20091138 Ver 1_Information Letter_20090804

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United States Department of the Interior
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Asheville Field Office
160 Zillicoa Street
Asheville, North Carolina 28801
August 1, 2006
Mr. William T. Goodwin, Jr., P.E.,
Bridge Project Development Unit Head
Attention: Mr. Dennis Pipkin, Project Development Engineer
North Carolina Department of Transportation
1551 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1551
Dear Mr. Goodwin:
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Subject: Bridge Replacements in North Carolina - Catawba County (TIP No. B-4456),
Cleveland County (TIP No. B-4468), Gaston County (TIP Nos. B-4517 and B-4519),
Iredell County (TIP No. B-4553), and Rutherford County (TIP No. B-4632)
We have reviewed the subject bridge replacement projects and are providing the following
comments in accordance with the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, as amended (16 U.S.C.
661-667e);, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703, et seq.) (MBTA); and section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) (Act).
Fish and Wildlife Resources - The information provided for these six projects does not include
detailed descriptions of the structures that will replace the existing bridges; therefore, our
comments are general. We will provide more substantive comments when the categorical
exclusions are prepared. In all cases we recommend that an existing bridge be replaced with a
new bridge, and we request that National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents for these
projects consider replacing existing bridges with new bridges as an alternative. If an alternative
is chosen that does not replace an existing bridge with a new bridge, such as an alternative that
involves the replacement of an existing bridge with a culvert, we request that the NEPA
document include an evaluation as to why an alternative of replacing an existing bridge with a
new bridge was not chosen.
We recommend that each new bridge design include provisions for the roadbed and deck
drainage to flow through a vegetated buffer prior to reaching the affected stream. This buffer
should be large enough to alleviate any potential effects from the runoff of storm water and
pollutants. The bridge designs should not alter the natural stream or the stream-bank
morphology or impede fish passage. Any piers or bents should be placed outside the bank-full
ed to avoid any fill that will
es and approaches should be d a g If spanning the floodplain is
The bridg annel or floodp roaches in order to
the streams. lain portion of the approaches,
width of constriction
pp velocities of
result in the damming or of the c lain and reduce high
not feasible, culverts should cal n ?tions of the floodp
logi
restore some of the hydro
floodwaters within the affected areas. lace prior to any ground-disturbing
In most
and sedimentation should be in p stream. In staged
Measures to control erosion anconstructing
vibes. Wet concrete shoulde replace never be allowed to come mso contact with a -
activities. the new bridge through
d inp lace
off by site rout
cases we prefer that abridge traffic to existing native plant
construction or by detouring end that only such as
When resee we strongly recomm species
etating disturbed areas, of be found, that noninvasiveo fthe exotic
dinglreveg le many
adequate seed source cane roven beneficial to
species be used or, if an plants can reestablish themselves. While
e be used until native anon efforts have p
outweighs any
annual rye) used in erosion-control and reclamation
, including tall
plant species typically now know that the invasive nature of these species
species, we may provide. Exotic species redtop (a
som e Wildlife sp eastern Asia species), entucky
erosion control or wildlife benefits they and K bluegrass
short term Korean and Sericea lespedeza (
ass and Bermuda grass (native to Africa),
fescue (native to ES dan gr out native vegetation and oft r- ental to the
Eurasian species), ern Canada) choke be very (native to Eurasia and north
monocultures that prove to be of little benefit to wildlife and can whole. killing; possession,
ecosystem as a rohibits the taking, s
The MBTA (16U -S.C. 703-712) P the bald eagle), their eggs, Part' .
Migratory Birds - atory birds (including es and any
importation of migrthe Department of the Intenor. To ge
transportation, vavoid
and authorized by
when specifically a isual inspection ai he b rd nesting
and nests, except birds, we recommend conducting the migr ro ect
atory areaduring in the p ortation
impacts to migr habitat within the project
atory bird nesting migratory birds aze discovered ne?s? g t of Transp .
other migratory September. If ason (March
season--March throu existing bridges, the Nort h C at 1 bird nesting se to the
on the (luring the migr ears p
impact area, including acting the nests d on the bridges during y measures to
(NCDOT) should avoid imp should develop
ation with us,
through September). If birds are discoverer nesting
ill
nests on the bridges by means that `F not result in the take .
proposed construction date, the NCDOT,
s, or the NCDOT should avoid construction and demolition ac- -ties during
discourage birds from establishing
of the birds or egg arily to the
the nesting period. species are limited Prim
Listed Species - Our comments about listed Federally and federal species of ton Cconcern.ounty. We encourage the NCD OT to
known locations of listed species acts and
muhlenbergii) occurs in Gas ated, you should avoid those imp n surveys
The bog turtle (Clemmys acts are anticipi
contact the ssi I who Partrctpates actively, .
assess habitat for the bog turtle. If imp does not require
North Carolina Wildlife Resources o
efforts for the bog turtle. While the bog turtle technically
and conservation
species of concern, and the NCDOT is actively managing
section 7 consultation, it is a sp ecies.
NO 4_2 06 358. The
mitigation sites or parts of sites for this species.
Bridge over interstate 40, our Log laced in place, an
TIP No. B-4456, It will be rep listed 40 within an urbanized area).
Catawba County - occurrences of federally listed
existing bridge is over Interstate e , TO ec
off-site detour will be used, and there are no known
existing believe this p J
species near the project t will affect any
area; therefore, we do not
species. gun Creek, our Log No. 4-2-06-359.
No B4468, Bridge over Sandy threatened
indicate occurrences ofiOh ectfederally
Cleveland County - TU ' We recommend
ifl ora) near the P1
Our records for Cleveland County
suitable habitat in the project. area for this
dwarf-flowered
habitat a sessments and surveying nansurveying any May
conducting period of March through
species during its flowering p our Log No. 4-2-06-360. The
Gaston County - T? N°• B-4517, Bridge over Crowder's Creaenka Georgia aster
ii) schweinitz occur in Gaston County We
itatin the project area
endangered Schweimtz's sunflower aan edata forsfederal listing, August through
(SYmnmen ichum suitable hab
habitat assessmentfoan _
ctingh habitat
S hWe1mt,s surdlower is late recommend conducting mid-November. The
ecies. The best time to survey is aster is October through open, and
for these sp for Georg a candidate for
October. The best time to survey listed, the Georgia aster is currently sunflower a aster is found in habitats similar to that of the S Georgia
that there are v?etlands south and
often Georgi Though not federally these wetlands
'
federal disturbed listing and areacs ould be listed in the near future. It app
northwest of the bridge, within the project studle area. We recommend avoiding
and surveying any suitable habitat for the bog turt.
our Log No. 4-2-06-361. The
-T JP No. B-4519, Bridge over Little Long Creek, in G? Georgia aster also occuru tableshab at in the project
Gaston County ect area
crossing, Little
endangered Sch ctihabitatassessanments and surveyioogthe subject bridge
recommend conduuctingng 0-5 mile downstream Meadow
ecies. Approximately listed by the North Carolina Natural Heritage
for these sp Meadow Bog, turtle in Friday
Long Creek flows into Friday stream, . we strongly
Program as a state significant site. There are occurrences of the °g encourage the NCDOT
and ensure that sediment and erosion-control
Creek. Since the bog and the bog turtle occur down
to replace the existingbridge with abridge and e project construction so that sediment does not
measures are in place and maintained throughout
leave the site and impact the downstream bog No 4-2-06-362.
e over Fourth Creek, our Log species in Iredell
occurrences of federalylisted will affect any listed
Iredell County "TIP NOB 4553, Bridge
According to our records there are e do not blieve this project
County or near the project area;
species. NO. 4-2-06-363. The
TIP No, B-4632, Bridge over all whorled our Log
dwarf;flowered heartleaf and small pogonia (Isotria medeoloides)
R federally d e tened
federally 3
4'
and the federally endangered white irisette (Sisyrinchium dichotomum) occur in Rutherford
County. We recommend conducting habitat assessments and surveying any suitable habitat in
the project area for these species during their flowering period of March through May for ... .
dwarf-flowered heartleaf, mid-May through early July for small whorled pogonia, and late May
through July for white irisette. There is winter habitat for the federally endangered Indiana bat
(Myotis sodalis) in Rutherford County. A visual survey of the bridge should be conducted to
ensure that bats are not using the bridge for temporary roosting. The NCDOT should check for
caves and mines near the project area and within its right-of-way. If there are no caves or mines
within or near the project area and if no Indiana bats are discovered using the bridge as a
temporary roosting site, the NCDOT can determine that the project will have no effect on the
Indiana bat. However, if there are caves or mines in the area and if the caves or mines will be
directly or indirectly impacted by the project, consultation should be initiated with this office
if we can be of assistance or if you have any questions about these comments, please contact
Ms. Denise Moldenhauer of our staff at 828/258-3939, Ext. 226.
Sincerely,
Brian P. Cole
/ Field Supervisor
cc:
Ms. Marla J. Chambers, Western NCDOT Permit Coordinator, North Carolina Wildlife
Resources Commission, 4614 Wilgrove-Mint Hill Road, Suite M, Charlotte, NC 28227
Mr. Brian Wrenn, North Carolina Division of Water Quality, Central Office, 2321 Crabtree
Blvd., Suite 250, Raleigh, NC 27604
Ms. Polly Lespinasse, Mooresville Regional Office, North Carolina Division of Water Quality,
610 East Center Avenue, Suite 301, Mooresville, NC 28115
Mr. Steve Lund, Asheville Regulatory Field Office, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 151 Patton
Avenue, Room 208, Asheville, NC 28801-5006