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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
JAMES B. HUNT. JR DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS SAM HUNT
GOVERNOR RO. BOX 25201, RALEIGH, N.C. 27611-5201 SECRETARY
April 29, 1993
District Engineer
Army Corps of Engineers MAY 1993
P. 0. Box 1890
Wilmington, North Carolina 28402
ATTENTION: Regulatory Branch
Dear Sir:
Subject: Lenoir, Jones and Craven Counties, US 70 from the
Wayne County line to the Carteret County line,
State Project No. 8.1171301, TIP No. R-2913.
Attached for your information are three copies of the
project planning report for the subject project. The project
is being processed by the Federal Highway Administration as a
"Categorical Exclusion" in accordance with 23 CFR 771.115(b).
Therefore, we do not anticipate requesting an individual
permit but propose to proceed under a Nationwide Permit in
accordance with 33 CFR 330 Appendix A (B-23) issued November
22, 1991, by the Corps of Engineers. The provisions of
Section 330.4 and Appendix A (C) of these regulations will be
followed in the construction of the project.
We anticipate that 401 General Certification No. 2734
(Categorical Exclusion) will apply to this project, and are
providing one copy of the CE document to the North Carolina
Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources,
Division of Environmental Management, for their review.
I
If you have any questions or need additional
information, please call Mr. Doug Huggett at 733-9770.
Sincerely,
OTinn , P E
Assistant Branch Manager
Planning and Environmental Branch
BJO/dvh
cc: w/attachment
r. David Lexson, COE-Washington
_Mr. John Dorney, NCDEHNR, DEM
Mr. John Parker, NCDEHNR, DCM
w/out attachment
Mr. Kelly Barger, PE, Program Development Branch
Mr. Don Morton, PE, Highway Design Branch
Mr. A.L. Hankins, PE, Hydraulics Unit
Mr. John L. Smith Jr., PE, Structure Design Unit
Mr. Tom Shearin, PE, Roadway Design Unit
Mr. G.R. Shirley, P.E., Division 2 Engineer
Mr. Maria Lapomarda, Planning and Environmental Branch
Mr. Davis Moore, Planning and Environmental Branch

Date: 3/93
G. _QK Approval
TIP Project No. R-2913
State Project No. 8.1171301
Federal-Aid Project No. STPNHF-70(2)
Project Description: (List project location and scope. Attach
location map.)
US 70 from the Wayne County line to the Carteret County line.
Signal system improvements and the construction of left and/or
right turn lanes at unsignalized intersections and median
crossovers.
NOTE: Refer to Section D, "Special Project Information," for
list of ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENTS.
Catevorical Exclusion Action Classification: (Check one)
4--l-73
Date
TYPE I
TYPE II(A)
TYPE II (B)
z
?fu7` Manager
Planning & Environmental Branch
Date Project Planning 'Unit Head
y 9
Date Project Planni g Engineer
For Type II(B) projects only:
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Date Division Administrator
?4Federal Highway Administration
9
Date: 3/93
TIP Project No. R-2913
State Project No. 8.1171301
Federal-Aid Project No. STPNHF-70(2)
A. Project Description: (List project location and scope. Attach
location map.) US 70 from the Wayne County line to the
Carteret County line. Signal system improvements and the
construction of left and/or right turn lanes at unsignalized
intersections and median crossovers.
NOTE: Refer to Section D, "Special Project Information," for
list of ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENTS.
B. Purpose Ind Need: US 70 is one of the major corridors from
Raleigh to the North Carolina Coast. By implementing the
proposed project, this route will be safer for travel and
provide better access to this area of the state.
C. Proposed Improvements:
Circle one or more of the following improvements which apply
to the project:
Type I Improvements
1. Non-construction activities (program activities)
2. Approval of utility installations along or across a
transportation facility
3. Construction of bicycle and pedestrian lanes, paths, and
facilities
4. Activities included in the State's "highway safety plan"
under 23 USC 402 (programs administered by the Division
of Motor Vehicles)
5. Transfer of Federal lands pursuant to 23 USC 317 when
the subsequent action is not an FHWA action
6. The installation of noise barriers or alterations to
existing publicly owned buildings to provide for noise
reduction
7. Landscaping
8. Installation of fencing, signs, pavement markings, small
passenger shelters, traffic signals, and railroad
warning devices
9. Emergency repairs under 23 USC 125 (Governor Declared
Emergency)
10. Acquisition of scenic easements
11. Determination of payback under 23 CFR Part 480 for
property previously acquired with Federal-aid
participation
12. Improvements to existing rest areas and truck weigh
stations
13. Ridesharing activities
14. Bus and rail car rehabilitation
Date: 3/93
15. Alterations to facilities or vehicles in order to
make them accessible for elderly and handicapped persons
16. Program administration, technical assistance
activities, and operating assistance to transit
authorities to continue existing service or increase
service to meet changes in routine demand
17. The purchase of vehicles by the applicant where the use
of these vehicles can be accommodated by existing
facilities or by new facilities which themselves are
within a CE
18. Track and railbed maintenance and improvements when
carried out within the existing right of way
19. Purchase and installation of operating or maintenance
equipment to be located within the transit facility and
with no significant impacts off the site
20. Promulgation of rules, regulations, and directives.
Tyne U Improvements
1. Modernization of a highway by resurfacing, restoration,
rehabilitation, reconstruction, adding shoulders, or
adding auxiliary lanes (e.g., parking, weaving, turning,
climbing).
a. Restoring, Resurfacing, Rehabilitating, and
Reconstructing pavement (3R and 4R' improvements)
b. Widening roadway and shoulders without adding
through lanes
c. Modernizing gore treatments
dO Constructing lane improvements (merge, auxiliary,
and turn lanes)
e. Adding shoulder drains
f. Replacing and rehabilitating culverts, inlets, and
drainage pipes, including safety treatments
g. Providing driveway pipes
h. Performing minor bridge widening (less than one
through lane)
2. Highway safety or traffic operations improvement
projects including the installation of ramp metering
control devices and lighting.
a. Installing ramp metering devices
b. Installing lights
c. Adding or upgrading guardrail
d. Installing safety barriers including Jersey type
barriers and pier protection
e. Installing or replacing impact attenuators
f. Upgrading medians including adding or upgrading
median barriers
gO Improving intersections including relocation and/or
realignment
h. Making minor roadway realignment
i. Channelizing traffic
J. Performing clear zone
removing hazards and
k? Implementing traffic
motorist aid
Date: 3/93
safety improvements including
flattening slopes
aid systems, signals, and
1. Installing bridge safety hardware including bridge
rail retrofit
3. Bridge rehabilitation, reconstruction, or replacement or
the construction of grade separation to replace existing
at-grade railroad crossings.
a. Rehabilitating, reconstructing, or replacing bridge
approach slabs
b. Rehabilitating or replacing bridge decks
c. Rehabilitating bridges including painting (no red
lead paint), scour repair, fender systems, and
minor structural improvements
d. Replacing a bridge (structure and/or fill)
4. Transportation corridor fringe parking facilities.
5. Construction of new truck weigh stations or rest areas.
6. Approvals for disposal of excess right-of-way or for
joint or limited use of right-of-way, where the proposed
use does not have significant adverse impacts.
7. Approvals for changes in access control.
8. Construction of new bus storage and maintenance
facilities in areas used predominantly for industrial or
transportation purposes where such construction is not
inconsistent with existing zoning and located on or near
a street with adequate capacity to handle anticipated
bus and support vehicle traffic.
9. Rehabilitation or reconstruction of existing rail and
bus buildings and ancillary facilities where only minor
amounts of additional land are required and there is not
a substantial increase in the number of users.
10. Construction of bus transfer facilities (an open area
consisting of passenger shelters, boarding areas, kiosks
and related street improvements) when located in a
commercial area or other high activity center in which
there is adequate street capacity for projected bus
traffic.
11. Construction of rail storage and maintenance
facilities in areas used predominantly for industrial or
transportation purposes where such construction is not
inconsistent with existing zoning and where there is no
significant noise impact on the surrounding community.
3
Date: 3/93
12. Acquisition of land for hardship or protective purposes,
advance land acquisition loans under section 3(b) of the
UMT Act. Hardship and protective buying will be
permitted only for a particular parcel or a limited
number of parcels. These types of land acquisition
qualify for a CE only where the acquisition will not
limit the evaluation of alternatives, including shifts
in alignment for planned construction projects, which
may be required in the NEPA process. No project
development on such land may proceed until the NEPA
process has been completed.
D. Special Project Information: (Include ENVIRONMENTAL
COMMITMENTS)
Under project R-2913 the North Carolina Department of
Transportation (NCDOT) proposes to improve 57 intersections and
median crossovers on US 70 in Lenoir, Jones, and Craven Counties.
Improvements include adding left turn lanes and/or right turn
lanes and upgrading the signal systems at several' intersections.
There are two special projects which are also funded under R-2913.
The first is to realign the driveway between Oliver Glass, Inc.
and Coca-Cola Co. to meet SR 1548 in Kinston in Lenoir County.
The other special project is to add a westbound acceleration lane
from SR 1138-1917 to the existing US 70 deceleration lane in
James City in Craven County. R-2913 will not require the
acquisition of any new right of way.
The environmental impacts of the project are minimal.
Nationwide Permit No. 23 will apply to construction in surface
waters and wetlands. A total of approximately 29,100 square feet
of surface waters and wetlands will be impacted long the 69.25
mile project. Wetland impacts will occur at 23 f the 57 median
crossover sites to be improved. The areas of in ividual wetland
impacts range from a low of 50 square feet to a igh of 3600
square feet (see Part F). The affected surface/waters and
wetlands occur in roadside drainage ditches and/not in naturally
formed stream beds.
I
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4
Date: 3/93
E. Threshold Criteria
If any Type II actions are involved in the project, the
following evaluation must be completed. If the project consists
only of Type I improvements, the following checklist does not need
to be completed.
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(1) Will the project
on any unique or
(2) Does the project
federally listed
species may occu:
(3) Will the project
have a substantial impact ? X
important natural resource?
involve habitat where
endangered or threatened x
r?
affect anadromous fish? X
(4) If the project involves wetlands, is the
amount of permanent and/or temporary
wetland taking less than one-third
(1/3) of an acre AND have all practicable
measures to avoid and minimize wetland
takings been evaluated?
(5) Will the project require the use of a X
U. S. Forest Service lands?
(6) Will the quality of adjacent water
resources be adversely impacted by a X
proposed construction activities?
(7) Does the project involve waters classified
as Outstanding Water Resources (OWR) and/or x
High Quality Waters (HQW)?
(8) Will the project require fill in waters of
the United States in any of the designated F-1 X
mountain trout counties?
(9) Does the project involve any known
underground storage tanks (UST's) or ? X
hazardous materials sites?
5
Date: 3/93
PERMITS MM COORDINATION
(10) If the project is located within a CAMA
county, will the project significantly
affect the coastal zone and/or any "Area
of Environmental Concern" (AEC)?
(11) Does the project involve Coastal Barrier
Resources Act resources?
(12) Will a U. S. Coast Guard permit be
required?
M N4
F-1 X
F] X
F-1 X
(13) Will the project result in the modification ? X
of any existing regulatory floodway?
(14) Will the project require any stream ? X
relocations or channel changes?
SOCIAL MM ECONOMIC
(15) Will the project induce substantial impacts ? X
to planned growth or land use for the area?
(16) Will the project require the relocation of ? X
any family or business?
(17) If the project involves the acquisition of ?
right of way, is the amount of right of way X
acquisition considered minor?
(18) Will the project involve any changes in
access control?
(19) Will the project substantially alter the
usefulness and/or land use of adjacent
property?
(20) Will the project have an adverse effect on
permanent local traffic patterns or
community cohesiveness?
F-1 X
F-1 X
F? X
6
Date: 3/93
M NQ
(21) Is the project included in an approved ?
thoroughfare plan and/or Transportation X
Improvement Program (and is, therefore, in
conformance with the Clean Air Act of
1990)?
(22) Is the project anticipated to cause an X
increase traffic volumes? 17
(23) Will traffic be maintained during ?
construction using existing roads, staged X
construction, or on site detours?
(24) Is there substantial controversy on social,
economic, or environmental grounds ? X
concerning the project?
(25) Is the project consistent with all Federal,
State, and local laws relating to the X ?
environmental aspects of the action?
(26) Will the project have an "effect" on
properties eligible for or listed on the ? X
National Register of Historic Places?
(27) Will the project require the use of
Section 4(f) resources (public parks,
recreation lands, wildlife and waterfowl ? X
refuges, historic sites, or historic
bridges, as defined in Section 4(f) of the
U. S. Department of Transportation Act of
1966)?
(28) Will the project involve construction in,
across, or adjacent to a river designated ? X
as a component of or proposed for inclusion
in the Natural System of Wild and Scenic
Rivers?
7
Date: 3/93
F. Additional Documentation Required. Unfavorable
Responses Jm Part K
(Discussion regarding all unfavorable responses in Part E
should be provided below. Additional supporting documentation
may be attached, as necessary.)
The approximate area of impacted wetlands is 29,100 square
feet. These impacts occur at 23 separate locations throughout the
69.25 mile project. The single largest area of wetland impact is
3600 square feet. The wetlands and surface waters occur in
man-made roadside drainage ditches. These ditches will either
need to be moved or piped to allow the construction of the turn
lane. All practicable measures to avoid these wetlands and
surface waters will be undertaken during construction. Ditches
which are to be moved will be reseeded and allowed to return to a
natural state.
8
Date: 3/93
G. U Approval
TIP Project No. R-2913
State Project No. 8.1171301
Federal-Aid Project No. STPNHF-70(2)
Protect Description: (List project location and scope. Attach
location map.)
US 70 from the Wayne County line to the Carteret County line.
Signal system improvements and the construction of left and/or
right turn lanes at unsignalized intersections and median
crossovers.
NOTE: Refer to Section D, "Special Project Information," for
list of ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENTS.
I
Cateaorical Exclusion Action Classification: (Check one)
TYPE I
TYPE II (A)
TYPE II(B)
4-l `7 3 ?. ' `l/ el Z24 e,_
Date Arf].` Manager
Planning & Environmental Branch
Date Project Planning Unit Head
411193 ate.
Date Project Planni g Engineer
For Type II(B) projects only:
4ZZ
Date Division Administrator
-1 Federal Highway Administration
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