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APRIL 2009 GASTON EAST-WEST CONNECTOR DEIS
9-1
CH. 9 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AND
AGENCY COORDINATION
9.1 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
Public involvement and input has been encouraged throughout the development of this project.
Local government officials, civic organizations, neighborhood groups, and interested citizens were
informed of the progress of the project through a series of three workshops and numerous small
group meetings. Other outreach efforts and opportunities for the public to review project
information and provide input included project mailings, a project Web site, and project toll-free
telephone number. Comments received on the project may be obtained by contacting NCTA via
email at gaston@ncturnpike.org or via the contact information for the NCTA provided in
Section S.2.
9.1.1 CITIZENS INFORMATIONAL WORKSHOPS
Three series of Citizens Informational Workshops (CIWs) were held. The first series was held in
2003 by NCDOT, the second and third series were held by the NCTA in 2006 and 2008. For each
series, workshops were held in three locations spread throughout the Project Study Area, each on
a different day, to provide a variety of attendance opportunities.
All the CIWs were informal open houses. Attendees were encouraged to sign-in, read the project
handouts, view the slideshows and project displays, and to discuss the project one-on-one with
Project Representatives. There were no formal presentations given at the workshops. Project
handouts were available in English and Spanish at each workshop, and a Spanish translator was
available at most workshops.
All workshops were advertised in local newspapers and on the project Web site. Postcards were
mailed to area property owners and residents announcing each workshop series. Advertisements
and articles in the local English and Spanish newspapers were published before and after the
workshops.
9.1.1.1 Citizens Informational Workshop Series #1
In 2003, the first series of CIWs took place on September 30, (Forestview High School, Gastonia),
December 9, (South Point High School, Belmont), and December 10, (Hunter Huss High School,
Gastonia). The workshops, held by NCDOT, presented the purpose and need for the project and
the preliminary alternatives being considered. Approximately 734 citizens signed in at the first
series of workshops.
Public involvement and environmental resource and regulatory agency coordination are integral to the project
development and decision‐making process. The NCTA, NCDOT, and FHWA coordinated and consulted with numerous
federal, state, and local agencies, as well as the general public through a variety of means, as summarized in this
chapter.
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There were 192 written comment forms received at and following the workshops. A majority of
commenter’s supported a new location
roadway and the purpose and need for the
project. However, about 20 percent of the
comments supported other types of
alternatives, including improving I-85 and US
29-74, as well as mass transit. Other
comments were related to route location,
wildlife habitat, river shoreline buffers and
recreational uses, parks, neighborhoods, land
use and sprawl, water quality, air quality, and
noise.
Specific comments about locations and
preferences regarding the preliminary new
location alignments provided at Citizens
Informational Workshop Series #1 are summarized below. Refer to Figure 2-5a-b for
preliminary new location corridor segment names. For additional information and summaries of
comments received at the first series of workshops, refer to the Citizens Informational Workshop
Series #1 Summary – Gaston East-West Connector (PBS&J, March 2004), incorporated by
reference.
COMMENT FOLLOW UP INFORMATION
Cross north of Paradise
Point at South Fork of the
Catawba River.
Two out of three preliminary new location segments north of Paradise Point (DSA
segments K2A and K3A [formerly preliminary corridor segments F2 and F4] have been
retained for detailed study in the DEIS.
Cross Bud Wilson Road as
far south as possible.
The southernmost crossing of Bud Wilson Road (DSA segment J1c [formerly
preliminary corridor segment C6/D3]) has been retained for study in the DEIS.
Connect to Buster Boyd
Bridge in South Carolina.
Connecting to the NC 49 Buster Boyd Bridge over the Catawba River at the
Mecklenburg County North Carolina/York County South Carolina border would not
meet the project’s purpose and need for mobility, access, and connectivity within
southern Gaston County and between southern Gaston County and Mecklenburg
County.
Use existing Hudson
Boulevard as a bypass of
Gastonia.
Hudson Boulevard parallels US 29‐74 to the south, and connects US 321 in Gastonia to
Lowell‐Bethesda Road on the east side of Cramerton. Hudson Boulevard currently
serves as a local bypass of downtown Gastonia. Improving Hudson Boulevard would
not meet the project’s purpose and need. It would not improve mobility, access and
connectivity within southern Gaston County nor between southern Gaston County and
Mecklenburg County.
Provide a toll road facility. In February 2005, the proposed project was adopted by the North Carolina Turnpike
Authority as a candidate toll facility.
Maintain access to
Bessemer City via Exit 13 –
Edgewood Road from I‐85.
All of the DSAs would maintain this access.
Provide a road only from
Union New Hope Road to
I‐485.
This option would not meet the project’s purpose and need.
Citizens Informational Workshop Series #1
Source: PBS&J
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COMMENT FOLLOW UP INFORMATION
Segments E8, F5, F10, and
F11 are the only segments
that make sense.
Preliminary corridor segments E8, F5, and F10 were retained for study as Detailed
Study Corridor Segments K3A and K4A. Preliminary corridor segment F11 was
eliminated from consideration because its route would directly impact publicly‐owned
parkland and twice as many subdivisions as the route that uses preliminary corridor
segment F10.
F‐X9a should be chosen
over E8+F6.
Both preliminary corridor segments have been retained for detailed study as DSA
segments K3A (formerly F‐X9a) and K1C/K4A (formerly E8/F6).
The southernmost routes
are most beneficial to
Daniel Stowe Botanical
Garden.
One route that passes just north of Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden has been retained
for detailed study in the DEIS.
Put alignment as close as
possible to South Carolina.
Except for preliminary corridor segment F11/G6, all the southernmost preliminary
corridor segments have been retained for detailed study.
Avoid lower end of Bud
Wilson Road/Sparrow
Dairy Road.
There are no DSA segments located at the lower end of Bud Wilson Road/Sparrow
Dairy Road, near the North Carolina/South Carolina state line.
Avoid area north of Allen
Steam Station, where
there is too much
development.
There is one DSA corridor north of the Allen Steam Station and one south of the Allen
Steam Station.
NC 49/SC 49 should be
used.
Use of NC 49/SC 49 in South Carolina would not meet the project’s purpose and need.
It would not provide connectivity between southern Gaston County and Mecklenburg
County.
9.1.1.2 Citizens Informational Workshop Series #2
The second series of Citizens Informational
Workshops took place January 31 (Hunter Huss
High School, Gastonia), February 1 (Olympic
High School, Charlotte), and February 2 (South
Point High School, Belmont), 2006. These
workshops were held by the NCTA with
assistance from the NCDOT. The purpose of
this series of workshops was to present the
recommended DSAs for input and comment.
Approximately 813 citizens signed in at the
second series of workshops. There were 185
written comment forms received at and
following the workshops. In addition, verbal
comments received at the workshops were noted and summarized.
Additional information on the comments received at the second series of workshops is included in
the Citizens Informational Workshop Series #2 Summary – Gaston East-West Connector (PBS&J,
June 2006), incorporated by reference. Comments regarding preferences, impacts and issues
were taken into consideration in the evaluation of the DSAs.
Most attendees were in support of the new location roadway. Fifty-five written comments
expressed a specific comment about the new location concept, with 34 explicitly stating support
Citizens Informational Workshop Series #2
Source: PBS&J
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and 21 expressing opposition. Seven comments were received that stated support for improving
existing roadways. Most attendees preferred a non–toll facility over a toll facility.
Regarding specific corridor segments, 19 people stated a preference for a corridor segment west of
US 321. Of these, 12 preferred the easternmost corridor segments (H3-J4a), six preferred the
westernmost corridor segments (H1A-H1B-H1C), and one preferred the middle segments (H2B-
H2C-J3) (Figure 2-8a). Only two people commented specifically on corridors between US 321
and the South Fork Catawba River. Both preferred the southernmost corridors (J1c-J1d-J1e-J1f).
Sixty-three people stated corridor segment preferences for the eastern end of the project. Of
these, 35 preferred Corridor Segment K1D, 10 preferred Corridor Segment K3C, eight preferred
Corridor Segment K4A, and four preferred Corridor Segment K3A.
Comments on issues or resources were included in 130 of the comment forms and in most of the
documented verbal remarks. Specific churches and cemeteries were noted in several comments,
as well as individual communities. These resources were included in the Final Community
Impact Assessment for the Gaston East-West Connector (PBS&J, October 2008, incorporated by
reference and available on the NCTA Web site: www.ncturnpike.org/projects/gaston) prepared
for the project (Section 3.2). Some comments related to the existence of potential historic
homes. A survey of the Project Study Area for historic architectural resources was performed for
the project (Section 5.2).
Other participants noted there were bald eagles and numerous species in the area around
Brown’s Cove, a neighborhood located at the confluence of Beaver Dam Creek and the Catawba
River. Surveys for bald eagles and other protected species were performed for the DSAs
(Section 6.5).
9.1.1.3 Citizens Informational Workshop Series #3
The third series of Citizens Informational Workshops, held by the NCTA, took place August 6
(Olympic High School, Charlotte), August 7 (South Point High School, Belmont), and August 11
(Gastonia Adult Recreation Center), 2008.
The purpose of this workshop series was to seek feedback regarding the elimination of Corridor
Segment K1D from detailed study (due to interference with critical operations at the Allen Steam
Station) and to present the following for additional public comment:
• Updates to the project’s Purpose and Need Statement, June 2008,
• The Addendum to the Final Alternatives Development and Evaluation Report, July 2008,
• The DSAs and the preliminary right-of-way limits for the roadway designs within the
study corridors, and
• The potential elimination of the project’s interchange at US 29-74.
A total of 1,026 citizens signed in at the third series of workshops. There were 205 written
comment forms received at and following the workshops. In addition, verbal comments received
at the workshops were noted and summarized.
Additional information on the comments received at the third series of workshops is included in
the Citizens Informational Workshop Series #3 Summary – Gaston East-West Connector (PBS&J,
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
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September 2008), incorporated by reference. Comments regarding preferences, impacts and
issues were taken into consideration in the evaluation of the DSAs.
Twenty-eight citizens stated that they did not see
the need for the project and twenty citizens stated
that they do not want the project at all. Fifteen
comments were received supporting the purpose
and need for the project and seventeen supported
the overall project.
Regarding tolling, 48 attendees submitted
comments disagreeing with using tolls to fund the
project, while 22 comments were submitted
supporting the use of tolls. Additionally eleven
comments stated the preliminary $2.00-$4.00 toll
for using the Garden Parkway is too costly. Eleven
comments were received stating support for
improving existing roadways.
Numerous comments were received regarding specific Corridor Segments. For example, fifteen
comments stated a preference for DSA 4, and the elimination of Corridor Segment H1A. Fifteen
people opposed Corridor Segment K4A, which includes the southernmost crossing of the Catawba
River, while eight comments preferred Corridor Segment K4A.
Regarding the project interchange at US 29-74, 23 comments stated the interchange was not
needed, while 25 comments stated the interchange was needed.
Comments on issues and resources were included in the comment forms. Specific churches and
cemeteries were noted in several comments, as well as individual communities. Attendees also
submitted comments expressing concerns for protecting natural resources such as wetlands,
Crowders Mountain State Park, and Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden.
9.1.2 LOCAL OFFICIALS MEETINGS
Local Officials Meetings were held September 30, 2003, January 31, 2006, February 1, 2006 and
August 6, 2008 prior to each series of Citizens Informational Workshops to provide local officials
with opportunities to ask questions and submit comments, as well as an opportunity for NCTA to
give a project overview and status report.
Updates were provided to the Mecklenburg-Union MPO (MUMPO) Technical Coordinating
Committee (TCC) at their meeting on August 7, 2008. Presentations were made to Gaston Urban
Area MPO (GUAMPO) committees, as listed below:
• 1/22/02, 9/24/02 GUAMPO Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC)
• 9/24/02 GUAMPO TCC
• 5/14/08 GUAMPO TCC
• 5/27/08 GUAMPO TAC
Citizens Informational Workshop Series #3
Source: PBS&J
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9.1.3 SMALL GROUP MEETINGS
Throughout the study process, the Project Representatives have met with a variety of
organizations, agencies, and groups to exchange information, collect data, or to make a
presentation about the project at a group’s request.
The local entities interviewed for information exchange, research, and data collection purposes
included the following:
• Charlotte – Douglas International Airport
• Charlotte – Mecklenburg Planning Commission
• Charlotte Department of Transportation
• Gaston County Natural Resource Department
• City of Gastonia
• City of Belmont
• Belmont Planning Board
• City of Bessemer City
• Town of McAdenville
• Catawba River Foundation/Catawba Riverkeeper
• Crescent Resources, LLC
• Duke Energy Corporation (Allen Steam Station)
• Quality of Natural Resources Commission (QNRC)
• Schiele Museum of Natural History
• Village Properties – Pharr Yarns
Four outreach meetings were held with organizations, community leaders, and elementary
schools in Gaston County on January 17, 2006, to identify ways to communicate with low-income
and minority populations and to incorporate appropriate methods into the public involvement
program to encourage participation from these populations. These meetings were with:
• Gaston Community Action
• Tabernacle Baptist Church
• HH Beam Elementary School
• Forest Heights Elementary School
During development and analysis of alternatives, the following organizations and citizen groups
requested small group meetings. The meeting dates and groups involved are listed below.
• 12/11/02 Gaston Chamber of Commerce
• 10/15/03 Friends of Crowders Mountain
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Brochure from Citizens
Informational Workshop Series #3
Source: NCTA
• 03/24/04 Gaston Chamber of Commerce
• 11/08/04 Paradise Point Neighborhood Group in Cramerton
• 3/08/06 Medallist Development Corporation
• 3/10/06 NC League for Transportation and Logistics
• 4/19/06 Ramoth AME Zion Church in Charlotte
• 4/25/06 Friends of Crowders Mountain
• 4/27/06 Brown’s Cove Neighborhood Group in Charlotte
• 11/17/07 Garrison Road/Horton Road Community in Charlotte
• 5/27/08 Gaston County and Municipal Planners (GCAMP)
• 8/28/08 Misty Waters Subdivision in Belmont
• 9/11/08 River Lakes Subdivision in Belmont
• 10/01/08 Karyae Park YMCA Outdoor Family Center in Gastonia
• 10/01/08 Pisgah ARP Church in Gastonia
• 11/18/08 Town of Belmont
9.1.4 OTHER OUTREACH EFFORTS
The various methods employed for communicating project information and announcements of
public meetings are described below.
9.1.4.1 Brochures and Postcards
Brochures and postcards were used to
provide the public with information about the
project and project-related events such as
Citizens Informational Workshops, and to
seek comments from the public. Copies of
brochures and postcards are included in the
workshop summaries incorporated by
reference.
Postcards were
used as a cost-
effective way of announcing upcoming Citizens Informational
Workshops to the large numbers of residents and property owners
within the Project Study Area.
Project brochures were distributed at each Citizens Informational
Workshop that provided information related to the workshops and
the information being presented. These brochures also were posted
to the project web site and available for download.
Postcard announcing Citizens Informational Workshop Series
#3
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
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www.ncturnpike.org/projects/gaston
Source: NCTA
9.1.4.2 Project Web Site and E-mail
A project web site (www.ncturnpike.org/projects/gaston)
provides project information, documents, previous
newsletters and postcards, project maps and an online
comment form. The web pages were originally posted on
the NCDOT’s web site beginning in September 2004,
and a project Web site has been online since that time.
The online comment form enables users to add their
name to the project mailing list and/or provide
comments and ask questions. The web site is updated
periodically as new information, documents, maps, and
reports are available.
Citizens could also send comments and questions via the
project e-mail address: gaston@ncturnpike.org. This
email address was included in brochures and project
mailings.
9.1.4.3 Project Toll-Free Telephone Number
A toll-free hotline number was created for the project (1-800-475-6402). This provided a resource
for citizens to ask a question, provide input or request a meeting for an organization. All calls
received were logged and responded to in a timely manner.
9.2 AGENCY COORDINATION
9.2.1 SCOPING LETTER
A formal scoping letter, as required by NEPA, was sent by NCDOT to local, state, and federal
agencies on April 9, 2003. The letter is included in Appendix A-3, along with responses from
many agencies. The purpose of the scoping letter was to solicit comments and collect pertinent
project information early in the project development process. The coordination (NEPA scoping)
between NCDOT, FHWA, and the agencies assisted with the development of the purpose and
need statement, range of alternatives considered, and the determination of the DSAs.
Table 9–1 lists the agencies that provided comments in response to the scoping letter, along with
a brief summary of the comments. Comments are listed by federal, state, and local agency and
then by date.
TABLE 9-1: Scoping Comments
Agency Date Comments
USACE, Asheville
Regulatory Field Office 05/22/03
Permits required under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of
the Rivers and Harbors Act. Study plan should provide for an evaluation of
secondary and cumulative impacts for each alternative.
NCDENR Division of Soil
and Water
Conservation
04/25/03 Requested information on adverse impacts to Prime or Statewide Important
Farmland.
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TABLE 9-1: Scoping Comments
Agency Date Comments
NCDENR Division of
Environmental Health 05/01/03
This area has two surface water plants and numerous community well
systems. The rules governing public water systems must be followed in
reference to impact on these systems, which include treatment facilities and
distribution systems. Gaston County has a wellhead protection program.
NCDOT Rail Division 05/12/03
Noted importance of Norfolk Southern Railway’s Washington DC to Atlanta
mainline, as well as the 12‐mile long inactive rail corridor that extends from
Mount Holly to Gastonia. Required that space be reserved for one future
track whenever a highway overpass is constructed over the tracks.
NC Department of
Cultural Resources
State Historic
Preservation Office
05/14/03
Recommended records be thoroughly searched and a comprehensive survey
be conducted to inventory the architectural and historic resources that could
potentially be impacted by the project. In addition, recommended a
comprehensive survey be conducted for archaeological resources.
NC Wildlife Resources
Commission 05/15/03
Requested description of fishery and wildlife resources in the project area,
steams or wetlands affected by the project, cover maps showing impacted
wetlands and wildlife habitat impacted by the project, mitigation plan, and
discussion of probable impacts on natural resources.
NCDENR Division of
Water Quality 05/21/03
Noted water resources within the Project Study Area: Crowders Creek, South
Crowders Creek, Abernathy Creek, Blackwood Creek, Catawba Creek,
Robinwood Lake, Anthony Creek, Catawba River, and South Fork Catawba
River. Outline required Environmental Documentation: Quantitative analysis
of the cumulative and secondary impacts of new location alternatives,
detailed presentation of the proposed impacts to wetlands and streams,
discussion of mitigation plans for unavoidable impacts, and cumulative
impacts from habitat alterations and point/nonpoint source pollution.
NCDOT Congestion
Management Section 05/30/03
Recommended building a roadway with access provided only at interchanges
or widely spaced at‐grade intersections, as well as a tie into I‐85 southwest of
Gastonia and I‐485 in Mecklenburg County.
Town of Dallas 04/25/03 Formal request to expand the study area to include STIP Project R‐2608.
Gaston County Quality
of Natural Resources
Commission
05/09/03
Listed natural heritage sites that could potentially be affected by the project
as well as stream impacts on Crowders Creek, potential wetland and stream
mitigation, stormwater, hazardous spill controls, impacts on land use, and
greenway development.
Gaston County
Department of
Community
Development and
Technology
05/09/03
Recommended NCDOT work with all 15 municipal entities in Gaston County
to remain “in concert” with the various land use plans, as well as goals and
objectives set forth in the Gaston County Comprehensive Plan. Also
encouraged NCDOT to assert or use creative methods to involve the general
public in the project development process.
Gaston County Natural
Resources Commission 05/13/03 Encouraged consistency with the Gaston County Comprehensive Plan and
citizen involvement throughout the project process.
Gaston Urban Area
Metropolitan Planning
Organization
05/13/03
Recommended input from the Catawba Land Conservancy. Noted the need
for an increase in public services along the Garden Parkway, the need to
prevent isolation within and between neighborhoods in the project area, and
a decrease in the function of thoroughfares that feed into the Garden
Parkway.
Mecklenburg – Union
Metropolitan Planning
Organization
05/15/03
Noted concern of airport restrictions due to project construction as well as
the desire for bicycle and pedestrian accommodations on any future bridge
structure crossing the Catawba River.
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TABLE 9-1: Scoping Comments
Agency Date Comments
Mecklenburg County
Land Use and
Environmental Services
Agency – Air Quality
05/15/03
Project must be in accordance with 40 CFR 93.116 – “FHWA/FTA project must
not cause or contribute to any new localized CO or PM10 violations or
increase the frequency or severity of any existing CO or PM10 violations in CO
or PM10 non attainment and maintenance areas.” No new local violations will
be created and the severity or number of existing violations will not be
increased as a result of the project.
City of Charlotte
Department of
Transportation
05/15/03
Noted concerns that the project could interfere with the new Land Use Plan
for the portion of Mecklenburg County west of I‐485 and east of the Catawba
River.
York County Planning
and Development
Services
05/15/03
Requested impacts on commuting patterns from York County to Charlotte
along SC 49, and impacts on Gaston and York County population and
employment trends.
City of Gastonia 05/16/03 Outlined construction plan and FEMA requirements and existing underground
utilities that may be affected by roadway construction.
Daniel Stowe Botanical
Garden 05/19/03 Expressed support of the project and project location.
9.2.2 NOTICE OF INTENT
A Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the
project was published by FHWA in the Federal Register on April 27, 2006 (Volume 71, No. 81,
pages 24909-24910). Appendix A-4 contains a copy of the Notice of Intent.
9.2.3 AGENCY COORDINATION
9.2.3.1 Background Information
Initially, the project study was administered by the NCDOT. From project initiation in 2001 to
2005, when the project was adopted by the NCTA as a candidate toll facility, the project followed
the NCDOT’s Merger 01 process for agency concurrence and coordination as contained in the
NEPA/404 Merger 01 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by NCDOT, Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and the NC Department of
Environmental and Natural Resources (NCDENR).
The Merger 01 process allows agency representatives to coordinate efficiently by providing a
common forum for discussion of project issues as they relate to each agency’s mission. The
merger process documents how competing agency mandates are balanced during a shared
decision-making process, which results in agency representatives reaching a “compromise-based
decision” to the regulatory and individual agency mandates at specific project milestones
(http://www.ncdot.org/doh/preconstruct/pe/MERGER01/default.html).
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The specific project milestones, called concurrence points, are listed below. NCDOT managed the
process through Concurrence Point 2.
CONCURRENCE
POINT DESCRIPTION
1 Purpose and need for the project.
2 DSAs to be evaluated in the DEIS.
2a Bridging and Alignment Review: Identification of bridge locations and approximate lengths,
culvert locations, and a review of the preliminary alignment for each alternative.
3 Selection of Least Environmentally Damaging Practicable Alternative (LEDPA).
4a
Avoidance and Minimization: A detailed, interdisciplinary review to optimize the design and
benefits of the project while reducing environmental impacts to both the human and natural
environment.
4b Hydraulic Review: A review of the development of the drainage design.
4c Permit Drawings Review: A review of the completed permit drawings after the hydraulic
design is complete and prior to the permit application.
The Agency Coordination Team was called the NEPA/404 Merger Team when the project was
being administered by NCDOT. The NEPA/404 Merger Team included the stakeholder agencies
and local units of government listed in the insert box, with the exception of the NCTA, who joined
the team in 2005.
In 2005, when project administration
was transferred to the NCTA, the NCTA
decided that project coordination would
continue with a process similar to the
Merger 01 process, even though the
NCTA is not a signatory to the MOA
that created the Merger 01 process. It
was decided to continue with a process
similar to the Merger 01 process
because the project had already
achieved the first two concurrence
points. The same agencies that were
involved in the project as the NEPA/404
Merger Team would continue to
participate as the Agency Coordination
Team.
9.2.3.2 Section 6002 Project Coordination Plan
In October 2008, in accordance with Section 6002 of SAFETEA-LU (Safe, Accountable, Flexible,
Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users), the NCTA developed a Project
Coordination Plan for the proposed Gaston East-West Connector project. The plan establishes a
project schedule, sets a monthly schedule for coordination meetings, establishes agency review
times, identifies a process for resolving issues of concern, and identifies cooperating and
participating agencies. The Section 6002 Project Coordination Plan was developed and finalized
in consultation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and North Carolina
Department of Transportation (NCDOT), as well as the cooperating and participating agencies.
The Agency Coordination Team
The Agency Coordination Team reviews the project at various
development milestones. The project’s team members are:
• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
• NC Turnpike Authority (NCTA)
• NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT)
• US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
• US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
• US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
• NC Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC)
• NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(NCDENR) – Division of Water Quality (DWQ)
• State Historic Preservation Office (HPO)
• Gaston Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
(GUAMPO)
• Mecklenburg‐Union Metropolitan Planning Organization
(MUMPO)
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Draft versions of the plan were shared with cooperating and participating agencies and discussed
at Turnpike Environmental Agency Coordination (TEAC) meetings (Section 9.2.3.3). The plan
was revised to incorporate agency comments. The project’s final Section 6002 Project
Coordination Plan, which provides for a process similar to Merger 01, is included in
Appendix A-7. Table 9-2 provides an overview of agency roles. The US Coast Guard also was
contacted, and they verified the project was beyond their area of responsibility and a US Coast
Guard Bridge Permit would not be required (see email from the US Coast Guard in Appendix A-
5). Therefore, the US Coast Guard is not a participating agency.
TABLE 9-2: Agency Roles
Agency Lead
Agency
Joint Lead
Agency
Cooperating
Agency
Participating
Agency
Federal Highway Administration 3
North Carolina Turnpike Authority 3
North Carolina Department of Transportation 3
US Army Corps of Engineers 3 3
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 3 (invited*)
US Environmental Protection Agency 3
US Fish and Wildlife Service 3
NCDENR Division of Water Quality 3
NCDENR Wildlife Resources Commission 3
State Historic Preservation Office 3
Gaston Urban Area MPO 3
Mecklenburg‐Union MPO 3
* See invitation letter in Appendix A‐5.
9.2.3.3 Agency Coordination Meetings
Agency coordination meetings have been held throughout the project development process to
receive comments on project studies, achieve concurrence points, and solicit issues and concerns
from the Agency Coordination Team. The NCDOT scheduled meetings with the NEPA/404
Merger Team from 2002 through 2005 to achieve Concurrence Points 1 and 2.
The NCTA initiated regularly scheduled monthly meetings, referred to as TEAC meetings, to
review the status of the current NCTA projects, environmental concerns, and permitting
requirements. TEAC meetings regarding the Gaston East-West Connector have been held from
2006 through 2008. In addition, NCTA held two meetings to discuss the scope of the indirect and
cumulative effects analysis (June 29, 2007, with USFWS and NCWRC, and July 26, 2007, with
NCDWQ).
Table 9-3 lists each agency coordination meeting held, along with a brief purpose and summary
of the meeting.
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APRIL 2009 GASTON EAST-WEST CONNECTOR DEIS 9-13
TABLE 9-3: Summary of Agency Coordination Meetings
Meeting
Date Main Topic Summary of Meeting
NEPA/404 Merger Team Meetings held by NCDOT
05/15/02 CP 1 Purpose and Need The preliminary Purpose and Need Statement was presented for discussion.
Additional information was requested.
07/24/02 CP 1 Purpose and Need The revised Purpose and Need Statement was presented and concurrence
was achieved.
02/17/04 Pre‐CP 2 Identified new location alternatives for which NCDOT should prepare
functional designs prior to the new location CP 2 meeting.
08/17/04 Partial CP 2
The purpose of this meeting was to achieve concurrence on the non‐new
location alternatives to be carried forward for detailed study. Agreement on
eliminating the Improve Existing Roadways Alternatives could not be
reached, and the decision was made to follow the process outlined in the
NEPA/404 Merger 01 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for elevating the
decision.
09/14/04 Elevation Meeting #1 The Merger Team members attended. Concurrence was not achieved.
09/29/04 Elevation Meeting #2 The supervisors of the Merger Team members attended. Concurrence was
not achieved.
10/27/04 Elevation Meeting #3
(Review Board)
In accordance with the MOA, the Review Board met to discuss the project
and the issues that the Merger Team had not reached consensus on. The
Review Board consists of designated senior management from FHWA,
NCDOT, USACE, and NCDENR.
02/08/05 Elevation Meeting #4
(Review Board) The Review Board met to continue discussion of project issues.
Late
June/Early
July 2005
Elevation Meeting #5
(Review Board)
The Review Board met and signed the Partial CP 2 form eliminating all non‐
new location alternatives from further study.
09/20/05 CP 2 Meeting
The purpose of the meeting was to decide which of the 90 preliminary new
location alternatives should be carried forward for further study. The
preliminary new location corridors were narrowed to 16 DSAs (later reduced
to 12 DSAs). The FHWA, NCDOT, USACE, NCDWQ, SHPO, GUAMPO, and
MUMPO signed the CP 2 form. The USEPA, USFWS, and NCWRC chose to
abstain from signing. An abstention in the NEPA/404 01 Merger process
means an agency does not actively object to a concurrence milestone, but
does not wish to sign the concurrence form. The agency agrees not to revisit
the concurrence point subject to guidance on revisiting concurrence points
contained in the NEPA/404 Merger 01 Memorandum of Agreement.
Representatives of these agencies provided emails with their reasons for
abstaining. These are included in Appendix A‐1.
TEAC Meetings and Indirect and Cumulative Effects (ICE) Scoping Meetings held by NCTA
12/15/06 TEAC ‐ Project Status
Update Meeting
This meeting was held to discuss Section 6002 Coordination Plans and to
provide an update on the status of project‐related studies.
01/25/07 TEAC ‐ Project Status
Update Meeting
The following topics were discussed: Section 6002 Coordination Plans,
historic architecture resources, archaeological resources, bald eagle surveys,
mussel surveys, wetland and stream surveys and mitigation, preliminary
engineering designs, hydraulic studies, traffic operations analysis,
geotechnical studies of the Allen Steam Station fly ash basin, schedule for
design tasks, status of the project in the NEPA process, DSAs, traffic and
revenue study, Charlotte‐Douglas International Airport expansion, and
mobile source air toxics (MSATs).
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AND AGENCY COORDINATION Chapter 9
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TABLE 9-3: Summary of Agency Coordination Meetings
Meeting
Date Main Topic Summary of Meeting
03/22/07 TEAC ‐ Project Status
Update Meeting
The purpose of this meeting was to provide updates on recently
completed/ongoing environmental and technical studies, field verification
meetings, and next steps toward DEIS. Completed surveys discussed were:
bald eagles, wetlands and streams, biotic communities, historic architectural
resources, and archaeological resources. The NCTA requested comments,
issues, and concerns from the agencies regarding environmental issues
related to the recently completed studies and ongoing studies.
06/20/07 TEAC ‐ Project Status
Meeting
Issues covered in this meeting included the decision to study toll‐only
alternatives in the DEIS, the completed Phase II historic resource surveys and
the archaeological resource surveys, field verification meetings for wetlands,
streams, and ponds, and other updates on special technical studies, indirect
and cumulative effects assessment, engineering designs, community
characteristics, and toll traffic forecasts. NCTA reviewed the GUAMPO’s
resolution to change the name of STIP Project U‐3321 to the Garden
Parkway.
06/29/07 Indirect and Cumulative
Effects Scoping Meeting
This meeting was held with the USFWS and NCWRC to discuss the scope of
the indirect and cumulative effects study.
07/26/07 Indirect and Cumulative
Effects Scoping Meeting
This meeting was held with the NCDWQ to discuss the scope of the indirect
and cumulative effects study.
09/27/07 TEAC ‐ Project Status
Update
This meeting provided updates on recently completed and ongoing
environmental technical studies, recent correspondence with Duke Energy
Corporation supporting elimination of detailed study corridor segment K1D,
and next steps toward the DEIS. The NCTA requested comments, issues and
concerns from the agencies. Topics covered in the meeting included a
summary of draft versions of the Natural Resources Technical Report (NRTR),
a summary of findings from the Draft Community Characteristics Report
(CCR), toll traffic forecasting studies, and information related to the Duke
Power Allen Steam Station fly ash basin. The attendees agreed that DSAs
containing Corridor Segment K1D (DSAs 6, 24, 65, and 78) should be
eliminated from further study due to interference with critical operations at
Allen Steam Station. Attendees included representatives from FHWA, USACE,
EPA, NCDWQ, NCWRC, USFWS, NCDOT, and NCTA.
12/17/07
12/18/07 TEAC ‐ Project Site Visit
The purpose of the site visit was to review the various natural communities
represented in the study area at locations requested by the resource
agencies. Representatives from FHWA, NCDOT, USACE, EPA, NCDWQ, and
NCWRC attended the field tour over the two‐day period.
02/05/08 TEAC ‐ Approach to
Discussing CP 2a
The primary purpose of this meeting was to discuss the approach to be taken
to discuss CP 2a. The attendees agreed that it was acceptable to move
forward with bridging decision discussions. Other items discussed were the
Section 6002 Project Coordination Plan, updates to the draft versions of the
Purpose and Need Statement and the Alternatives Development and Analysis
Report Addendum, and planned Citizens Informational Workshops.
03/04/08 TEAC ‐ CP 2a Discussion
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss information to achieve
agreement/concurrence on the bridging decisions for streams and wetlands
crossed by the DSAs (CP 2a).
04/08/08 TEAC ‐ CP 2a Agreement
Agreement on bridging and alignment decisions for the DSAs was reached at
this meeting. Attendees included representatives from FHWA, USACE,
USEPA, USFWS, NCWRC, NCDOT, and NCTA.
07/07/08
TEAC ‐ Indirect and
Cumulative Effect
Assessment and Other
Issues
This meeting covered the analysis and results in the draft Indirect and
Cumulative Effects Assessment (ICE), July 2008. Also presented were the
Updated Purpose and Need Statement, June 2008 a discussion of items
updated and added in the Addendum to the Final Alternatives Development
and Evaluation Report, July 2008, an update on the status of the Section
6002 Coordination Plan for the project, and an announcement of upcoming
Citizens Informational Workshops scheduled for August 2008.
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TABLE 9-3: Summary of Agency Coordination Meetings
Meeting
Date Main Topic Summary of Meeting
09/23/08
TEAC ‐ Section 6002
Coordination Plan,
Comments on Reports,
and Summary of
Workshop Series #3
Comments
This meeting was held to provide the attendees a summary of the August
2008 Citizens Informational Workshop Series #3 and to discuss the updated
Purpose and Need Statement, June 2008, the Addendum to the Final
Alternatives Development and Evaluation Report, July 2008 and the Indirect
and Cumulative Effects Assessment, July 2008.
10/07/08
TEAC ‐ Section 6002
Coordination Plan,
Comments on Reports,
and Signatures for CP 1,
2, and 2a
The Agency Coordination Team agreed to sign (or resign) CPs 1, 2, and 2a.
There were no abstentions. The Section 6002 Coordination Plan was
approved. There were no substantive comments on the Purpose and Need
Statement, June 2008, or the Addendum to the Final Alternatives
Development and Evaluation Report, July 2008 The Indirect and Cumulative
Effects Analysis, July 2008 was discussed, with additional review time
requested by the team.
Notes: CP – Concurrence Point