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Home My WebLink About20091095 Ver 1_Public Notice_20091223US Army Corps PUBLIC NOTICE Of Engineers Wilmington District Issue Date: December 22, 2009 Comment Deadline: January 20, 2010 Corps Action ID #: SAW 2009-02242 The Wilmington District, Corps of Engineers (Corps) has received an application from the City of Raleigh, Public Works Department, seeking Department of the Army authorization to permanently impact 3.03 acres of wetlands, 725 linear feet of perennial stream, and 153 linear feet of intermittent stream; as well as temporary impacts to 0.46 acres of wetland and 26 linear feet of stream for the Jones Sausage Road widening and realignment and associated sewer easements and erosion control measures in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina. Specific plans and location information are described below and shown on the attached plans. This Public Notice and all attached plans are also available on the Wilmington District Web Site at www.saw.usace.army.mil/wetlands- Applicant: City of Raleigh Public Works Department Attn: Mr. Sammy Wood 222 W. Hargett Street P.O. Box 590 Raleigh, North Carolina 27602 Agent: Environmental Services, Inc. R" 11 Attn: Mr. Jeff Harbour DU 524 S. New Hope Road DEC 7 ,^, 2009 Raleigh, North Carolina 27606 DERR • WATER WAM WETLANDS AND 8T0M%VvATE.R BRANCH Authority The Corps will evaluate this application and a decide whether to issue, conditionally issue, or deny the proposed work pursuant to applicable procedures of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Location The Jones Sausage Road Widening and Realignment project is located in southeast Raleigh, adjacent to the existing intersection of Rock Quarry Road (SR 2542), New Hope Road (SR 2036), and Jones Sausage Road (SR 2547). Coordinates in Decimal Degrees are: 35.73817 N, -78.57012W. Existing Site Conditions The proposed project site consists of undeveloped and developed land with mixed hardwood trees and loblolly pines. Topography for the project site is in the Piedmont physiographic region. The project site contains moderately sloping uplands and the Big Branch floodplain. Elevations on the site range from a low of approximately 180 feet above mean sea level (MSL) to a high of approximately 280 feet above MSL. There is one (1) named-perennial stream that flows from south to north throughout the project location and is associated with forested riparian areas and riparian wetlands. The project location is located within the USGS hydrologic unit 03020201 in sub-basin 030402 of the Neuse River Basin. Big Branch is the only named stream within the project study area. Big Branch has been assigned a Best Usage Classification (BUC) of C (aquatic life, secondary recreation), NSW (Nutrient Sensitive Waters). Big Branch flows into Walnut Creek and eventually, the Neuse River. In addition to Big Branch, the project study area contains one (1) intermittent and four (4) perennial streams which comprise the unnamed tributaries (UTs) to Big Branch and a large forested-riparian wetland complex associated with Big Branch and its tributaries. The Soil Survey of Wake County, North Carolina (USDA 1970) shows that the project site contains numerous soil mapping units. Those contained are: Appling (well drained) on the upland and side slopes and Altavista (moderately well drained) also on the upland and side slopes; Colfax (somewhat poorly drained) and Wehadkee-Bibb (poorly drained, flood plain soils) along the forested riparian areas of Big Branch and its tributaries. The ..majority oflprdposed impacts to waters of the U.S. will occur in the Wehadkee-Bibb Complex. 'J:; The wooded..upland areas on the site are vegetated by loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), white A:.?n4L A..r. "oak(Qiierciis'alba)3sweetgum (Liguidambar styraciua), red maple (Acer rubrum), wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera) and tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera). Groundcover consists of vines such as Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), common greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia), and poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans). The wetland areas are mostly vegetated by red maple, river birch (Betula nigra), tag alder (Alnus serrulata), spice bush.(Lindera benzoin), and American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), with an herbaceous layer of soft rush (Juncus effusus), sedges (Carex spp.), and wool grass (Scirpus cyperinus). There is an impoundment area within the project location that appears to be the result of a combination of beaver (Castor canadensis) activity and road causeway location that has caused a rise in water level. Within this Version 12/12/05 impoundment area, there are many dead tree stems due to periodic and long term beaver inundation. Applicant's Stated Purpose The applicant's stated purpose for the proposed project is that there is a need to improve capacity and safety along Jones Sausage Road and its intersection with Rock Quarry Road and New Hope Road. The existing intersections associated with Jones Sausage Road, Rock Quarry Road and New Hope Road are not capable of efficiently handling the increased traffic volume due to the development in the surrounding area. The small linear distance between the two existing intersections does not allow the traffic to flow properly. The existing bridge associated with the intersection is structurally sound due to upgrades, but functionally obsolete based on current guidelines. Project Description The project extends from the I-40/Jones Sausage Road westbound interchange ramps to Rock Quarry Road (SR 2542), a distance of approximately 1.5 miles. The project will involve widening Jones Sausage Road from a basic two-lane roadway to a four-lane divided facility. The proposed curb and gutter typical sections would include sidewalks along the western side of the roadway with wide outside lanes along each side to accommodate bicycle traffic. The proposed minimum right-of-way width would be 110 feet. The proposed project plan includes re-aligning the intersection of Jones Sausage Road with New Hope Road (SR 2036), as well as widening and replacing the bridge on Rock Quarry Road. The project's primary components include: 1. Realigning Jones Sausage Road to reflect the location of New Hope Road (approximately 600 feet east of the existing Jones Sausage Road intersection; 2. Installing a new multi-cell concrete box culvert in Big Branch under Jones Sausage Road with adjacent floodplain pipes; 3. Widening Rock Quarry Road and upgrading the bridge over Big Branch; 4. Widening the berm width near Rock Quarry Road to accommodate a planned greenway path along Big Branch; 5. Modifying existing traffic signals at Auburn Church Road and installing a new traffic signal for the proposed Jones Sausage Road/Rock Quarry Road/New Hope Road intersection; 6. Installing a sanitary sewer line in the newly expanded Rock Quarry Road right-of- way adjacent to the new bridge over Big Branch. Version 12/12/05 Mitigation The applicant is proposing a combination of compensatory mitigation measures to offset the unavoidable loss of jurisdictional areas resulting from the Jones Sausage Road . Widening and Realignment project. Mitigation ratios for the stream impacts have been identified as 1:1 based on USACE guidance. The City must mitigate for 725 linear feet of stream impact. The City is proposing to utilize 639 feet of stream restoration credit resulting from the Maple Ridge Stream Restoration project as partial mitigation for the impacts incurred herein. The remaining 86 feet of stream impact will be mitigated for either through a private mitigation bank or through the N.C. Ecosystem Enhancement Program (NCEEP). Mitigation ratios for wetland impacts will range from 1:1 to 2:1, likely depending on the quality and function of the particular wetland impact area. Currently, it appears that the City is proposing to utilize either a private mitigation bank or NCEEP for the wetland mitigation associated with this project. More detailed information regarding the compensatory mitigation plan will be submitted under separate cover once the final details and negotiations have been addressed. Other Required Authorizations This notice and all applicable application materials are being forwarded to the appropriate State agencies for review. The Corps will generally not make a final permit decision until the North Carolina Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ) issues, denies, or waives State certification required by Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (PL 92-500). The receipt of the application and this public notice in the NCDWQ Central Office in Raleigh serves as application to the NCDWQ for certification. A waiver will be deemed to occur if the NCDWQ fails to act on this request for certification within sixty days of the date of the receipt of this notice in the NCDWQ Central Office. Additional information regarding the Clean Water Act certification may be reviewed at the NCDWQ Central Office, 401 Oversight and Express Permits Unit, 2321 Crabtree Boulevard, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604-2260. All persons desiring to make comments regarding the application for certification under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act should do so in writing delivered to the North Carolina Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ), 1650 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1650 Attention: Ms. Cyndi Karoly by: 12 January 2010. Essential Fish Habitat This notice initiates the Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) consultation requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The Corps' initial determination is that the proposed project will not adversely impact EFH or associated fisheries managed by the South Atlantic or Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Councils or the National Marine Fisheries Service. 4 Version 12/12/05 Cultural Resources Coordination with the SHPO in 2003 for the Jones Sausage Road project area (SHPO Environmental Review Number ER 03-0224) resulted in a regulatory recommendation for an intensive archaeological survey. ESI conducted an intensive archaeological survey of the then-proposed Jones Sausage Road project study area in April 2003 (Di Gregorio et al., 2003). That investigation resulted in the recording of four new archaeological sites, none of which were considered eligible for listing in the National Register. Endangered Species The Corps has reviewed the project area, examined all information provided by the applicant and consulted the latest North Carolina Natural Heritage Database. Based on available information, the Corps has determined pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), that the proposed project may affect federally listed endangered or threatened species or their formally designated critical habitat (see following table). . Consultation under Section 7 of the ESA will be initiated and no permit will be issued until the consultation process is complete. Federally Protected Species for Wake County, North Carolina Federal Habitat Biological Common Name Scientific Name Status Present Conclusion Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus BGPAa No No Effect Red-cockaded Picoides borealis Endangered No No Effect woodpecker Dwarf wedgemussel Alasmidonta heterodon Endangered No No Effect Michaux's sumac Rhus michauxii Endangered Yes MA-NLAAb - Removed from federal Endangered Species list; remains protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act b - MA-NLAA - May Affect - Not Likely to Adversely Affect. Evaluation The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impacts, including cumulative impacts, of the proposed activity on the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefit which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the proposal must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors which may be relevant to the proposal will be considered including the cumulative effects thereof; among those are conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, historic properties, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, flood plain values (in accordance with Executive Order 11988), land use, navigation, shoreline - erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs, considerations of property Version 12/12/05 ownership, and, in general, the needs and welfare of the people. For activities involving the discharge of dredged or fill materials in waters of the United States, the evaluation of the impact of the activity on the public interest will include application of the Environmental Protection Agency's 404(b)(1) guidelines. Commenting Information The Corps of Engineers is soliciting comments from the public; Federal, State and local agencies and officials, including any consolidate State Viewpoint or written position of the Governor; Indian Tribes and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received will be considered by the Corps of Engineers to determine whether to issue, modify, condition or deny a permit for this proposal. To make this decision, comments are used to assess impacts on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects and the other public interest factors listed above. Comments are used in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA) and/or an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity. Any person may request, in writing, within the comment period specified in this notice, that a public hearing be held to consider the application. Requests for public hearings shall state, with particularity, the reasons for holding a public hearing. Requests for a public hearing shall be granted, unless the District Engineer determines that the issues raised are insubstantial or there is otherwise no valid interest to be served by a hearing. Written comments pertinent to the proposed work, as outlined above, will be received by the Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, until 5pm, 20 January 2010. Comments should be submitted to Mr. Jamie Shem at 3331 Heritage Trade Drive, Suite 105, Wake Forest, North Carolina 27587. Version 12/12/05 Action ld: 200902242 Applicant: City of Raleigh R Project Name: Jones Sausage Road Sheet 1 of 2 - r , I l ll \Zz 11h, V 1 I =%f ? ? . ?? ? ? qtr; ? ? • ( ,???a ---? ? tt, , • il ?.' - °. r ?`'? ??? ,?+" .. ?? \ •?. 1 ?. =??? zer .. i- i l ? s. Project Boundary" "Location and extent is a roxi (? ,`( J (h.) ` mate IV4 " r) ?o pp 0 ,000 . Roliid ipll la+t.,it, eQ,e?glu.,a pwid Wldr Srt P]etl Dwrtla C r all i './,r- ?` 1 1 \ 99: ti ? l'I\ j '??lf \ _ 1I li"t ?- . v01 \ \ ! ` \\_!. ` ) ?.• -;?' ?. V\\ I \ ,? ??? A aW.:m n:.9na.nm,e?pemenwr9„•. tibm.a.,awca. d9].,n..?.. rq6 ml nablLbkYlu uq'nm9p WD / , . I 1 6 ((.\f .7 ??il ?/?.\ (\?; V" 1' ?`?'=• :?-: O,eL U ? )?\ ?,9' ? ? ( , r ' ( ? ?.i..? • ? fi ENVIRONMENTAL 524 & R- SERVICES, INC. 5]I S. N.w 2-1]f0 t 121-;7 ""° General Project Location Project: ER06166.00 Jones Sausage Road Date: Oct2009 rvm/Chkd: KT/GT Widening and Realignment osZ e ?oVN)12-IA]F]3 W]?.;? Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina Figure: t Action Id: 200902242 Applicant: City of Raleigh Project Name: Jones Sausage Roa