20061955 Ver 2_WRC Comments_20070216

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Richard B. Hamilton, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
To: Cyndi Karoly
NCDWQ
From: Steven H. Everhart, PhD
Southeastern Permit Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
Date: February 16, 2007
RE: Crossroads Development Corp - Greystone Crossing, Johnston Co., 401/404
DWQ #20061955
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) have reviewed
the subject application for impacts to wildlife and fishery resources. Our comments are provided
in accordance with provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as
amended; 16 U.S.C. 661 et. seq.), and Sections 401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act (as
amended).
The project is located on the west side of Massengill Hill Road (SR 1309), one-fourth mile north
of its intersection with NC 210, in Johnston County. An un-named tributary to Hooks Branch
(Meuse River Basin) transects the project area. The waters of Hooks Branch and the tributary are
classified as C -Nutrient Sensitive Waters by the NC Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ).
The project acreage for Phase 2 is approximately 112.6 including approximately 8.89 acres of
wetlands. The applicants propose to impact approximately 119 linear ft and 0.016 acre of stream
and 0.026 acre of allavial [sic] wetlands through filling/culverting for road crossings. We
received a site plan for phase 2 only and not the entire project. No mitigation is proposed for
unavoidable impacts.
We have the following concerns/recommendations:
• We have not been provided with sufficient information, specifically a comprehensive (all
phases) site plan, to properly review this project.
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries 1721 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Greystone Crossing
February 16, 2007
• The state (Endangered) and federally listed (Special Concern) Atlantic pigtoe mussel
(Fusconaia masoni) occurs approximately 1.5 miles from the project area in Black Creek
near its confluence with Hooks Branch [NC Natural Heritage Program (NCNHP)
database]. We recommend strict controls within the project's Sedimentation and Erosion
Control plans to prevent downstream sedimentation.
The NCWRC does not support the filling of wetlands for development and any required
permit authorization will receive a recommendation for denial unless the project has
significant public benefits and all wetlands or aquatic habitat impacts are fully mitigated.
To fully mitigate for wetland impacts, we recommend that NC EEP buy-in be required
for restoration within the Neuse River watershed for all wetland impacts, preferably
within Johnston County and that all remaining wetlands on-site be preserved through
conservation easement/deed restriction using language consistent with U. S. Army Corps
of Engineers (USAGE) guidelines for the preservation of wetlands. This language
prohibits cutting, pruning, mowing, or burning of vegetation; construction of any kind;
use of herbicides; any land disturbing activities; dumping or storing of soil, trash, or other
waste; and the pasturing, grazing or watering of animals, or any other agricultural or
horticultural purpose within wetlands.
• We recommend that a 100 ft native forested buffer be created/maintained adjacent to
perennial streams located on the property and that any buffer that is required be placed
under the same restrictions stated above.
We recommend that all utility crossings of streams be either suspended above the stream
or that the directional bore method is used for these crossings. Directional bores must
begin and end outside the forested buffer or the 100 year flood plain, whichever is
greater.
We have no objection to the project provided our recommendations are included as permit
conditions. Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this application. If you
have any questions or require additional information regarding these comments, please contact
me at [phone] or steve.everhart(a~ncwildlife.or~ .
CC: Dale Suiter, USFWS
Sarah McRae, NCNHP