20100752_More Info Received_19950807

RECEIVED
400 Q 71995
??'??,;,?• ENVIRONlNENTA
PRA ", SCIENCES
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TP ANSPORTATION
JAMES B. HUNT JR. DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS R. SAMUEL HUNT III
GOVERNOR P.O. BOX 25201, RALEIGH, N.C. 27611-5201 SECRETARY
August 3, 1995
MEMORANDUM TO: Mr. Eric Galamb
DEM - DEHNR - Water Quality Lab
4401 Reedy Creek Road
FROM: H. Franklin Vick, P. E., Manager
Planning and Environmental Branch
SUBJECT: Environmental Impact Statement of the Proposed
Improvement of US 321 from SR 1500 (Blackberry Road) to
US 221 in Blowing Rock, North Carolina; State Project No.
8.T731301; TIP No. R-2237C
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), Division of
Highways, proposes to improve US 321 for a distance of approximately 7.0
kilometers (4.3 miles) in Caldwell and Watauga Counties. Both a widening
alternative and a bypass alternative are being considered. The proposed
action would extend from SR 1500 (Blackberry Road) north to US 221 in Blowing
Rock (See Figure 1). NCDOT has selected the firm of Parsons Brinckerhoff
Quade & Douglas, Inc. to evaluate alternatives and prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for the project.
This is the third scoping letter distributed for this project. The
first letter, sent in March 1990, solicited comments on a proposed widening
project extending from NC 268 at Patterson to US 221 in Blowing Rock. The
second letter was distributed in February 1991. It requested comments on
several Blowing Rock bypass alternatives. In August 1993, a Federal
Environmental Assessment was distributed. It listed the widening project as
the preferred alternative and concluded that a bypass alternative was not
reasonable. Following a public hearing, a Federal Finding of No Significant
Impact (FONSI) was released in September 1994 for the widening project
between NC 268 and SR 1500 (Blackberry Road). Based on comments from the
State Historic Preservation Officer and the general public, the FONSI stated
that an EIS would be prepared for US 321 from SR 1500 to US 221 in Blowing
Rock and include consideration of a Blowing Rock bypass. At the public
hearings, representatives of government, businesses, Appalachian State
University, and the public all spoke in favor of a four-lane US 321 between
Lenoir and Boone. However, many citizens from Blowing Rock strongly
preferred a project that included a bypass around Blowing Rock. By the
preparation of a FONSI for the southern 10.8 miles and an EIS for the
northern 4.3 miles, the concerns in Blowing Rock can be thoroughly addressed
and the improvement of US 321 can continue on its Transportation Improvement
Program schedule.
3*71%
August 3, 1995
Page 2
The 1996-2002 NCDOT Transportation Improvement Program calls for
construction for the southern 4.7 miles of the project (between NC 268 and
SR 1370) in Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 1997. Right-of-way acquisition for the
rest of the project (including the subject study area) is scheduled in fiscal
year 2002.
The purpose of this letter is to solicit comments, initiate coordination
for the subject project and provide notice of an interagency scoping meeting.
EIS STUDY WORK PROGRAM
Phases
The US 321 EIS study will be conducted in three phases. Phase I will
examine a comprehensive range of Blowing Rock Bypass alternatives. This
evaluation will be conducted at a level of environmental and design detail
sufficient to differentiate between alternatives and select reasonable
alternatives for detailed evaluation in the Environmental Impact Statement.
Evaluation of Blowing Rock bypass alternatives in Phase I will contain the
following tasks:
- Identification of sensitive social, cultural and natural features in the
Phase I study area.
- Preparation of traffic forecasts and an accident analysis.
- Identification of preliminary corridor alternatives based on comments
raised during the public involvement program, terrain and avoidance of
sensitive features.
- Preparation of a functional design for each preliminary corridor.
Alternative slope (cut-and-fill, retaining walls and bridges) and
drainage treatments (ditches and curb and gutter) will be considered.
- Comparison of the preliminary corridors from the perspective of
construction and right-of-way cost, extent of excavation waste and
potential for affecting sensitive features.
- Selection of reasonable bypass alternatives for detailed evaluation in
the Environmental Impact Statement.
Phase I also will contain several public and agency involvement programs
including a citizens advisory committee, a toll-free information line,
citizens informational workshops, newsletters, small group meetings, a
steering committee, and interagency meetings.
Phase II will be the preparation of a Draft EIS. This document will
compare in detail the merits of the widening alternative, the reasonable
bypass alternatives and the no-build alternative. Phase II also will include
a preliminary design for the reasonable bypass alternatives and additional
refinements to the widening alternative, The features of the Phase I public
August 3, 1995
Page 3
involvement program will be continued in Phase II. In addition, the Draft
EIS will be released for public and regulatory agency review and a public
hearing. The scope of Phase II will be finalized after Phase I is completed.
Phase III will be the preparation of a Final EIS, which will respond to
comments made regarding the Draft EIS and identify the preferred alternative.
Study Areas
The study area for Phase I is shown in Figure 1 and consists of: US 321
on the west and southwest; the Blue Ridge Parkway on the north; a line
between a point approximately one kilometer south of Falcon Crest Road and a
point on the Yadkin River approximately 1,000 meters due south of the
Watauga/Caldwell County line on the southeast, and the Yadkin River and Horse
Ridge on the northeast. The southern limits could be moved further south if
potential bypass alternatives that necessitate this change become apparent.
The Phase II study area will focus on specific bypass corridors found to
be reasonable during Phase I and the widening alternative. If any reasonable
bypass alternatives extend south of SR 1500 (Blackberry Road), the Phase II
study area will be extended, and no right-of-way acquisition or construction
activities will take place in the comparable widening segment until
completion of the EIS and review process.
ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS
Social
Land use in rural Caldwell County is primarily scattered single-family
residential with some commercial development along US 321. Development is
focused along US 321 and along streams where the terrain is not steep.
Agricultural lands are also found along streams.
Development along US 321 in the southern portion of Blowing Rock is
primarily single family residential. In this area, US 321 also passes
through the National Register-listed Green Park Historic District and passes
adjacent to the National Register-listed Green Park Inn and the Blowing Rock
Country Club. Commercial development and some vacant lands line the northern
portion of US 321 in Blowing Rock. Development in Blowing Rock east of
US 321 is primarily single-family residential. This development is
concentrated along a ridge line overlooking Caldwell County, around the
Blowing Rock Country Club, and near US 321 at its northern limits.
Development tends to become more sparse as one moves further east of US 321.
The range of social issues that will be addressed are: relocation, land
use plan compatibility, community cohesion, economic impacts, impacts to
social groups, changes in the need for community services, noise and air
quality impacts, visual change, use of prime or unique agricultural lands,
and avoidance of existing hazardous waste material spills and underground
August 3, 1995
Page 4
storage tanks. Both long term and construction-related impacts will be
addressed. Certain social impacts are of particular concern with the
widening alternative, including:
- Loss of business during construction.
- Potential for blasting to damage structures in Blowing Rock.
- Presence of a four-lane road could lessen the desirability of Blowing
Rock to the vacationers it currently attracts,
- Change in the aesthetics of the roadway.
Cultural
The National Register-listed Green Park Historic District is a
Section 106 property that has been identified along existing US 321. The
National Register-listed Green Park Inn is within the Green Park Historic
District and adjacent to US 321. The Green Park Historic District will be
adversely affected by the widening alternative as defined in the criteria of
the US Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (Code of Federal
Regulations, Title 36, Part 800).
Preliminary historic architecture and archaeological studies will be
conducted for the balance of the Phase I study area. Comprehensive Phase II
studies will be conducted, as appropriate, for the bypass alternatives
selected for analysis in the EIS.
Natural
Initial natural resource studies indicate that upland cove forest
dominates the undisturbed portions of the project area. Lands used for
pasture/agriculture do occur in valleys. The streams are classified as Class
C waters, which are best suited to aquatic life propagation and survival,
fishing, wildlife, secondary recreation, and agriculture. The waters in the
area are supplementally classified as suitable for natural trout propagation
and maintenance of stocked trout. The following Federally protected species
are in Caldwell and/or Watauga Counties: Spruce-fir moss spider
(endangered), spreading Avens (endangered), Hellers blazing star
(threatened), Blue Ridge goldenrod (threatened), Roan Mountain bluet
(endangered), Virginia big-eared bat (endangered), and Carolina northern
flying squirrel (endangered). There are no documented sitings of these
species in the project area.
Natural resource issues addressed during the study will include impacts
to biotic communities, water quality, protected species, floodplains and
floodways, and wetlands. Several natural resource issues are of particular
importance to the evaluation of bypass alternatives. They include:
- Degradation of water quality on mountain streams.
Steep grades can increase the potential for erosion and sediments in
streams. Previous scoping responses indicate that streams classified as
trout waters are within the project area. Headwater reaches contain
August 3, 1995
Page 5
wild trout populations. The Yadkin River supplies drinking water to
North Wilkesboro, Winston-Salem and several recreational areas in North
and South Carolina.
- , Habitat fragmentation.
- Disposal of leftover excavated material.
NOTICES AND SCHEDULES
In order that we may fully evaluate the impact of the proposed project,
it is requested that you respond in writing concerning any beneficial or
adverse impacts of the project relating to the interest of your agency
following the scoping meeting. In order for our study team to stay on
schedule, it will be appreciated if you can respond by September 18, 1995.
If you have any questions concerning this project, please contact
Ms. Leigh Cobb, NCDOT Project Coordinator, at [phone], Ext. 260.
Thank you for your cooperation.
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LEGEND

Phase I Study Area

0 .5 1 km
0 .5 1 mile
SCALE