20200266 Ver 1_More Info Received_20200411

1501 Lakestone Village Lane, Suite 205
Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina 27526
919-669-0329
Mitchell Environmental, P.A.

April 11, 2020

Mr. Christopher Hopper
US Army Corps of Engineers
Raleigh Regulatory Field Office
3331 Heritage Trade Drive, Suite 105
Wake Forest, North Carolina 27587

Re: Strickland-Hinton Road Subdivision
Zebulon, Johnston County
USACE Action ID: SAW-2019-02154

Mr. Hopper:

This letter is in response to review comments we received regarding proposed
Strickland-Hinton Road Subdivision in Zebulon (Johnston County), and associated
wetland and stream impacts proposed for this activity. Responses to review comments
are provided below.

US Army Corps of Engineers Comments:
1. The application includes 104 linear feet of permanent impact. No temporary
stream impact associated with this crossing is reported. However, the
stream flows through temporary wetland disturbances both up- and down-
stream of the crossing. Would temporary stream impacts be required?
28 linear feet of temporary stream impacts are identified on the attached revised
permit drawings.

2. The 24-inch pipe proposed is shown with inverts to be buried one foot. Is
there a reason for burying the pipe 50-percent of its diameter?
Culvert diameter has been increased to 36 inches, with a 0.5 foot invert burial
depth.

3. The USFWS list provided hasn’t been updated since June 2018. Please
review the USFWS IPaC website to obtain a current list of species that may
be impacted by this project and provide a statement for each for our use in
consultation with the USFWS service. Species proposed for listing are not
required to be addressed, but it is recommended to protect applicants in
the event a species becomes listed during this process.
The IPaC resource list for this site lists one bird, one amphibian, one fish, four
clams, and one flowering plant as either endangered, proposed endangered,
threatened, or proposed threatened. Of these eight listed species, the report
indicates “Your location is outside the critical habitat” for four of them. These
2
include the 1) Neuse River Waterdog (amphibian), 2) Carolina Madtom (fish), 3)
Atlantic Pigtoe (clam), and 4) Yellow Lance (clam).

Remaining listed species:
Red-cockaded Woodpecker: It is our opinion that this site lacks the required
habitat for this species. The majority of trees on this site are too small for nesting
or roosting cavities, and midstory canopy is more dense than this species
requires.
Dwarf Wedgemussel: The stream on this site is too small for this species.
Tar River Spinymussel: The stream on this site is too small for this species.
Michaux’s Sumac: This site does contain potential habitat for this species, but a
detailed species-specific investigation has not been completed at this time.

4. How will sewer collection be provided? If septic is proposed, lots 13, 15,
and 17 appear to be restricted by suitable soils on-site. Please include any
impacts anticipated to connect future lots with septic fields and/or repair
areas.
All lots have sufficient suitable soils to accommodate septic systems within the lot
boundaries.

5. How will streams be protected during construction? Will stream pump
arounds be utilized? If so, where would coffer dams be placed? How will
work area dewatering be accomplished?
The attached revised permit drawings illustrate how streams will be protected
during culvert installation. Dewatering will be accomplished through the use of
sandbag cofferdams, in combination with a pump that discharges into a filter bag
downslope of the crossing.

6. Please provide cross sectional details of all culvert crossings to illustrate
pipe burials comply with NWP 29 Regional Condition 3.6.1., and riprap
installation that complies with NWP 29 Regional Condition 4.1.6. Riprap in
streams may require mitigation for loss of stream function.
The attached revised permit drawings include culvert cross-section and rip-rap
details.

Thank you in advance for your time spent reviewing our responses to your review
comments. Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, or if you need any
additional information to continue processing this application.

Sincerely,

Scott Mitchell, PE, LSS
96231JOHNSTON COUNTYSITE
Feet1" = 20'4020010
FeetHORZ: 1" = 20'4020010