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Home My WebLink About20191629 Ver 1_Final USFWS Letter_20191125 Via E-Mail August 21, 2019 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Raleigh Ecological Services P.O. Box 33726 Raleigh, NC 27636 Attention: Mr. Pete Benjamin, Field Supervisor Re: Request for Information and Comment Proposed Sewer Project Piney Grove Wilbon Road Portions of Wake Co. Parcel #s 0648736743, 0948837205, & 0648837540 Holly Springs, Wake County, North Carolina H&H Job No. FAK-120 Dear Pete: Hart & Hickman, PC (H&H) is requesting information concerning protected species and habitats on or near the above-referenced site (hereafter referred to as the “Site”). This request is submitted for proposed wetlands permitting actions for a sewer project. The anticipated permitting actions will not involve the use of Federal funds. The Site consists of an approximate 2,500-foot sanitary sewer line extension located in an existing easement northeast of Bayham Drive and east of Piney Grove Wilbon Road in Holly Springs, Wake County, North Carolina (Site or subject Site; see Figure 1). An 8-inch force main was previously constructed in association with the Wildwood Subdivision located adjacent to the east of the Site in order to connect the existing sanitary sewer pump station along Piney Grove Wilbon Road to the subdivision. At the time of construction, the Town of Holly Springs required a 40-foot wide easement be maintained for maintenance, and future gravity and force main extensions. The Site consists predominately of a maintained easement area and undeveloped wooded land. Surrounding properties include vacant undeveloped land to the north Mr. Pete Benjamin August 21, 2019 Page 2 of 6 \\HHFS01\MasterFiles\AAA-Master Projects\Freeland Kauffman - FAK\FAK-120 Lowe's Sewer Line Extension Holly Springs\PCN Application\Agency Letters\US FWS.docx and south, and single-family residential structures to the east and west. Representative Site photos are attached to this letter. In order to investigate the potential presence of protected flora and fauna on the Site, H&H completed the following activities: • contacted the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) by a similar letter; • reviewed the Federal Threatened and Endangered Species List for Wake County in North Carolina on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (US FWS) website http://www.fws.gov/endangered/; • reviewed the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Natural Heritage Program on-line database for records of Federal Threatened and Endangered species occurrences for Wake County on the DEQ website http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/nhp/database-search; • reviewed the Federal Registry and the US FWS information pertaining to Federally- Designated Critical Habitats at the US FWS website http://crithab.fws.gov; and • conducted an on-Site visual survey in order to field screen the Site and peripheral areas for federally protected species or their habitats. NC WRC H&H requested comment on the potential presence of protected flora and fauna on the Site from the NC WRC by a similar letter. A response from NC WRC is pending. Federal Threatened and Endangered Species H&H reviewed the US FWS Federal Threatened and Endangered Species List for Wake County, North Carolina which includes the following protected species: • Red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) – Endangered (current) • Dwarf wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon) – Endangered (current) Mr. Pete Benjamin August 21, 2019 Page 3 of 6 \\HHFS01\MasterFiles\AAA-Master Projects\Freeland Kauffman - FAK\FAK-120 Lowe's Sewer Line Extension Holly Springs\PCN Application\Agency Letters\US FWS.docx • Tar River spinymussel (Parvaspina steinstansana) – Endangered (current) • Yellow lance (Elliptio lanceolate) – Threatened (current) • Michaux’s sumac (Rhus michauxii) – Endangered (current) • Cape Fear shiner (Notropis mekistocholas) – Endangered (current) North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Natural Heritage Program (NHP) H&H reviewed the North Carolina NHP on-line database for records of Federal Threatened and Endangered species for Wake County, North Carolina which includes the following protected species: • Red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) – Endangered (historic) • Dwarf wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon) – Endangered (current) • Yellow lance (Elliptio lanceolata) – Threatened (current) • Michaux’s sumac (Rhus michauxii) – Endangered (current) • Rusty-patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) – Endangered (current) • Northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) – Threatened with a 4(d) rule (historic) Critical Habitats H&H reviewed federal registry information pertaining to Federally-Designated Threatened and Endangered Species Critical Habitats for the aforementioned species on-line at the US FWS critical habitats on-line mapper. No Federally-Designated Critical Habitats were identified in the Site area. Visual Survey In March 2019, H&H conducted a visual survey of the Site. Areas of potential habitat for Federally protected species were investigated on the subject Site. Although pine species were observed on the subject Site, H&H determined that suitable habitat does not exist for the Red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis). The pine trees observed Mr. Pete Benjamin August 21, 2019 Page 4 of 6 \\HHFS01\MasterFiles\AAA-Master Projects\Freeland Kauffman - FAK\FAK-120 Lowe's Sewer Line Extension Holly Springs\PCN Application\Agency Letters\US FWS.docx on-Site were intermediate growth and are less than 60 years old. Additionally, in the areas of observed pine, the understory consisted primarily of dense scrub-shrub growth. H&H did not observe resin cavities within pine trees indicative of Red-cockaded woodpecker roosting habitat. According to the Dwarf wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon) guidance on US FWS Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office website, the Dwarf wedgemussel is typically found in hydrologically stable streams and rivers and is highly threatened by domestic and agricultural pollution. Although H&H observed portions of Basal Creek and a perennial tributary of Basal Creek on-Site, the stream sections are located adjacent to major roadways and subdivisions, and receive large amounts of runoff and sedimentation from the roadways and residences. In addition, both streams appear to be highly eroded further degrading the streambed with sediments. H&H has determined that the potential for the Dwarf wedgemussel to be present at the project Site is low. H&H did not observe evidence of the Tar River spinymussel (Parvaspina steinstansana) or its habitat on the subject Site. According to the Tar River spinymussel (Parvaspina steinstansana) guidance on US FWS Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office website, the Tar River spinymussel exists in silt-free, fast-flowing, and well oxygenated streams with gravel or coarse sand substrate, which was not observed within the portion of Basal Creek or the unnamed tributary of Basal Creek located on the Site. In addition, both streams appear to be highly eroded further degrading the streambed with sediments. Populations of the Tar River spinymussel have been documented to exist within the Little River within the Neuse River basin. The project Site is not located in nor is it hydraulically connected to Little River. H&H has determined that the potential for the Tar River spinymussel to be present at the project Site is low. H&H did not observe evidence of the Yellow lance (Elliptio lanceolata) or its habitat on the subject Site. Yellow lance occurs in clean, moderately flowing streams and rivers with high dissolved oxygen, which was not observed within the portion of Basal Creek or the unnamed tributary of Basal Creek located on the Site. As noted above, the quality of streams on-Site is Mr. Pete Benjamin August 21, 2019 Page 5 of 6 \\HHFS01\MasterFiles\AAA-Master Projects\Freeland Kauffman - FAK\FAK-120 Lowe's Sewer Line Extension Holly Springs\PCN Application\Agency Letters\US FWS.docx compromised. Pollution has highly limited the Yellow lance that generally depends on clean, high water quality. H&H has determined that the potential for the Yellow lance to be present at the project Site is low. H&H identified potentially suitable habitat for Michaux’s sumac (Rhus michauxii) within the force main and utility easement on the Site. Michaux’s sumac occurs in areas of full to partial sun and is often associated with habitat disturbance, such as land clearing, fires, or grazing. H&H evaluated the potential areas of habitat and did not identify occurrences of this species during the visual survey of the Site. H&H observed large amounts of Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and other grasses within the easements on the Site. The easements appeared to be subject to regular mechanical and/or chemical vegetation management, and therefore, could not serve as critical habitat for these species. Due to the lack of observed occurrences of Michaux’s sumac and vegetation management that is observed to regularly occur within the easement, H&H determined suitable habitat does not exist for this species. H&H did not observe evidence of the Cape Fear shiner (Notropis mekistocholas) or its habitat on the subject Site. According to the Cape Fear shiner (Notropis mekistocholas) guidance on US FWS Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office website, the Cape Fear shiner is typically associated with streams with gravel, cobble, and boulder substrates, which was not observed within the portion of Basal Creek or the unnamed tributary of Basal Creek located on the Site. Populations of the Cape Fear shiner have been documented to exist in tributaries and mainstems of the Deep River, Haw River, Rocky River, and Cape Fear River. The project Site is not located in nor is it hydraulically connected to these rivers. H&H has determined that the potential for the Cape Fear shiner to be present at the project Site is low. H&H did not observe evidence of the Rusty-patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) or its habitat within the project Site. According to the US FWS Rusty-patched bumble bee guidance on endangered species act implementation website, the Rusty-patched bumble bee has likely been Mr. Pete Benjamin August 21, 2019 Page 6 of 6 \\HHFS01\MasterFiles\AAA-Master Projects\Freeland Kauffman - FAK\FAK-120 Lowe's Sewer Line Extension Holly Springs\PCN Application\Agency Letters\US FWS.docx extirpated from Wake County. Therefore, H&H has determined that the potential for the Rusty- patched bumble bee to be present at the project Site is low. H&H identified potentially suitable habitat for the Northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) on the project Site. H&H observed intermediate and mature growth trees, and dead and dying mature trees with exfoliating bark and cavities. However, H&H did not observe caves on-Site, and therefore, a hibernaculum does not exist on-Site. Additionally, the forested areas near the subject Site are highly fragmented by subdivisions, commercial development, and roadways. Furthermore, according to the North Carolina NHP on-line database, the Northern long-eared bat was historically present within Wake County. Therefore, H&H has determined that it is unlikely that the Northern long-eared bat exists at the project Site. During the survey, H&H did not observe evidence of federally listed species or their suitable habitats on the Site. Please review the above information and provide a written response as to the potential for this project to affect protected species. If possible, please respond to this request within 30 days. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Sincerely, Hart & Hickman, PC Matt Bramblett, PE Dan McCauley Principal Staff Environmental Scientist Attachments 0 2000 4000 APPROXIMATE SCALE IN FEET N U.S.G.S. QUADRANGLE MAP QUADRANGLE 7.5 MINUTE SERIES (TOPOGRAPHIC) SITE MAP: APEX, NC 2002 TITLE PROJECT SITE LOCATION MAP SEWER LINE EXTENSION PINEY GROVE WILBON ROAD HOLLY SPRINGS, NORTH CAROLINA DATE: JOB NO: REVISION NO: FIGURE: 03-20-19 0 1FAK-120 SITE Photograph 1: Existing utility line easement located on the Site. Photograph 2: Wetland ‘A’ in the eastern portion of the Site.FAK-120PROPOSED SEWER LINE EXTENSION PINEY GROVE WILBON ROAD HOLLY SPRINGS, NORTH CAROLINA 2923 S. Tryon Street, Suite 100 Charlotte, NC 28203 704.586.0007(p) 704.586.0373(f) Photograph 3: Wetland ‘B’ in the northeastern portion of the Site. Photograph 4: Wetland ‘C’ in the western portion of the Site.FAK-120PROPOSED SEWER LINE EXTENSION PINEY GROVE WILBON ROAD HOLLY SPRINGS, NORTH CAROLINA 2923 S. Tryon Street, Suite 100 Charlotte, NC 28203 704.586.0007(p) 704.586.0373(f) Photograph 5: SCA as viewed from the east. Photograph 6: SCB (Basal Creek) as viewed from the northwest. FAK-120PROPOSED SEWER LINE EXTENSION PINEY GROVE WILBON ROAD HOLLY SPRINGS, NORTH CAROLINA 2923 S. Tryon Street, Suite 100 Charlotte, NC 28203 704.586.0007(p) 704.586.0373(f)