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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20200202 Ver 1_USACE Permit_20200415 (2)DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY Wilmington District, Corps of Engineers 69 Darlington Avenue Wilmington, North Carolina 28403-1343 http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/Missions/Re ug latoo PermitPro am.aspx General Permit No. 197800056 Name of Permittee: General Public Effective Date: January 1, 2017 Expiration Date: December 31, 2021 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY GENERAL (REGIONAL) PERMIT A general permit to perform work in or affecting navigable waters of the United States and waters of the United States, upon recommendation of the Chief of Engineers, pursuant to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of March 3, 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403), and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344), is hereby modified and renewed by authority of the Secretary of the Army by District Engineer U.S. Army Engineer District, Wilmington Corps of Engineers 69 Darlington Avenue Wilmington, North Carolina 28403-1343 TO MAINTAIN, REPAIR, CONSTRUCT AND INSTALL PIERS, DOCKS, BOATHOUSES AND BOAT SHELTERS, PILINGS, MOORING BOUYS, DOLPHINS, JETTIES, GROINS AND BREAKWATER STRUCTURES IN NAVIGABLE WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. Projects must be constructed in conformance with the following standards in order to be authorized by this RGP. 1. All piers, docks, boathouses and boat shelters will be pile -supported or floating structures. 2. Pilings, dolphins, jetties and breakwater structures maybe constructed of wood, metal, or pre -cast concrete. Groins may be constructed of wood, pre -cast concrete, or rock riprap. 3. Breakwater structures will be designed to provide for adequate water circulation landward of the structures. This RGP does not authorize excavation or the discharge of excavated or fill material within Waters of the US, except for the placement of structures for jetty, breakwater or groin construction. This RGP does not authorize any work on Atlantic Ocean beaches. The following definitions should be used for purposes of this regional general permit (RGP): a. Mean high water mark (MHWM): The line on the shore, in tidal water, reached by the plane of the mean (average) high water. The precise determination of the actual location of the line can be established by survey with the reference to the available tidal datum, preferably averaged over a period of 18.6 years. A less precise method, such as observation of the apparent shoreline, which is determined by reference to physical markings, lines of vegetation, may be used for the purpose of this permit. b. Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM)-. The line on the shore, in non -tidal waters, established by the fluctuations of water indicated by physical characteristics such as clear, natural line impressed on the bank; shelving changes in the soil; destruction of terrestrial vegetation; the presence of litter and debris; or other appropriate means that consider the characteristics of the surrounding areas. Special Conditions a. Authorized structures located on or adjacent to Federally authorized waterways will be constructed in accordance with the latest setback criteria established by the Wilmington District Engineer. You may review the setback policy at hqp://www.saw.usace.anny.mil/Missions/Navigation/Setbacks.aWx. This general permit does not authorize the construction of hardened or permanently fixed structures within the Federally Authorized Channel Setback, unless the activity is approved by the Corps. The permittee must submit the information described in General Condition "x" and obtain approval from the Corps prior to the construction of any structures within the Federally Authorized Channel Setback. b. Floating structures installed within the Federally Authorized Channel Setback must be designed to be removable. No utilities or infrastructure shall be permanently fixed/attached to floating structures located within the Federally Authorized Channel Setback. The permittee must submit the information described in General Condition "x" and obtain approval from the Wilmington District Corps of Engineers (Corps) prior to the construction of any structures within the Federally Authorized Channel Setback. c. This general permit does not authorize construction across or into any natural or manmade channel or waterbody in any manner that may adversely affect navigation by the general public. 2 d. Piers, docks, boathouses, boat shelters and piles authorized by this general permit may be extended or be located up to 400 feet waterward of the Mean High Water Mark (MHWM) elevation contour (tidal areas) or the Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) elevation contour (non -tidal areas) or one-third (1/3) the width of a waterbody, whichever is closer to the shoreline, except as otherwise governed by the presence of a Federally maintained channel. e. The width of any pier will not exceed six (6) feet, unless the Corps determines, in writing, that a greater width is necessary for safe use, to improve public access, or to support a water dependent use that cannot otherwise occur. f. The total square footage of shaded impact for docks and mooring facilities (excluding the pier) allowed shall be 8 square feet per linear foot of shoreline with a maximum of 800 square feet. In calculating the shaded impact, uncovered open water slips shall not be counted in the total. The maximum size of any individual component of the docking facility (excluding the pier) authorized by this General Permit shall not exceed 400 square feet unless the Corps determines, in writing, that a greater width is necessary for safe use, to improve public access, or to support a water dependent use that cannot otherwise occur. g. Boathouses and boat shelters will not be enclosed and will not exceed 400 square feet. Boatlifts will be open and will not exceed 400 square feet. h. Boathouses, boatlifts, boat shelters and will not be constructed over Federally jurisdictional wetlands. i. Docks and piers extending over wetlands will be elevated sufficiently (minimum of 3 feet) above the wetland substrate to prevent total shading of vegetation, substrate, or other elements of the aquatic environment. j. Groins, jetties or breakwater structures shall not be constructed in wetlands, seagrasses and other submerged aquatic vegetation. k. Piers and docking facilities located over submerged aquatic vegetation may be constructed without prior consultation from the National Marine Fisheries Service if the following two conditions are met: 1. Water depth at the docking facility location is equal to or greater than two feet of water at mean low water level: and 2. The pier and docking facility is located to minimize the area of submerged aquatic vegetation under the structure. 1. Floating piers and docking facilities located over submerged aquatic vegetation shall be allowed if the water depth between the bottom of the proposed structure and the substrate is at least 18 inches at mean low water level. 3 m. Jetties will not extend farther than 100 feet waterward of the MHWM (tidal areas) or the OHWM elevation contours. n. This general permit does not authorize the installation of fueling facilities on authorized structures. o. Riprap groins shall not exceed a base width of 10 feet. p. Riprap groins must be constructed of clean rock or masonry material and be of sufficient size to prevent displacement by wave or current action. q. No groin shall extend more than 25 feet waterward of the mean high water or normal water level elevation contour. r. Groins and jetties shall not be located within primary nursery areas. s. No jetty shall be constructed during the period between April 1 and September 30, unless the activity is approved by NCDMF and the NMFS. t. Floating structures will be supported by material that will not become waterlogged or sink when punctured, will be installed to provide for fluctuations of water elevation, will be designed so that the structure will not rest on the bottom of the waterbody at any time and will be secured in such manner as to not break away. u. Breakwater structures will be no longer than 500 feet. They will have a minimum of one -inch openings between standard width (6 to 12-inch) sheathing boards and at least one, five-foot wide opening for each 100 linear feet of structure. v. Breakwater structures may not be constructed so as to prohibit access to estuarine waters or public trust areas. w. If the display of lights and signals on the authorized structure is not otherwise provided for by law, such lights and signals as may be prescribed by the U.S. Coast Guard will be installed and maintained by and at the expense of the permittee. x. It is possible that the authorized structure may be damaged by wave wash from passing vessels. The issuance of this permit does not relieve the permittee from taking all proper steps to ensure the integrity of the permitted structure and the safety of moored boats. The permittee will not hold the United States liable for any such damage. y. This general permit does not authorize habitable structures or any structure or associated facility for non -water related use. z. Structures and their attendant utilities, authorized by this general permit, located on lands subject to an easement in favor of the United States for the operation, maintenance, improvement, and enlargement of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway M (AIWW), will be removed at the expense of the permittee, in the event that, in the judgment of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers acting on behalf of the United States, the lands are needed at any time for any purpose within the scope of the easement. Permanent buildings will not be constructed within the easement. aa. This general permit does not apply to structures within existing or proposed marinas as defined by North Carolina Administrative Code, Title 15, Subchapter 7H.0208(b)(5). bb. Should all or part of a proposed development activity be located in an Area of Environmental Concern (AEC) as designated by the North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission, a Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) permit is required from the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management before the onset of the proposed activity. Should a Federal activity within any one of North Carolina's twenty coastal counties or which could affect a coastal use or resource in any one of North Carolina's twenty coastal counties be proposed by a Federal agency, a consistency determination pursuant to Subpart "C" of 15 CFR 930 must be prepared and submitted by that Federal agency to the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management before the onset of the proposed activity. General Conditions. a. Except as authorized by this general permit or any Corps approved modification to this general permit, no excavation, fill or mechanized land -clearing activities shall take place within waters or wetlands, at any time in the construction or maintenance of this project. This permit does not authorize temporary placement or double handling of excavated or fill material within waters or wetlands outside the permitted area. This prohibition applies to all borrow and fill activities connected with this project. b. Authorization under this general permit does not obviate the need to obtain other federal, state, or local authorizations. c. All work authorized by this general permit must comply with the terms and conditions of the applicable Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification for this general permit issued by the North Carolina Division of Water Resources. d. The permittee shall employ all sedimentation and erosion control measures necessary to prevent an increase in sedimentation or turbidity within waters and wetlands outside the permit area. This shall include, but is not limited to, the immediate installation of silt fencing or similar appropriate devices around all areas subject to soil disturbance or the movement of earthen fill, and the immediate stabilization of all disturbed areas. Additionally, the project must remain in full compliance with all aspects of the Sedimentation Pollution Control Act of 1973 (North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 113A Article 4). 5 e. The activities authorized by this general permit must not interfere with the public's right to free navigation on all navigable waters of the United States. No attempt will be made by the permittee to prevent the full and free use by the public of all navigable waters at or adjacent to the authorized work for a reason other than safety. f. The permittee understands and agrees that, if future operations by the United States require the removal, relocation, or other alteration, of the structure or work herein authorized, or if, in the opinion of the Secretary of the Army or his/her authorized representative, said structure or work shall cause unreasonable obstruction to the free navigation of the navigable waters, the permittee will be required, upon due notice from the Corps of Engineers, to remove, relocate, or alter the structural work or obstructions caused thereby, without expense to the United States. No claim shall be made against the United States on account of any such removal or alteration. g. The permittee, upon receipt of a notice of revocation of the permit for the verified individual activity, may apply for an individual permit, or will, without expense to the United States and in such time and manner as the Secretary of the Army or his/her authorized representative may direct, restore the affected water of the United States to its former conditions. h. This General Permit does not authorize any activity that would conflict with a federal project's congressionally authorized purposes, established limitations or restrictions, or limit an agency's ability to conduct necessary operation and maintenance functions. Per Section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, as amended (33 U.S.C. 408), no project that has the potential to take possession of or make use of for any purpose, or build upon, alter, deface, destroy, move, injure, or obstruct a federally constructed work or project, including, but not limited to, levees, dams, jettys, navigation channels, borrow areas, dredged material disposal sites, flood control projects, etc., shall be permitted unless the project has been reviewed and approved by the appropriate Corps approval authority. The permittee must submit the information described in General Condition 'Y' and obtain approval from the Wilmington District Engineer prior to the initiation of any activity that has the potential to modify or conflict with a federally authorized project. i. The permittee shall obtain a Consent to Cross Government Easement from the Wilmington District's Land Use Coordinator prior to any crossing of the Corps easement and/or prior to commencing construction of any structures, authorized dredging or other work within the right-of-way of, or in proximity to, a federally designated disposal area. The Land Use Coordinator may be contacted at: CESAW-OP-N, 69 Darlington Avenue, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403-1343, email: SAWWeb-NAVkusace.army.mil.j. The permittee will allow the Wilmington District Engineer or his/her representative to inspect the authorized activity at any time deemed necessary to assure that the activity is being performed or maintained in strict accordance with the Special and General Conditions of this permit. 2 k. This general permit does not grant any property rights or exclusive privileges. 1. This permit does not authorize any injury to the property or rights of others. in. This general permit does not authorize the interference with any existing or proposed federal project. n. In issuing this permit, the Federal Government does not assume any liability for the following: (1) Damages to the permitted project or uses thereof as a result of other permitted or unpermitted activities or from natural causes. (2) Damages to the permitted project or uses thereof as a result of current or future activities undertaken by or on behalf of the United States in the public interest. (3) Damages to persons, property, or to other permitted or unpermitted activities or structures caused by the activity authorized by this permit. (4) Design or construction deficiencies associated with the permitted work (5) Damage claims associated with any future modification, suspension, or revocation of this permit. o. Authorization provided by this general permit may be modified, suspended or revoked in whole or in part if the Wilmington District Engineer, acting for the Secretary of the Army, determines that such action would be in the best public interest. The term of this general permit shall be five (5) years unless subject to modification, suspension or revocation. Any modification, suspension or revocation of this authorization will not be the basis for any claim for damages against the United States Government. p. No activity may occur in a component of the National Wild and Scenic River System, or in a river officially designated by Congress as a "study river" for possible inclusion in the system while the river is in an official study status, unless the appropriate Federal agency with direct management responsibility for such river, has determined in writing that the proposed activity will not adversely affect the Wild and Scenic designation or study status. Information on Wild and Scenic Rivers may be obtained from the appropriate Federal land management agency responsible for the designated Wild and Scenic River or "study river" (e.g., National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, etc.) q. This general permit does not authorize any activity within, or directly affecting, a marine sanctuary established by the Secretary of Commerce under authority of Section 302 of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, unless the permittee provides the Corps with a certification from the Secretary of Commerce that the proposed 7 activity is consistent with the purposes of Title III of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act. Information on marine sanctuaries may be obtained at hgp:Hsanctuaries.noaa.gov/#MN. Permittees may not begin work until they provide the Corps with a written certification from the Department of Commerce. r. In cases where the Wilmington District Engineer determines that the activity may affect properties listed, or eligible for listing, in the National Register of Historic Places and its codified regulations, the National Historic Preservation Amendment Acts of 1980 and 1992, the Abandoned Shipwreck Act of 1987 and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, the activity is not authorized, until the requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) have been satisfied. Permittees must submit the information described in General Condition "x" to the Corps if any properties subject to the above criteria may be affected by the proposed project. The permittee may not begin work until notified by the Corps that the requirements of the NHPA have been satisfied and that the activity is authorized. s. If you discover any previously unknown historic, cultural or archeological remains and artifacts while accomplishing the activity authorized by this permit, you must immediately notify the Wilmington District Engineer of what you have found, and to the maximum extent practicable, avoid construction activities that may affect the remains and artifacts until the required coordination has been completed. The Wilmington District Engineer will initiate the Federal, tribal and state coordination required to determine if the items or remains warrant a recovery effort or if the site is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. t. No activity is authorized under this general permit which is likely to directly or indirectly jeopardize the continued existence of a threatened or endangered species or a species proposed for such designation, as identified under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA), or which will directly or indirectly destroy or adversely modify the critical habitat of such species. No activity is authorized under any NWP which "may affect" a listed species or critical habitat, unless Section 7 consultation addressing the effects of the proposed activity has been completed*. Information on threatened and endangered species and their critical habitat can be obtained directly from the Corps field offices, the USFWS field offices or at the following web addresses: http://www.fws.gov/ or http://www.fws.gov/ipac/ or http://www.noaa.gov/fisheries.html. Permittees must submit the information described in General Condition "x" to the Corps if any listed species or designated critical habitat may be affected by the proposed project. Permittees may not begin work until notified by the Wilmington District Engineer that the requirements of the ESA have been satisfied and that the activity is authorized. *Note - Section 7 consultation has been completed for the West Indian Manatee and if the activity might affect the manatee, the permittee does not have to submit the information in General Condition "x" to the District Engineer as long the permittee complies with General Condition "u". Section 7 consultation has been completed for the Northern long-eared bat and the permittee must submit the information described in General Condition "x" to the District Engineer prior to commencing the activity if the project meets the criteria in General Condition "v". u. In order to further protect the endangered West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus), the permittee must implement the USFWS' Manatee Guidelines, and strictly adhere to all requirements therein. The guidelines can be found at hqp://www.fws.gov/nc-es/mammal/manatee guidelines.pdf v. The Wilmington District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has consulted with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) in regards to the threatened Northern long-eared bat (NLEB) (Myotis septentrionalis) and Standard Local Operating Procedures for Endangered Species (SLOPES) have been approved by the Corps and the Service. This condition concerns effects to the NLEB only and does not address effects to other federally listed species and/or to federally -designated critical habitat. A. Procedures when the Corps is the lead federal* agency for a project: The permittee must comply with (1) and (2) below when: • the project is located in the western 41 counties of North Carolina, to include non-federal aid North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) projects, OR; • the project is located in the 59 eastern counties of North Carolina, and is a non-NCDOT project. *Generally, if a project is located on private property or on non-federal land, and the project is not being funded by a federal entity, the Corps will be the lead federal agency due to the requirement to obtain Department of the Army authorization to impact waters of the U.S. If the project is located on federal land, contact the Corps to determine the lead federal agency. (1) A permittee using a Nationwide Permit (NWP) or a Regional General Permit (RGP) must check to see if their project is located in the range of the NLEB by using the following website: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/mammals/nleb/pdf/WNSZone.pdf If the project is within the range of the NLEB, or if the project includes percussive activities (e.g., blasting, pile driving, etc.), the permittee is then required to check the appropriate website in the paragraph below to discover if their project: • is located in a 12-digit Hydrologic Unit Code area ("red HUC" - shown as red areas on the map), AND/OR; • involves percussive activities within 0.25 mile of a red HUC. Red HUC maps - for the western 41 counties in NC (covered by the Asheville Ecological Services Field Office), check the project location against the electronic maps found at: http://www.fws.gov/asheville/htmis/project_review/NLEB_ in WNC.html. For the 0 eastern 59 counties in NC (covered by the Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office), check the project location against the electronic maps found at: hqps://www.fws.gov/raleigh/NLEB RFO.html. (2) A permittee must submit a pre -construction notification (PCN) to the district engineer, and receive written authorization from the district engineer, prior to commencing the activity, if the activity will involve either of the following: • tree clearing/removal, construction/installation of wind turbines in a red HUC, AND/OR; • bridge removal or maintenance, unless the bridge has been inspected and there is no evidence of bat use, (applies anywhere in the range of the NLEB), AND/OR: • percussive activities in a red HUC, or within 0.25 mile of a red HUC. The permittee may proceed with the activity without submitting a PCN to either the Corps or the USFWS, provided the activity complies with all applicable NWP terms and general and regional conditions, or all applicable RGP terms and general and special conditions, and if the permittee's review under A.(1) and A.(2) above shows that the project is: • located outside of a red HUC (and there are no percussive activities), and the activity will NOT include bridge removal or maintenance, unless the bridge has been inspected and there is no evidence of bat use, OR; • located outside of a red HUC and there are percussive activities, but the percussive activities will not occur within 0.25-mile of a red HUC boundary, and the activity will NOT include bridge removal or maintenance, unless the bridge has been inspected and there is no evidence of bat use, OR; • located in a red HUC, but the activity will NOT include: tree clearing/removal; construction/installation of wind turbines; bridge removal or maintenance, unless the bridge has been inspected and there is no evidence of bat use, and/or; any percussive activities. B. Procedures when the Corps is not the lead federal agency: For projects where another federal agency is the lead federal agency - if that other federal agency has completed project -specific ESA Section 7(a)(2) consultation for the NLEB, and has (1) determined that the project would not cause prohibited incidental take of the NLEB, and (2) completed coordination/consultation that is required by the Service (per the directions on the respective Service office's website), that project may proceed 10 without notification to either the Corps or the Service, provided all General and Regional Permit Conditions (for NWPs), or RGP general and special conditions (for RGPs) are met. The NLEB SLOPES can be viewed on the Corps website at the following World Wide Web Page: http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/Missions/Re_u�ry-Permit- Pro rg am/Agency-Coordination/ESA/. Permittees who do not have internet access may contact the Corps at (910) 251- 4633. w. If the permittee discovers or observes any live, damaged, injured or dead individual of an endangered or threatened species during construction, the permittee shall immediately notify the Wilmington District Engineer so that required coordination can be initiated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and/or National Marine Fisheries Service. x. For activities that require approval from the Corps prior to initiating any work, the permittee must submit the following information to the appropriate Corps Regulatory Field Office: 1. Name, address and telephone number of the prospective permittee. 2. Location of the proposed project, including waterbody, nearest community and county. 3. A detailed description of the proposed project, including applicable project details such as width, height, length of structures or fills, piling span, distance from the shoreline, type of materials, location of structure(s), and the amount of proposed impact to waters and/or wetlands. The description should be sufficiently detailed to allow the Wilmington District Engineer to determine that the adverse effect of the project will be minimal and to determine the need for compensatory mitigation. Project drawings should be provided when necessary to show that the activity complies with the terms of the RGP. (Drawings usually clarify the project and when provided results in a quicker decision. Drawings should contain sufficient detail to provide an illustrative description of the proposed activity (e.g., a conceptual plan), but do not need to be detailed engineering plans). y. Permittees are advised that development activities in or near a floodway may be subject to the National Flood Insurance Program that prohibits any development, including fill, within a floodway that results in any increase in base flood elevations. This general permit does not authorize any activity prohibited by the National Flood Insurance Program. z. The permittee must install and maintain, at his/her expense, any signal lights and signals prescribed by the U.S. Coast Guard, through regulations or otherwise, on 11 authorized facilities. For further information, the permittee should contact Coast Guard Sector North Carolina at (910) 772-2191 or email Coast Guard Fifth District at cgd5waterwa s a,uscg.mil. aa. The permittee must maintain any structure or work authorized by this permit in good condition and in conformance with the terms and conditions of this permit. The Permittee is not relieved of this requirement if the Permittee abandons the structure or work. Transfer in fee simple of the work authorized by this permit will automatically transfer this permit to the property's new owner, with all of the rights and responsibilities enumerated herein. The permittee must inform any subsequent owner of all activities undertaken under the authority of this permit and provide the subsequent owner with a copy of the terms and conditions of this permit. bb. At his sole discretion, any time during the processing cycle, the Wilmington District Engineer may determine that this general permit will not be applicable to a specific proposal. In such case, the procedures for processing an individual permit in accordance with 33 CFR 325 will be available. cc. Except as authorized by this general permit or any Corps approved modification to this general permit, all fill material placed in waters or wetlands shall be generated from an upland source and will be clean and free of any pollutants except in trace quantities. Metal products, organic materials (including debris from land clearing activities), or unsightly debris will not be used. dd. Except as authorized by this general permit or any Corps approved modification to this general permit, all excavated material will be disposed of in approved upland disposal areas. ee. Activities which have commenced (i.e., are under construction) or are under contract to commence in reliance upon this general permit will remain authorized provided the activity is completed within twelve months of the date of the general permit's expiration, modification, or revocation. Activities completed under the authorization of this general permit that were in effect at the time the activity was completed continue to be authorized by the general permit. BY AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY: FOR THE COMMANDER: Scott McLendon Chief, Regulatory Division Wilmington District 12