access roads to waste or borrow sites, be located in wetlands or streams, compensatory mitigation will be required since that is a direct impact from road construction activities. 29. Erosion and sediment control practices must be in full compliance with all specifications governing the proper design, installation and operation and maintenance of such Best Management Practices in order to protect surface waters standards: a. The erosion and sediment control measures for the project must be designed, installed, operated, and maintained in accordance with the most recent version of the North Carolina Sediment and Erosion Control Planning and Design Manual. b. The design, installation, operation, and maintenance of the sediment and erosion control measures must be such that they equal, or exceed, the requirements specified in the most recent version of the North Carolina Sediment and Erosion Control Manual. The devices shall be maintained on all construction sites,.borrow sites, and waste pile (spoil) projects, including contractor -owned or leased borrow pits associated with the project. c. For borrow pit sites, the erosion and sediment control measures must be designed, installed, operated, and maintained in accordance with the'most recent version of the North Carolina Surface Mining Manual. d. The reclamation measures and implementation must comply with the reclamation in accordance with the requirements of the Sedimentation Pollution Control Act. 30. Sediment and erosion control measures shall not be placed in wetlands or waters unless otherwise approved by this Certification. Violations of any condition herein set forth may result in revocation of this Certification and may result in criminal and /or civil penalties. This Certification shall become null and void unless the above conditions are made conditions of the Federal 404 and /or Coastal Area Management Act Permit. This Certification shall expire upon the expiration of the 404 or CAMA permit. If you wish to contest any statement in the attached Certification you must file a petition for an administrative hearing. You may obtain the petition form from the office of Administrative hearings. You must file the petition with the office of Administrative Hearings within sixty (60) days of receipt of this notice. A petition is considered filed when it is received in the office of Administrative Hearings during normal office hours. The Office of Administrative Hearings accepts filings Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:OOam and 5:OOpm, except for official state holidays. The original and one (1) copy of the petition must be�filed with the Office of Administrative Hearings. The petition may be faxed - provided the original and one copy of the document is received by the Office of Administrative Hearings within five (5) business days following the faxed transmission. The mailing address for the Office of Administrative Hearings is: Office of Administrative Hearings 6714 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699 -6714 Telephone: (919)- 431 -3000, Facsimile: (919)- 431 -3100 A copy of the petition must also be served on DENR as follows: Mr. Lacy Presnell, General Counsel Department of Environment and Natural Resources 1601 Mail Service Center This the 24th day of March 2014 DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES Q��q. A. Reeder WQC No. 003986