20061203 Ver 1_Other Agency Comments_20060920 (4)

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
WILMINGTON DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS
151 PATTON AVENUE
ROOM 208
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28801-5006
REPLY TO
ATTENTION OF:
September 14, 2006
Regulatory Division
Action ID. 2006-32521-360
Mr. J. T. Orr, Airport Manager
Charlotte Douglas International Airport
Post Office Box 19066
Charlotte, North Carolina 28219
Dear Mr. Orr:
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Reference is made to your May 26, 2006 Department of the Army permit application in
which you requested a permit for impacts to stream channels and wetlands associated with the
proposed construction of a new runway, the expansion of an existing runway, and the
construction of associated infrastructure at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport,
Charlotte, North Carolina. The purpose of this letter is to provide you with comments received in
response to the Public Notice dated June 27, 2006 and request that additional information be
submitted to continue the review of your permit request.
By letters dated July 27, 2006 (enclosed), USFWS and EPA provided comments in
response to the Public Notice. Both USFWS and EPA commented that the proposed mitigation
plan is inadequate and that the applicant should provide mitigation at a 2:1 ratio for impacts to
important stream channels and a 1:1 ratio for impacts to unimportant stream channels. EPA also
commented that impacts to wetland areas should be mitigated at a 2:1 ratio versus the current
proposed ratio which is less than 1:1. We concur with the comments provided by USFWS and
EPA and request that the mitigation plan be revised to adequately compensate for impacts to
waters of the U.S. In accordance with Regulatory Guidance Letter 02-2 and Wilmington
District's Interagency Stream Mitigation Guidelines (Apri12003), compensatory mitigation to
offset impacts to waters of the U.S. typically require a minimum 1:1 ratio where practicable.
USFWS commented that the Phase II project area should be surveyed for the federally
endangered Schweinitz's Sunflower (Helianthus schweinitzii). USFWS recommended that
surveys be conducted in September 2006 and findings be forwarded to the service for review.
USFWS also noted a statement in the individual permit application (page 23, first paragraph) that
implies that waters of the U.S. between the proposed new parallel runway and runway extension
would be filled to eliminate wildlife hazards to aircraft. Based upon the impact tables and maps
submitted with the permit application, these jurisdictional areas were not calculated toward the
impact total. Please provide clarification regarding proposed impacts to these areas. Also, please
forward the re-issued Record of Decision when it becomes available.

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Please be reminded that the requested information is essential for our permit review. If
you have any questions please contact Ms. Amanda Jones of the Asheville Regulatory Field
Office staff at telephone [phone] extension 231.
Sincerely,
Tom VV~lker
Chief, Asheville Field Office
Enclosures
Copies Furnished:
Brian Hennessey, P.E.,
Charlotte/Douglas International Airport
Post Office Box 19066
Charlotte, North Carolina 28219
Mr. Clement Riddle
C1earWater Environmental Consultants
718 Oakland Street
Hendersonville, North Carolina 28791
Ms. Rebecca Fox
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1349 Firefly Road
Whittier, North Carolina 28789
Mr. Ronald J. Mikulak, Chief
Wetlands Section -Region IV
Water Management Division
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
61 Forsyth Street, SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Mr. Brian Cole
Asheville Field Office
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
160 Zillicoa Street
Asheville, North Carolina 28801

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~/Ms. Cyndi Karoly
N.C. Division of Water Quality
401 Wetlands Certification Unit
1650 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 276041
Mr. Jarrod Karl
City of Charlotte Stormwater Services
600 East Fourth Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202