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Home My WebLink About20221236 Approval LetterDocuSign Envelope ID: 696FBAE3-F8AC-4658-8280-7279F991920B ROY COOPER Governor ELIZABETH S. BISER Secretary RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR. Director Gregory W. Price, PWS Division 6 Environmental Officer 431 Transportation Drive Fayetteville, NC 28302 NORTH CAROLINA Environmental Quality September 27, 2022 DWR # 20221236 Columbus County Subject: APPROVAL OF 401 WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION WITH ADDITIONAL CONDITONS Widen and Pave SR 1913 (Parameter Road) Part A in Columbus County Palmetto Branch [Lumber River Basin, 15-3-6, C;Sw] Dear Mr. Price: You have our approval for the impacts listed below for the purpose of Widening and Paving SR 1913 (Parameter Road) Part A as described in your application dated received by the Division of Water Resources on September 7, 2022. These impacts are covered by the attached Water Quality General Certification Number 4135 and the conditions listed below. This certification is associated with the use of the Reginal General Permit 201902350 once it is issued to you by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Please note that you should get any other federal, state or local permits before proceeding with your project, including those required by (but not limited to) Sediment and Erosion Control, Non - Discharge, and Water Supply Watershed regulations. The Division has determined that the proposed project will comply with water quality requirements provided that you adhere to the conditions listed in the enclosed certification and to the additional conditions itemized below. The following proposed impacts are hereby approved. No other impacts are approved, including incidental impacts. [15A NCAC 02H .0506(b)] 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 DocuSign Envelope ID: 696FBAE3-F8AC-4658-8280-7279F991920B Wetland Impacts in the Lumber River Basin Site Station Fill Fill Excavation Mechanized Hand Total Impacts (ac) (temporary) (ac) Clearing (ac) Clearing (ac) ac ac Site 1 15+50 — --- --- 0.035 --- --- 0.035 17+85 Totals --- --- 0.035 --- --- 0.035 Total Wetland Impact for Project: 0.035 acres This approval is for the purpose and design described in your application. The plans and specifications for this project are incorporated by reference as part of this Certification. If you change your project, you must notify the Division and you may be required to submit a new application package with the appropriate fee. If the property is sold, the new owner must be given a copy of this Certification and is responsible for complying with all conditions. [15A NCAC 02H .0507(d)(2)]. If total wetland fills for this project (now or in the future) exceed 1/10 acre, or total impacts to streams (now or in the future) exceed 300 linear feet, compensatory mitigation may be required as described in 15A NCAC 2H .0506 (h) (6) and (7). If you are unable to comply with any of the conditions of the attached Water Quality General Certification or with the additional conditions itemized below, you must notify the DWR Transportation Permitting Branch within 24 hours (or the next business day if a weekend or holiday) from the time the permittee becomes aware of the circumstances. The permittee shall report to the Wilmington Regional Office any noncompliance with, and/or any violation of, stream or wetland standards [15A NCAC 02B .0200] including but not limited to sediment impacts to streams or wetlands. Information shall be provided orally within 24 hours (or the next business day if a weekend or holiday) from the time the permittee became aware of the non-compliance circumstances. Additional Conditions: 1. 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. 2. The Permittee shall ensure that the final design drawings adhere to the permit and to the permit drawings submitted for approval. [15A NCAC 02H .0507(c) and 15A NCAC 02H .0506 (b)(2) and (c)(2)] 3. The outside buffer, wetland or water boundary located within the construction corridor approved by this authorization, including all non-commercial borrow and waste sites associated with the project, 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. [15A NCAC 02H.0501 and .0502] 4. 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. [15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(2)] E Q�� North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources 512 North Salisbury Street 1 1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 NORTH CAROHNA - oePemmencoiemiraamentalWari /� 919.707.9000 DocuSign Envelope ID: 696FBAE3-F8AC-4658-8280-7279F991920B 5. 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. [15A NCAC 0213.0200] 6. 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. [15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(3)] 7. All fill slopes located in jurisdictional wetlands shall be placed at slopes no flatter than 3:1, unless otherwise authorized by this certification. [15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(2)] 8. When applicable, all construction activities shall be performed and maintained in full compliance with G.S. Chapter 113A Article 4 (Sediment and Pollution Control Act of 1973). Regardless of applicability of the Sediment and Pollution Control Act, all projects shall incorporate appropriate Best Management Practices for the control of sediment and erosion so that no violations of state water quality standards, statutes, or rules occur. [15A NCAC 02H .0506(b)(3) and (c)(3) and 15A NCAC 02B .0200] a. Design, installation, operation, and maintenance of all sediment and erosion control measures shall be equal to or exceed the requirements specified in the most recent version of the North Carolina Sediment and Erosion Control Manual, or for linear transportation projects, the NCDOT Sediment and Erosion Control Manual. b. All devices shall be maintained on all construction sites, borrow sites, and waste pile (spoil) sites, including contractor -owned or leased borrow pits associated with the project. Sufficient materials required for stabilization and/or repair of erosion control measures and stormwater routing and treatment shall be on site at all times. c. For borrow pit sites, the erosion and sediment control measures shall be designed, installed, operated, and maintained in accordance with the most recent version of the North Carolina Surface Mining Manual. Reclamation measures and implementation shall comply with the reclamation in accordance with the requirements of the Sedimentation Pollution Control Act and the Mining Act of 1971. d. If the project occurs in waters or watersheds classified as Primary Nursery Areas (PNAs), SA, WS-1, WS-11, High Quality Waters (HQW), or Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW), then the sedimentation and erosion control designs shall comply with the requirements set forth in 15A NCAC 0413.0124, Design Standards in Sensitive Watershed. [15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(3) and (c)(3); GC 4135] 9. Sediment and erosion control measures shall not be placed in wetlands or surface waters or within 5 feet of the top of bank without prior approval from DWR. [15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(3) and (c)(3)] 10. Erosion control matting in riparian areas shall not contain a plastic or nylon mesh grid which can impinge and entrap small animals. Matting should be secured in place by staples, stakes, or wherever possible live stakes of native trees. Riparian areas are defined as a distance 25 feet from top of stream bank. [15A NCAC 02B.0201] 11. If placement of sediment and erosion control devices in wetlands and waters is unavoidable, then design and placement of temporary erosion control measures shall not be conducted in a manner NORTH CAROHNAD_E Qom; Depa haent at Emiranmentai Waiity North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources 512 North Salisbury Street 1 1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 919.707.9000 DocuSign Envelope ID: 696FBAE3-F8AC-4658-8280-7279F991920B that may result in dis-equilibrium of wetlands, stream beds, or banks, adjacent to or upstream and downstream of the above structures. All sediment and erosion control devices shall be removed from wetlands and waters and the natural grade restored within two (2) months of the date that the Division of Energy, Mining and Land Resources (DEMLR) or locally delegated program has released the specific area within the project. [15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(3) and (c)(3)] 12. 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. [15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(2)] 13. Discharging hydroseed mixtures and washing out hydroseeders and other equipment in or adjacent to surface waters is prohibited. [15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(3)] 14. 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 NCDWR. If this condition is unable to be met due to bedrock or other limiting features encountered during construction, please contact NCDWR for guidance on how to proceed and to determine whether or not a permit modification will be required. [15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(2)] 15. 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. 16. Pipes and culverts used exclusively to maintain equilibrium in wetlands, where aquatic life passage is not a concern, shall not be buried. These pipes shall be installed at natural ground elevation. 17. NCDOT shall be in compliance with the NCS00250 issued to the NCDOT, including the applicable requirements of the NCG01000. 18. 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. [15A NCAC 0213.0200] 19. The Permittee shall report any violations of this certification to the Division of Water Resources within 24 hours of discovery. [15A NCAC 02B.0506(b)(2)] 20. The NCDOT will conduct a pre -construction meeting with all appropriate staff to ensure that the project supervisor and essential staff understand the permit conditions and any potential issues at the permitted site. NCDWR staff shall be invited to the pre -construction meeting. [15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(2) and (b)(3)] D E Q�� North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources 512 North Salisbury Street 1 1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 NORTH CAROLINA - oePemmencoiemiraamentalWari /� 919.707.9000 DocuSign Envelope ID: 696FBAE3-F8AC-4658-8280-7279F991920B 21. Upon completion of the project (including any impacts at associated borrow or waste sites), the NCDOT Division Engineer shall complete the "Certification of Completion Form" to notify the NCDWR when all work included in the 401 Certification has been completed. [15A NCAC 02H.0502(f)] 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. [15A NCAC 02H .0507(c) and 15A NCAC 02H .0506 (b)(2) and (c)(2)] . This approval and its conditions are final and binding unless contested [G.S. 143-215.5]. Please be aware that impacting waters without first applying for and securing the issuance of a 401 Water Quality Certification violates Title 15A of the North Carolina Administrative Code (NCAC) 2H .0500. Title 15A NCAC 2H .0500 requires certifications pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act whenever construction or operation of facilities will result in a discharge into navigable waters, including wetlands, as described in 33 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 323. It also states any person desiring issuance of the State certification or coverage under a general certification required by Section 401 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act shall file with the Director of the North Carolina Division of Water Quality. Pursuant to G.S. 143-215.6A, these violations and any future violations are subject to a civil penalty assessment of up to a maximum of $25,000.00 per day for each violation. This Certification can be contested as provided in Chapter 150B of the North Carolina General Statutes by filing a Petition for a Contested Case Hearing (Petition) with the North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) within sixty (60) calendar days. Requirements for filing a Petition are set forth in Chapter 150E of the North Carolina General Statutes and Title 26 of the North Carolina Administrative Code. Additional information regarding requirements for filing a Petition and Petition forms may be accessed at http://www.ncoah.com/ or by calling the OAH Clerk's Office at (919) 431- 3000. A party filing a Petition must serve a copy of the Petition on: William F. Lane, General Counsel Department of Environmental Quality 1601 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1601 If the party filing the Petition is not the permittee, then the party must also serve the recipient of the Certification in accordance with N.C.G.S 15013-23(a). This letter completes the review of the Division under section 401 of the Clean Water Act and 15A NCAC 02H .0500. Please contact Hannah Sprinkle at hannah.sprinkle@ncdenr.gov if you have any questions or concerns. D EQ �� North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources 512 North Salisbury Street 1 1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 NORTH CAROHNA - oePemmencoiemiroomenmiur� /� 919.707.9000 DocuSign Envelope ID: 696FBAE3-F8AC-4658-8280-7279F991920B cc: Sincerely, E DOCUSign(e�d by: 1.�,(,L�141:A i�. 9C9886312DCD474_. Richard E. Rogers, Jr., Director Division of Water Resources Liz Hair, USACE Wilmington Regulatory Field Office (via email) James Rerko, Project Development and Environmental Analysis Engineer Gary Jordan, US Fish and Wildlife Service Travis Wilson, NC Wildlife Resources Commission Hannah Sprinkle, NC Division of Water Resources Wilmington Regional Office File Copy NORTHCAROLINAD_E Q�I Depa haent at Emiranmental Wality North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources 512 North Salisbury Street 1 1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 919.707.9000