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Home My WebLink AboutBR_0102_Scoping Comments_DWRROY COOPER Governor ELIZABETH S. BISER Secretary RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR. Director MEMORANDUM NORTH CAROLINA Environmental Quality September 2, 2022 To: Daniel Dagenhart, Bridge Program Manager-NCDOT Division 9 D^s From: Dave Wanucha, NC Division of Water Resources, Transportation Permitting Branch 9/2/2022 Subject: Scoping comments for proposed bridge replacement in Stokes County over Big Creek; BR-0102 Reference your correspondence dated August 26, 2022, in which you requested comments for the referenced project. Preliminary analysis of the project reveals the potential for multiple impacts to streams and jurisdictional wetlands in the project area. More specifically, potential impacts to: Stream Name River Basin Stream Classifications Stream Index Number 303(d) Listing Big Creek 22-9 Roanoke C; Trout No Dan River 22-(1) Further investigations at a higher resolution should be undertaken to verify the presence of other streams and/or jurisdictional wetlands in the area. If any jurisdictional areas are identified, the Division of Water Resources requests that the applicant consider the following environmental issues for the proposed project: General Project Comments: Based on the information presented in the document, the magnitude of impacts to wetlands and streams may require a 404 permit application to the Corps of Engineers and corresponding 401 Water Quality Certification. Please be advised that a 401 Water Quality Certification requires satisfactory protection of water quality to ensure that water quality standards are met and no wetland or stream uses are lost. Final permit authorization will require the submittal of a formal application by the applicant and written concurrence from the NCDWR. Please be aware that any approval will be contingent on appropriate avoidance and minimization of wetland and stream impacts to the maximum extent practical, the development of an acceptable stormwater management plan, and the inclusion of appropriate mitigation plans where appropriate. 2. Further documentation should provide a detailed and itemized presentation of the proposed impacts to wetlands and streams with corresponding mapping. If mitigation is necessary as required by 15A NCAC 21-1.0506(h), it is preferable to present a conceptual (if not finalized) mitigation plan with the environmental documentation. Appropriate mitigation plans will be required prior to issuance of a 401 Water Quality Certification. 3. The applicant for a 401 Certification is respectfully reminded that they will need to demonstrate the avoidance and minimization of impacts to wetlands (and streams) to the maximum extent practical. In accordance with the Environmental Management Commission's Rules (15A NCAC 2H.0506[h]), mitigation will be required teo E� North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources 512 North Salisbury Street 11617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 919.707.9000 for impacts of greater than 1.0 acre to wetlands. If mitigation is required, the mitigation plan shall be designed to replace appropriate lost functions and values. North Carolina Division of Mitigation Services may be available for assistance with wetland mitigation. 4. In accordance with the Environmental Management Commission's Rules (15A NCAC 2H.0506[h]), mitigation will be required for impacts of greater than 300 linear feet to any perennial stream. If mitigation is required, the mitigation plan shall be designed to replace appropriate lost functions and values. The North Carolina Division of Mitigation Services may be available for assistance with stream mitigation. 5. Future documentation, including the 401 Water Quality Certification Application, shall continue to include an itemized listing of the proposed wetland and stream impacts with corresponding mapping. 6. Sediment and erosion control measures must be implemented and maintained in accordance with the most recent version of North Carolina Sediment and Erosion Control Planning and Design Manual. Measures should be designed to comply with the requirements set forth in 15A NCAC 04B .0124, Design Standards in Sensitive Watershed. 7. The applicant is respectfully reminded that all impacts, including but not limited to, bridging, fill, excavation and clearing, and rip rap to jurisdictional wetlands, streams, and riparian buffers need to be included in the final impact calculations. These impacts, in addition to any construction impacts, temporary or otherwise, also need to be included as part of the 401 Water Quality Certification Application. 8. Sediment and erosion control measures should not be placed in wetlands or streams. 9. Borrow/waste areas should avoid wetlands to the maximum extent practical. Impacts to wetlands in borrow/waste areas will need to be presented in the 401 Water Quality Certification and could precipitate compensatory mitigation. 10. The 401 Water Quality Certification application will need to specifically address the proposed methods for stormwater management. More specifically, stormwater shall not be permitted to discharge directly into streams or surface waters. Please refer to the most recent version of the North Carolina Department of Transportation Stormwater Best Management Practices Toolbox manual for approved measures. 11. 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. Concrete shall be handled in accordance with the NPDES Construction General Permit NCGO10000. 12. If temporary access roads or detours are constructed, the site shall be graded to its preconstruction contours and elevations. Disturbed areas shall be seeded or mulched to stabilize the soil and appropriate native woody species shall be planted. When using temporary structures, the area shall be cleared but not grubbed. Clearing the area with chain saws, mowers, bush -hogs, or other mechanized equipment and leaving the stumps and root mat intact allows the area to re -vegetate naturally and minimizes soil disturbance. 13. Unless otherwise authorized, placement of culverts and other structures in 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. 14. 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 the NCDOT Construction and Maintenance Activities manual such as Q7: > North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources a:E 512 North Salisbury Street 11617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 919.707.9000 sandbags, rock berms, cofferdams and other diversion structures shall be used to prevent excavation in flowing water. 15. While the use of National Wetland Inventory (NWI) maps, NC Coastal Region Evaluation of Wetland Significance (NC -CREWS) maps and soil survey maps are useful tools, their inherent inaccuracies require that qualified personnel perform onsite wetland delineations prior to permit approval. 16. Heavy equipment should be operated from the bank rather than in stream channels in order to minimize sedimentation and reduce the likelihood of introducing other pollutants into streams. This equipment shall be inspected daily and maintained to prevent contamination of surface waters from leaking fuels, lubricants, hydraulic fluids, or other toxic materials. 17. Riparian vegetation (native trees and shrubs) shall be preserved to the maximum extent possible. Riparian vegetation must be reestablished within the construction limits of the project by the end of the growing season following completion of construction. Thank you for requesting our input at this time. The applicant is reminded that issuance of a 401 Water Quality Certification requires that appropriate measures be instituted to ensure that water quality standards are met and designated uses are not degraded or lost. If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Dave Wanucha at dave.wanuchakncdenr.gov or 336-403-5655. Electronic Copy: Joanna Salvucci, Three Oaks Engineering Laserfiche Files Q7: > North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources a:E 512 North Salisbury Street 11617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 919.707.9000