GC 3119

GENERAL CERTIFICATION
FOR THE CORPS OF_ENGINEERS DREDGING ACTIVITIES
INVOLVING BANK DISPOSAL OF DREDGED MATERIAL IN THE CAPE FEAR RIVER
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 15 NCAC 2H, Section .0500 and 15 NCAC 2B .0200
for the dredging of sediment in the Cape Fear River and disposal in
the bank manner from Mileboard 30 near Riegelwood to Mileboard 115
near Fayetteville, North Carolina. This WQC is rescinded when deemed
appropriate by the Director of the Division of Water Quality.
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 requires written notification to
the Division of Water Quality;
2. When dredge activity is near the vicinity of locks and dams or in
areas where the discharge line from the dredge cannot reach
shore, dredge spoil shall be deposited by the thin layer disposal
method developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers;
3. Dredge spoil shall not be discharged directly in shore-line areas
with depth of less than (3) feet deep (to minimize centrarchid
spawning habitat loss) or in deep. holes greater than (30) feet
deep (to minimize catfish habitat loss);
4. Dredging shall be done only during the months of September
through January as recommended by the "Seasonal Restriction
Working Group" organized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers;
5. Turbidity shall not exceed the water quality standard of 50 NTUs
outside of a suitable mixing zone as specified by the DWQ.
Methods may include silt curtains, reducing dredging intensity,
or other practicable methods to ensure minimization of turbidity
during project construction;
6. A 24 hour advance notice of dredging operations upstream of Lock
and Dam No. 1 should be submitted to the City of Wilmington
Public Utilities Department to help them avoid receiving a slug
of poor quality raw water;
7. If an environmental document is required, this Certification is
not valid until a FONSI or ROD is issued by the State
Clearinghouse;
8. This Certification shall expire three years after the date and
signature of this General Certification.
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 U ITY
B
Y
A. Preston~~-H-ow~ ~, Jr. , P.E.
Director
gencert.ban
WQC# 3119