Add Info Response 20231213

1
Winston, Joey
From:Mike Gunter <[e-mail]>
Sent:Wednesday, December 13, 2023 12:31 PM
To:Winston, Joey
Cc:Boggs, Brandee C CIV USARMY CESAD (USA)
Subject:Re: [External] Fwd: [Non-DoD Source] Fwd: Request for Additional Information, Lot 98, Mitchell
County (DWR #20231304)
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Good afternoon Joey,  

Yes it was a good trip, just a little hectic to get to all the places we wanted to go on the excursions. 

Sorry for the delay, I went to the lot and measured again to be sure. 

Per Brandee's letter Nov. 15, she is using my number of 15 feet for the ends of the tiles (x2), and 6' for the basin.   

I think the numbers might be smaller, depending on how you consider it.   
 The gravel and rip rap will extend 4‐6 feet in diameter around the basin, but the culverts are only about 3‐4 
feet apart where the basin will be.  
 I disturbed about 15 feet beyond the ends of the culverts, but about a third of the upper ends have naturally 
stabilized and returned to normal appearance.  I would like to place gravel and riprap for about 10‐12 feet 
only (x2 culverts), leaving the upper portion as‐is. 
I hope this answers your question, just let me know if you have any other questions. 

Regards, Mike Gunter 

On Wed, Dec 13, 2023 at 8:21 AM Winston, Joey <[e-mail]> wrote: 
Hi Mike, 

I hope you had a nice trip, it sounds like a fun one! I’m reviewing the information you sent and want to make sure I’m 
understanding the measurements. I see 205 feet of impact for the culverts and then dimensions for the basins where 
the culverts meet. Do you have a measurement of the length of stream that was/will be impacted for the basins? I’ll 
need to include that number with the 205 feet from culverts for an approval letter. 

Thanks, 
Joey 
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Joey Winston 
Environmental Specialist II, Division of Water Resources 
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality  
Office: (828) 296‐4685 | Cell: (828) 785‐9171  
[e-mail]  

From: Mike Gunter <[e-mail]>  
Sent: Monday, December 4, 2023 5:21 PM 
To: Winston, Joey <[e-mail]> 
Cc: Boggs, Brandee C CIV USARMY CESAD (USA) <[e-mail]> 
Subject: [External] Fwd: [Non‐DoD Source] Fwd: Request for Additional Information, Lot 98, Mitchell County (DWR 
#20231304) 

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Hey Joey,  

I am back from our trip, Turkey, Greece, and Italy... Whew! good to be back. 

What do we need to do next on this project?  Just let me know. 

Regards, 
Mike Gunter 
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‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 
From: Mike Gunter <[e-mail]> 
Date: Thu, Nov 16, 2023 at 9:06 AM 
Subject: Re: [Non‐DoD Source] Fwd: Request for Additional Information, Lot 98, Mitchell County (DWR #20231304) 
To: Boggs, Brandee C CIV USARMY CESAD (USA) <[e-mail]>, Winston, Joey 
<[e-mail]> 

Good morning Bandee and Joey,  
Thank you so much for responding to this!  I appreciate you going to the site. 

Thank you Joey, and if you will, extend this deadline as necessary.  But I'll go ahead and give 
you my responses and we can go from there. 

My only desire at this point is to finish the ends of the culverts, with proper permitting, and 
proceed with the home construction.    

I don't plan to gravel and riprap the entire 15 ft of the ends, since part of the disturbed areas 
have stabilized naturally. I will smooth areas that have gravel now.   

Below are my responses, and also attached as a word document.  A  PDF of the property 
map/drawing is attached also (letter size and tabloid size). 

Joey, just let me know the next steps to proceed with this project.   

Thanks again to both of you, and have a great day. 
Mike Gunter 

Responses to DEC letter dated November 3, 2023 
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1. The application does not include plans that depict the impacts to surface waters. The
application is for existing impacts conducted prior to approval and for the proposed
installation of a concrete basin at the convergence of the culverts. Please provide plans that
include all proposed impacts, with dimensions, and the location of all surface water features
so the Division can fully evaluate any potential impacts to water quality. [15A NCAC 02H
.0502(a)(9); 15A NCAC 02H .0506(b)(2)] 

Response: 

Upon permit approval: 

Lot 98 Work Plan 
 Install silt fencing as needed and as construction allows 
 Complete stone and gravel fill and contouring culvert ends at the UT1 entry, and at
the convergence of UT1 and Silver Line. Each of the disturbed areas at culvert ends
are approximately 9’ x 15’. 
 Complete the placement of premade concrete retaining block to construct the basin
(about 40”-50” diameter) at the convergence of the Silver Line culvert and the culvert
under the highway, and the drainage ditch culverts. 
 Gravel the home construction access pathway (driveway) 
 Compact the soil and dig footers and crawl space per house plan 
 Spread soil from footer and crawl space excavation. 
 Reseed soil and cover with straw and take other measures as needed to avoid
siltation or sedimentation. 
 Proceed with wood frame home construction. 
 Dig utility ditches as necessary and promptly fill, reseed and cover with straw to
avoid soil loss. 

A scale drawing is attached depicting the locations of culverts, and the shape and size of culvert
ends at Silver Line and the unnamed tributary. It also shows features such as wooded areas, and
drainage ditches. 

5

2. During a site inspection conducted on May 31, 2023, hydric soils and vegetation were
observed on the southern and eastern portions of the property. Please verify with the US
Army Corps of Engineers that all jurisdictional features have been identified and forward
confirmation to the Division. The Corps contact for Mitchell County is Brandee Boggs
([e-mail], 828-271-7980, ext. 4224). [15A NCAC 02H .0502(a)(9);
15A NCAC 02H .0506(b)(2)] 

Response: 
This observation may be referring to the adjacent property on the west side of my lot. That lot
was included in the original letter June 20, 2023. The property is on the corner of Rockledge
and Greenway Court, Lot 15, Mitchell County PIN 0799-03-02-5376 belonging to Donna
Hughes. 

The southern portion of my property adjoins Rockledge Road and is well drained with mowed
grass. The eastern portion of the lot adjoins undisturbed forest and a steep slope
upward. Meanwhile the northern portion of the lot slopes up and is undisturbed forest. The
west side of the property is also well drained. 

Contacted Brandee Boggs 

3. Please revise impact measurements to accurately reflect total completed and proposed
impacts. During a site inspection conducted on May 31, 2023, staff measured 127 linear
feet of Silver Run and 61 linear feet of the unnamed tributary (UT1) of Silver Run were
placed within culverts. These measurements do not include areas excavated at either end
of the culverts or the areas proposed for the installation of a concrete basin, meaning the
revised measurements should be higher than those measured during the site inspection.
[15A NCAC 02H .0502(a)(4); 15A NCAC 02H .0502(a)(9)] 

Response: 

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My apologies. I’m embarrassed to say I did not measure the total culvert on the Silver Line. I
went by how much culvert I purchased and used. The culvert that was installed there in about
2007 was 60 feet instead of the single section I thought was there. I installed 70 feet of culvert
for a total of 130 feet. 75 feet were installed on UT1. These lengths are more than the May 31
measurements. The areas excavated were approximately 8 feet by 15 feet on Silver Line
culvert entry and 9 feet by 15 feet on UT1 entry. The convergence of the culverts at the
highway will be a basin roughly 42 x 42 inches 

The scale drawing is attached depicting the locations of culverts, and the shape and size of
culvert ends at Silver Line and the unnamed tributary. It also shows features such as wooded
areas, and drainage ditches. 

4. The US Army Corps of Engineers determines whether a project is a single and complete
project or part of a larger common plan of development. Please verify with the Corps the
nature of this project with respect to the larger subdivision and forward confirmation to the
Division. This will determine whether previous impacts within the subdivision will be
included with the impacts from this project towards the compensatory mitigation threshold.
The Corps contact for Mitchell County is Brandee Boggs
([e-mail], 828-271-7980, ext. 4224). [15A NCAC 02H .0502(a)(4);
15A NCAC 02H .0506(b)(4); 15A NCAC 02H .0506(c)(4)] 

Response: 

To my knowledge there is no other work being done on Silver Line or its tributaries. 

I don't know the full history of my lot, but my copy of the Tall Pine Ridge POA Restrictions is
first dated July 12 1968 

Contacted Brandee Boggs. She and Joey made site visit. Note letter from Brandee
dated 11/15/2023, reporting the conclusions from the visit. 

5. Applicants must demonstrate that the proposed activities have avoided and minimized
impacts to surface waters and wetlands. The stated purpose of this project is the
construction of a house and driveway. However, the streams on the property have been
placed in culverts from property line to property line, impacting the entire length of streams
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on the property. Please provide justification for these impacts and explain why impacts
cannot be reduced, including a discussion of why streams must be culverted outside of the
footprint of the house and driveway. [15A NCAC 02H .0506(b)(1)] 

Response: 

The culverts are not from property line to property line. The placements are purposely
minimized to leave open, natural viewing of the streams and the forest on the north portion of
the lot. A simple “nature path” is planned for grandchildren to walk and play on. The length of
the Silver Line culvert leaves a good portion of the Lot, 103 feet of the 225.5 foot long side, for
the creek to meander on this property. The length of the culvert on the unnamed tributary, 75
feet, still leaves an area of open water for viewing, and allows the stream to flow over 20 feet
east and north on the property. 

The provided drawing with culvert and stream locations also shows placement of the footprint
of our modest home – a one-story house for my wife and me to “age in place”. With required
setbacks from property lines, the placement does require the driveway to be over the Silver
Line culvert. The placement allows only adequate driveway and access around the house for
construction, maintenance, and utilities. It allows a land bridge for access to the undisturbed
forest on the upper 1/3 to ½ of the north portion of the lot. 

The convergence of the culverts at the front of the lot is very close to the highway and drive
way. So the basin is needed as a safety feature for vehicle and foot traffic. 

On Wed, Nov 15, 2023 at 5:01 PM Boggs, Brandee C CIV USARMY CESAD (USA) <[e-mail]> 
wrote: 
Hey Mike, Joey & I walked last week & determined your project can fit within our permit’s threshold for Nationwide 
Permit #29 Residential Development. The maximum amount of impacts from the State is 300Linear Feet of impacts. As 
we discussed, your updated numbers include: 
the previous owner’s impacts: 3 pipe lengths of 20'=60LF 
Your previous unauthorized impacts from culverts: 70LF on Silverline Creek plus 75LF on UT@ 18"diameter culverts. 
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And your desire to add riprap along the banks: 15LF +15LF= 30 LF additional impacts 
You also indicated you would like to add a 4’X4’ concrete basin where all the culverts come together= 4‐6 LF of 
additional impacts. 

Remember anytime you impact the Waters of the US from digging out to add the culvert, adding riprap to the banks 
or ends of culverts, headwalls for culverts, adding a pier for a bridge, etc, it counts as an impact. 
Assuming these numbers are true to what we observe as on the ground impacts, this is where you stand 
Totals of 205LF from Culverts 
30LF from Riprap along banks 
6LF for concrete basin 
Total overall impacts are 241LF. 

I say all this not to encourage you to do further work, as your current work was done without authorization, but to tell 
you where you stand. Please remember these impacts are cumulative and last the lifetime of your property regardless 
of if you sell it or hold on to it. It is not wise to try and reach your thresholds and to be frank, if you do we may require 
you add it as a addendum to your deed so a future property owner would know what they are buying. 
If you do decide to do the additional impacts of riprap on the banks for stabilization & the concrete basin, you will 
need to send us updated plans to include that. It will also have to be done in the proper manner (properly sized riprap, 
concrete must cure 30 days before being exposed to Waters of the US, etc) 

I hope that helps. You can think on this & let Joey know if you want an extension or not. Regardless I hope yall enjoy 
your trip. 

Regards, 
Brandee Boggs (she/her) 
SAW‐Regulatory Specialist 
Tues, Wed & Thurs 930‐1800 

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From: Mike Gunter <[e-mail]>  
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2023 7:16 AM 
To: Boggs, Brandee C CIV USARMY CESAD (USA) <[e-mail]> 
Cc: Winston, Joey <[e-mail]> 
Subject: [Non‐DoD Source] Fwd: Request for Additional Information, Lot 98, Mitchell County (DWR #20231304) 

Hey Brandee, 

Will you be able to help me with this, this week as we discussed?   

I need to reply to Joey Winston this week since I will be going out of the country this 
Saturday.  I won't be returning until December 2. The deadline is December first! 

Thanks, and have a great day, 
Mike Gunter 

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 
From: Mike Gunter <[e-mail]> 
Date: Wed, Nov 8, 2023 at 8:53 AM 
Subject: Fwd: Request for Additional Information, Lot 98, Mitchell County (DWR #20231304) 
To: <[e-mail]> 

Good morning Brandee,  
I need your help on this. 
Would you reach out to me by email or phone or text? 828.385.2966. 

Have a great day, 
10
Mike Gunter  

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 
From: Winston, Joey <[e-mail]> 
Date: Fri, Nov 3, 2023, 9:34 AM 
Subject: Request for Additional Information, Lot 98, Mitchell County (DWR #20231304) 
To: Mike Gunter <[e-mail]> 
Cc: [e-mail] <[e-mail]>, Leslie, Andrea J 
<[e-mail]> 

Mr. Gunter, 

On September 19, 2023, the Division of Water Resources (Division) received your application requesting a 401 Water 
Quality Certification from the Division for the subject project. The Division has determined that your application is 
incomplete and cannot be processed. The application is on‐hold until all of the following information is received:  

1. The application does not include plans that depict the impacts to surface waters. The application is for existing 
impacts conducted prior to approval and for the proposed installation of a concrete basin at the convergence 
of the culverts. Please provide plans that include all proposed impacts, with dimensions, and the location of all 
surface water features so the Division can fully evaluate any potential impacts to water quality. [15A NCAC 
02H .0502(a)(9); 15A NCAC 02H .0506(b)(2)] 

2. During a site inspection conducted on May 31, 2023, hydric soils and vegetation were observed on the southern 
and eastern portions of the property. Please verify with the US Army Corps of Engineers that all jurisdictional 
features have been identified and forward confirmation to the Division. The Corps contact for Mitchell County 
is Brandee Boggs ([e-mail], 828‐271‐7980, ext. 4224). [15A NCAC 02H .0502(a)(9); 
15A NCAC 02H .0506(b)(2)] 

3. Please revise impact measurements to accurately reflect total completed and proposed impacts. During a site 
inspection conducted on May 31, 2023, staff measured 127 linear feet of Silver Run and 61 linear feet of the 
unnamed tributary (UT1) of Silver Run were placed within culverts. These measurements do not include areas 
excavated at either end of the culverts or the areas proposed for the installation of a concrete basin, meaning 
the revised measurements should be higher than those measured during the site inspection. [15A NCAC 02H 
.0502(a)(4); 15A NCAC 02H .0502(a)(9)] 

4. The US Army Corps of Engineers determines whether a project is a single and complete project or part of a 
larger common plan of development. Please verify with the Corps the nature of this project with respect to 
the larger subdivision and forward confirmation to the Division. This will determine whether previous impacts 
11
within the subdivision will be included with the impacts from this project towards the compensatory 
mitigation threshold. The Corps contact for Mitchell County is Brandee Boggs 
([e-mail], 828‐271‐7980, ext. 4224). [15A NCAC 02H .0502(a)(4); 15A NCAC 02H 
.0506(b)(4); 15A NCAC 02H .0506(c)(4)] 

5. Applicants must demonstrate that the proposed activities have avoided and minimized impacts to surface 
waters and wetlands. The stated purpose of this project is the construction of a house and driveway. 
However, the streams on the property have been placed in culverts from property line to property line, 
impacting the entire length of streams on the property. Please provide justification for these impacts and 
explain why impacts cannot be reduced, including a discussion of why streams must be culverted outside of 
the footprint of the house and driveway. [15A NCAC 02H .0506(b)(1)] 

Pursuant to Title 15A NCAC 02H .0502(c), the applicant shall furnish all of the above requested information for the 
proper consideration of the application. Please provide your response by December 1, 2023. If all of the requested 
information is not received, the Division will be unable to approve the application and it will be denied as incomplete. 
The denial of this project will necessitate reapplication to the Division for approval, including a complete application 
package and appropriate fee. 

Please let me know if you have any questions. 

Regards, 
Joey 

Joey Winston 
Environmental Specialist II, Division of Water Resources 
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality  
Office: (828) 296‐4685 | Cell: (828) 785‐9171  
[e-mail]  

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