20071647 Ver 1_Staff Comments_20071016 (1383)

Hard Rock Mine Inc. -Cherokee Co. (07-1647)
Subject: Hard Rock Mine Inc. -Cherokee Co. (07-1647)
From: Eric Kulz <[e-mail]>
Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2007 08:03:15 -0400
To: Kevin Barnett <[e-mail]>
Kevin:
I think you mentioned this project to me at some point. I just got to look at it yesterday and this
morning. I assume you have been out there? This is apparently a response to a violation, although the
plan and PCN were not really clear as to what the violation is. It is also not clear to me if the mine is
going to continue to operate, and how it relates to the proposed restoration activities. They also
mention some Wilderness Creek Falls development, and i am not sure what the relationship is between
the mine site and the subdivision.
Finally, they said something about using the lower reach/relic channel for future compensatory
mitigation for the Wilderness Creek Falls development. When that application comes in, we probably
need to make sure that the proposed preservation reach (at least I assume they are talking about
preservation) is suitable for use for mitigation, and that they don't try to "double dip" and use the reach
restored to satisfy the violation as compensatory mitigation.
I am not sure this all makes a -lot of sense, but it is early. I will be around today, but have several
meetings. I'll be in pretty much all of tomorrow and Thursday, if you want to discuss the project
and/or plan. As far as the plan goes, it is kind of weird, the pattern (riffle-pool) looks to be almost all
riffle and run, with very short pools. They are doing an "A" type stream, and I have not seen a
restoration plan for one of these yet, so this may be OK.
Let me know what you think,
Eric
Eric W. Kulz
Environmental Specialist
401 Oversight and Express Permitting Unit
2321 Crabtree Blvd., Suite 250
Raleigh, NC 27604
Phone: [phone] .
Fax: [phone]
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