GC 3113

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}.
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). This Certification
replaces Water Quality Certification Number 2679 issued on January 21,
1992. This WQC is rescinded when the Corps of Engineers reauthorize
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:
1. 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. That appropriate sediment and erosion control practices that
equal or exceed those outlined in the most recent edition of
the "North Carolina Sediment and Erosion Control Planning
and Design Manual" or the "North Carolina Surface Mining
Manual" (available from the Division of Land Resources in
the DEHNR Regional or Central Offices" are utilized to
prevent exceedances of the appropriate turbidity water
quality standard (50 NTUs in streams and rivers not
designated as trout by DWQ; 25 NTUs in all saltwater
classes, and all lakes and reservoirs; and 10 NTUs in trout
waters) ;
3. 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;
4. If an environmental document is required, this Certification
is not valid until a FONSI or ROD is issued by the State
Clearinghouse;
5. Undisturbed buffers of at least 100 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 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;
6. Concurrence from DWQ that this Certification applies to an

individual project shall expire three years from the date of
the cover letter from DWQ.
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 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: 11 February 1997.
DIVISION OF WATER UALI~Y
By ~~ ,,
A. Preston Howar r. P.E.
Director
gencert.297
WQC # 3113