20080868 Ver 2_DWQ Draft Creeks Report Comments_20100129

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NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Coastal Management
Beverly Eaves Perdue
Governor
John Dorney
NC Division of Water Quality
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
James H. Gregson
Director
January 27, 2010
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Dee Freeman
Secretary
SUBJECT: Draft PCS Plan of Study to Monitor Potential Effects of the Reduction in
Headwater Wetlands on Downstream Aquatic Functions (December 2009), Aurora,
Beaufort County, North Carolina (DCM#20100001)
Dear Mr. Dorney:
Thank you for the opportunity to review the "Draft Plan of Study to Monitor Potential Effects
of Reduction in Headwater Wetlands on the Downstream Aquatic Functions and Utilization of
Tributaries of South Creek, Porter Creek, and Durham Creek, Beaufort County, North
Carolina" (December 2009). The purpose of this plan is to monitor the effects of continued
(future) mining operations on natural habitat, specifically South Creek, Porter Creek, and
Durham Creek.
At this time we have no comments related to the methodology of the monitoring effort.
Though we have no comments on the methodology, Condition #13 of the 401 Water Quality
Certification No. 3771 (January 15, 2009) emphasizes the management objectives of the
monitoring effort. That it be "designed to assure the protection of downstream water quality
standards including Primary and Secondary Nursery Area functions in tributaries to South
Creek, Porter Creek, Durham Creek and the Pamlico River adjacent to the mine site. "
Additionally, Condition #13 notes that the hydrology Non-Riverine Wet Hardwood Forests are
to be maintained.
The State's coastal management program, through 15A NCAC 07M .0700 (Mitigation Policy),
requires that "Coastal ecosystems shall be protected and maintained as complete and
functional systems by mitigating the adverse impacts of development as much as feasible by
enhancing, creating, or restoring areas with the goal of improving or maintaining ecosystem
function and areal proportion." Additionally, "Mitigation shall be used to enhance coastal
resources and offset any potential losses occurring from approved and unauthorized
development."
400 Commerce Ave., Morehead City, NC 28557-3421 One
Phone: [phone] \ FAX: [phone] Internet: www.nccoastalmanagement.net NorthCarolina
An Equal Opportunity \ Affirmative Action Employer ;Vatuilwlly
In preparing the final version of the monitoring plan, we encourage the Division of Water
Quality, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and the proposed Science Panel to carefully evaluate
the monitoring program to assure that the data collected through monitoring will facilitate the
implementation of mitigation efforts, as necessary, to achieve the management objectives of
15A NCAC 07M.0700 and Condition #13. Thank you for your consideration of the North
Carolina Coastal Management Program.
Sincerely,

Stephen Rynas, AICP
Federal Consistency Coordinator
Cc: Doug Huggett, Division of Coastal Management
David Moye, Division of Coastal Management
Tom Walker, US Army Corps of Engineers
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