20220563 Ver 1_R-3833C PCN Cover Letter_20220408

April 7, 2022

Mr. Eric Alsmeyer
Raleigh Regulatory Field Office
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
3331 Heritage Trade Drive, Suite 105
Wake Forest, NC 27587

SUBJECT: Application for Section 404 General Permit No. 201902350 and Section 401
Water Quality Certification for the proposed widening of SR 1100 (Brawley
School Rd.), Iredell County, WBS No. 34554.1.3, STIP No. R-3833C

Dear Mr. Alsmeyer,

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Highway Division 12 proposes to
widen SR 1100 (Brawley School Rd.) from SR 1116 (Talbert Rd.) to 1000’ east of US 21 in
Mooresville, NC. The project also includes widening of US 21 from just north of Dry Dock
Loop / Vandalia Rd. to Abberly Green Blvd.

Please find enclosed the Pre-Construction Notification (PCN) form, Agent Authorization form,
Stormwater Management Plan and Permit Drawings, NCDEQ-DMS Mitigation Acceptance
letter, State Environmental Assessment / Finding of No Significant Impact signature forms, No
Archaeological Survey Required form, and Historic Architecture and Landscapes – No Survey
Required form.

The project includes one jurisdictional stream crossing at -L- sta. 36+00. The existing
2 @ 142” x 91” Corrugated Steel Pipe Arches (CSPA) will be replaced with a 2 @ 12’ x 9’
Reinforced Concrete Box Culvert (RCBC). The proposed culvert will be buried 1.0 ft below the
streambed for aquatic passage. At the culvert site, 85 feet of temporary stream impacts and 553
feet of permanent stream impacts are proposed. Compensatory mitigation was approved by
NCDEQ-DMS for 448 linear feet of warm-water streams. The remaining 105 feet of permanent
stream impact is attributed to floodplain bench construction and would not require mitigation. No
wetland or riparian buffer impacts are proposed on the project.

The project also includes the relocation of a 24” sanitary sewer line at the culvert site. The
relocation would occur inside the footprint of the proposed box culvert; therefore, no additional
stream impacts were included. Since the sewer line relocation will occur in advance of the
culvert construction, the following special condition was recommended by NCDEQ-DWR:

Utilities moved in advance of the road construction project will be monitored by NCDOT for
compliance with all stormwater and sediment and erosion control regulations. The open cut to
be performed on the sanitary sewer installation shall be performed in the dry by installing a
bypass channel. Classification of the stream is WS-IV, B; CA and requires extra protections to
ensure water quality is not impacted.

For Iredell county, the USFWS lists Schweinitz’s sunflower (Helianthus schweinitzii) as
endangered. Dwarf-flowered heartleaf (Hexastylis naniflora) and Northern long-eared bat
(Myotis septentrionalis) are listed as threatened. The Bog turtle (Clemmys muhlenbergii) is listed
as threatened due to similarity of appearance.

A survey for Schweinitz’s sunflower was completed within the study area in the fall of 2021 with
no individuals found.

Suitable habitat for the dwarf-flowered heartleaf does not exist within the study area.
Additionally, a review of the NCNHP database, revealed no known occurrences of this species
within 1.0 mile of the project study area.

A review of the NC Natural Heritage Program Database (April 2017) indicates no known
occurrence of NLEB within 1.0 miles of the study area. A review of USFWS GIS data indicates
no confirmed hibernation or maternity sites have been located in Iredell County as of June 1,
2016. NCDOT has determined that the proposed action does not require separate consultation on
the grounds that the proposed action is consistent with the final Section 4(d) rule, codified at 50
C.F.R. § 17.40(o) and effective February 16, 2016. NCDOT may presume its determination is
informed by best available information and consider Section 7 responsibilities fulfilled for NLEB.

Suitable habitat for the bog turtle does not exist in the study area as there are no wetlands within
the study area. A review of NCNHP Natural Heritage Element Occurrences (NHEO) (April 2017
dataset) indicates no know occurrences of bog turtle within 1.0 mile of the study area.

A desktop-GIS assessment of the project study area, as well as the area within a 1.13-mile radius
(1.0 mile plus 660 feet) of the project limits, was performed in September 2016 and again in May
2021 for the bald eagle. There are water bodies large enough and sufficiently open to be
considered potential feeding sources within 1.13 miles of the project limits. No nests were
observed within 660 feet beyond the project study area.

By copy of this letter, we also request 401 review and approval from the NC Division of Water
Resources with one copy of the application package provided to Amy Chapman, Transportation
Permitting Unit Supervisor, and Donna Hood, NCDOT Project Coordinator.

If you have any questions, comments or need additional information after reviewing this material
please contact Ben Henegar at [phone], extension 123 or [e-mail].
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Sincerely,

Ben Henegar, PE
Hydraulic Design Engineer

CC: Amy Chapman, NCDEQ-DWR, Transportation Permitting Unit Supervisor, e-copy
Donna Hood, NCDEQ-DWR, NCDOT Project Coordinator, e-copy
Bryan Sowell, PE, NCDOT Division 12 Project Engineer
Jeff Wyatt, NCDOT Division 12 Environmental Supervisor