20131282_Other Agency Comments_20090909

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® North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
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I MEMORANDUM
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TO: Melba McGee
Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs, DENR
FROM: Travis Wilson, Highway Project Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
DATE: May 12, 2009
SUBJECT: North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Environmental
Assessment (EA) for the proposed NC 32 Connector, Washington County, North
Carolina. TIP`No. R-3620, SCH Project No. 09-0286
Staff biologists with the N. C. Wildlife Resources Commission have reviewed the subject
EA and are familiar with habitat values in the project area. The purpose of this review was to
assess project impacts to fish and wildlife resources. Our comments are provided in accordance
with certain provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(c)) and the
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667d).
NCDOT proposes to improve connectivity between US 64 and the intersection of NC 32/94
in Washington County. Two alternatives are presented in the EA and represent one improve
existing alternative and one new location alternative, with both alternatives NCDOT has
recommended raising the grade to as high as 6 feet between the sub-grade of the roadway and the
water table. This recommendation has significantly increased both human and environmental
impacts respectively on either alternative, yet on page 2 of the document under H.B.l.b.2. it
states "the existing horizontal and vertical alignments along existing NC 32, NC 94, SR 1139 and
SR 1136 are suitable for the posted speed limits." Prior to selecting a LEDPA for this project
NCDOT should provide a justification for the need to raise the grade of the facility.
Furthermore WRC remains concerned with increased habitat fragmentation that will result
from any new location alternative. This project is in the Section 404/NEPA Merger 01 process,
we will continue to assess alternatives in preparation for concurrence point three, selection of the
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
Memo 2 May 12, 2009
LEDPA. Thank you for the opportunity to comment. If we can be of any further assistance
please call me at [phone].
cc: Gary Jordan, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Raleigh
David Wainwright, DWQ, Raleigh
Bill Biddlecome, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington
Chris Militscher, EPA
Cathy Brittingham, DCM