WQC 3643

WQC #3643
FIRE CONTROL ACTIVITIES CERTIFICATION
GENERAL CERTIFICATION FOR PROJECTS ELIGIBLE FOR CORPS OF
ENGINEERS REGIONAL (GENERAL) PERMIT NUMBER 199200297
(FIRE CONTROL ACTIVITIES ON FEDERAL/STATE OWNED OR OPERATED WILDLIFE AND
RECREATIONAL PROPERTY AND WHEN PERFORMED BY THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE OR
N.C. DIVISION OF FOREST RESOURCES ON PRIVATELY OWNED LAND) AND
NEUSE/TAR-PAMLICO/RANDLEMAN/CATAWBA BUFFER RULES.
This General Certification is issued in conformity with the requirements of Section 401, Public
Laws 92-500 and 95-217 of the United States and subject to the North Carolina Division of Water
Quality Regulations in 15A NCAC 2H, Section .0500 and 15A NCAC 2B .0200 for the discharge
of fill material to waters and wetland areas as described in the Wilmington District's Regional
(General) Permit Number 199200297 (Fire Control Activities on Federal/State Owned or
Operated Wildlife and Recreational Property) and for the Neuse, Tar-Pamlico, Randleman and
Catawba Buffer Rules (15A NCAC 2B .0233, .0259, .0250 and .0243). This Certification replaces
Water Quality Certification (WQC) Number 3350 issued on March 18, 2002 and WQC 3491
issued March 18, 2002. This WQC is rescinded when the Corps of Engineers re-authorizes this
Regional (General) Permit or when deemed appropriate by the Director of the DWQ.
The State of North Carolina certifies that the specified category of activity will not violate
applicable portions of Sections 301, 302, 303, 306 and 307 of the Public Laws 92-500 and 95-217
if conducted in accordance with the conditions hereinafter set forth.
Conditions of Certification:
Proposed fill or substantial modification of waters or wetlands for this General
Certification does not require written concurrence from the Division of Water Quality
as long as the project complies with all conditions of this General Certification;
2. In accordance with North Carolina General Statute Section 143-215.3D(e), any
request for written concurrence fora 401 Water Quality Certification must include the
appropriate fee. If a project also requires a CAMA Permit, one payment to both
agencies shall be submitted and will be the higher of the two fees. The fee shall be
collected and distributed between the two agencies in accordance with agreements
reached between the Division of Water Quality and the Division of Coastal
Management;
3. Undisturbed buffers of at least 50 feet in width shall be left adjacent to both sides of
all permanent or intermittent streams shown on the most recent version of the
1:24,000 USGS topographic map or county soil survey in order to maintain water
quality. Periodic interruptions in this buffer are acceptable for vehicular access if
clearly shown on a map with written approval of DWQ;
4. Impacts to any stream length in the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico River Basins (or any
other river basins with Buffer Rules in effect at the time of application) requires
written concurrence from DWQ in accordance with 15A NCAC 26.0233, .0259,
.0250 and .0243. Activities listed as "exempt" from these rules do not need to apply
for written concurrence under this Certification. New development activities located
in the protected 50-foot wide riparian areas (whether jurisdictional wetlands or not)
within the Neuse, Tar-Pamlico, Randleman and Catawba River Basins shall be
limited to "uses" identified within and constructed in accordance with 15A NCAC 2B
.0233, .0259, .0250 and .0243. All new development shall be located, designed,
constructed, and maintained to have minimal disturbance to protect water quality to
the maximum extent practicable through the use of best management practices;

WQC #3643
5. Fire breaks should be plowed across any wet drains to the maximum extent possible,
rather than parallel to or within wet drains;
6. That appropriate sediment and erosion control practices which equal or exceed those
outlined in the most recent version of the "North Carolina Sediment and Erosion
Control Planning and Design Manual" or the "North Carolina Surface Mining Manual"
whichever is more appropriate (available from the Division of Land Resources (DLR)
in the DENR Regional or Central Offices) shall be in full compliance with all
specifications governing the proper design, installation and operation and
maintenance of such Best Management Practices in order to assure compliance with
the appropriate turbidity water quality standard;
7. All sediment and erosion control measures placed in wetlands or waters shall be
removed and the natural grade restored after the Division of Land Resources has
released the project;
8. If an environmental document is required, this Certification is not valid until a Finding
of No Signficant Impact (FONSI) or Record of Decision (ROD) is issued by the State
Clearinghouse;
9. Concurrence from DWQ that this Certification applies to an individual project shall
expire three years from the date of the cover letter from DWQ or on the same day as
the expiration date of the corresponding Regional Permit 199200297, whichever is
sooner;
10. Projects with any impacts to streams, wetlands, and/or waters that have received a
Notice of Violation from the Division of Land Resources and/or the Division of Water
Quality are required to submit a complete application and receive written concurrence
to-use this Certification regardless of the proposed impact amount to streams,
wetlands, and waters.
11. When written concurrence is required, the applicant is required to use the most
recent version of the Certification of Completion form to notify DWQ when all work
included in the 401 Certification has been completed;
12. Standard Erosion and Sediment Control Practices:
Erosion and sediment control practices must be in full compliance with all
specifications governing the proper design, installation and operation and
maintenance of such Best Management Practices:
a. Erosion and sediment control measures for the project must be designed,
installed, operated, and maintained in accordance with the most recent version
of the North Carolina Sediment and Erosion Control Planning and Design
Manual.
b. Design, installation, operation, and maintenance of the sediment and erosion
control measures must be such that they equal, or exceed, the requirements
specified in the most recent version of the North Carolina Sediment and Erosion
Control Manual. The devices shall be maintained on all construction sites,
borrow sites, and waste pile (spoil) projects, including contractor-owned or
leased borrow pits associated with the project.
c. For borrow pit sites, the erosion and sediment control measures must be
designed, installed, operated, and maintained in accordance with the most
recent version of the North Carolina Surface Mining Manual.
d. Reclamation measures and implementation must comply with the reclamation in
accordance with the requirements of the Sedimentation Pollution Control Act.

WQC #3643
e. Sufficient materials required for stabilization and/or repair of erosion control
measures and stormwater routing and treatment shall be on site at all times.
13. No Impacts Beyond those in Application
No waste, spoil, solids, or fill of any kind shall occur in wetlands, waters, or riparian
areas beyond the footprint of the impacts depicted in the Pre-construction
Notification. All construction activities, including the design, installation, operation,
and maintenance of sediment and erosion control Best Management Practices, shall
be performed so that no violations of state water quality standards, statutes, or rules
occur.
14. No Sediment and Erosion Control Measures in Wetlands
Sediment and erosion control measures shall not be placed in wetlands or waters to
the maximum extent practicable. If placement of sediment and erosion control
devices in wetlands and waters is unavoidable, they shall be removed and the
natural grade restored within six months of the date that the Division of Land
Resources or locally delegated program has released the project.
Non-compliance with or violation of the conditions herein set forth by a specific fill project shall
result in revocation of this Certification for the project and may result in criminal and/or civil
penalties.
The Director of the North Carolina Division of Water Quality may require submission of a formal
application for Individual Certification for any project in this category of activity if it is determined
that the project is likely to have a significant adverse effect upon water quality including state or
federally listed endangered or threatened aquatic species or degrade the waters so that existing
uses of the wetland or downstream waters are precluded.
Public hearings may be held for specific applications or group of applications prior to a
Certification decision if deemed in the public's best interest by the Director of the North Carolina
Division of Water Quality.
Effective date: 19 March 2007
DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY
By

Alan W. Klimek, P.E.
Director
WQC#3643