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Home My WebLink About20091138_Other Agency Comments_20070801l d 4012,0 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA 11DEPARTIVENT' OF TRANSPORTATION THOS o 11- "B )- eR?y?,q MICHAEL F. EASLEY LYNDO TIPPETT""eft GOVERNOR SECRETARY August 1, 2007 Mr. John Hennessy NCDENR - DWQ / WETLANDS 1650 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1650 SUBJECT: Bridge Group No. 59 Dear Mr. Hennessy, The Project Development and Environmental Analysis Branch is completing the project development, environmental and engineering studies for the following projects: B-4456, B-4468, B-4517, B-4519, B-4553, and B-4632. These projects are included in the 2006-2012 North Carolina Transportation Improvement Program. The alternatives under consideration at this time for each of these bridge replacement projects are as follows: B-4456 • Replace in place with offsite detour. B-4468 Replace in place with offsite, detour. B-4517 • Replace in place with offsite detour. B-4519 • Replace in place with offsite detour. B-4553 Replace in place with offsite detour. B-4632 Replace in place with offsite detour. MAILING ADDRESS: TELEPHONE: 919-715-1500 LOCATION: NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FAX: 919-715-1522 PARKER LINCOLN BLDG PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTALANALYSIS 2728 CAPITOL BLVD- SUITE 168 BRIDGE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT UNIT WEBSITE. WWW.NCDOT.ORG RALEIGH NC 27604 1551 MAIL SERVICE CENTER RALEIGH NC 27699-1548 I have provided a copy of the Executive Summary of the Natural Resources Technical Report (NRTR) for each project for your use. I would appreciate any information you might have that would be helpful in evaluating potential environmental impacts of these projects. Your comments will be considered in the completion of each federally funded Categorical Exclusion. These documents will be prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. It is desirable that your agency respond by September 24, 2007 so that your comments can be used in the preparation of these documents. If you have any questions concerning either of these projects, please contact me directly at (919) 715-5513. Please include the TIP Project Number in all correspondence and comments. Thank you for your consideration. Sin ere , ank Schwab Bridge Project Planning Engineer Project Development and Environmental Analysis Branch EXECUTIVE SUMMARY NATURAL RESOURCES TECHNICAL REPORT Replacement of Bridge No. 155 SR 1800 over Little Long Creek Gaston County, North Carolina (B-4519) (WBS Element 33743.1.1) (State Project No. 82813101) (Federal Aid No. BRZ-1800(4)) Prepared for: The North Carolina Department of Transportation Raleigh, North Carolina June 2007 - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY B-4519 Gaston County The N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) proposes to replace Bridge No. 155 located on North Carolina State Road 1800 (SR 1800) over Little Long Creek in Gaston County, North Carolina. INTRODUCTION The project study area is located at the crossing of SR 1800 over Little Long Creek approximately 1 mile north of Dallas, NC (Figure 1). The project study area has been determined to be approximately 400 feet wide, centered on SR. 1800, and approximately 300 feet long. The project study area encompasses approximately 2.8 acres (Figure 2). Elevations within the project study area range from a high of approximately 720 feet National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) to a low of approximately 700 feet NGVD (USGS Gastonia North, NC 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle [1993]). Land uses within the project study area consist of pasture, woodlands, residential lots, a sewer easement, a powerline corridor, and, roadside shoulders. Based on soil mapping for Gaston County (SCS 1989), the project study area is underlain by three soil series: Chewacla, Pacolet, and Cecil. All three series are considered non-hydric in Gaston County. The proposed replacement of Bridge No. 155 consists of replacing the bridge with a bridge in the current location while maintaining traffic with an off-site detour. It is anticipated that there will be no temporary fill resulting from bridge demolition. NCDOT will coordinate with resource agencies during project planning to ensure that all concerns regarding bridge demolition are resolved. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS Water Resources The project study area is located within sub-basin 03-08-36 of the Catawba River Basin. This area is part of USGS Hydrologic Unit 03050102 of the South Atlantic Gulf Region. Within the project study area, Little Long Creek is the only surface water. Bridge No. 155 spans Little Long Creek. The portion of Little Long Creek that lies within the project study area has been assigned Stream Index Number 11-129-16-9 by NCDWQ. A Best Usage Classification of C has been assigned to Little Long Creek. Class C waters are suitable for aquatic life propagation and protection, agriculture, and secondary recreation. Secondary recreation includes wading, boating, and other uses not involving human body contact with waters on an organized or frequent basis. No Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW), High Quality Waters (HQW), Water Supply I (WS-1), Water Supply II (WS-II), watershed Critical Areas (CA), or Trout Waters Jr) occur within 1.0 mile of the project study area (NCDWQ 2004b).. Little Long Creek is not listed on any section of the 2 N.C. 2006 final Section 303(d) list. No benthic macroinvertebrate monitoring stations occur within 1.0 mile of the project study area. With respect to temperature regimes, Little Long Creek is designated as a warm water stream. Biotic Resources Two distinct plant communities were identified within the project study area: disturbed/maintained land and alluvial forest (Figure 2). Anticipated impacts to plant communities are based on cut-fill limits plus a 25-foot buffer, based on preliminary construction drawings. Most of the projected impacts to natural plant communities will occur within the disturbed/maintained plant community along roadside shoulders. Permanent impacts to disturbed/maintained land will total 0.5 acres, while impacts to alluvial forest will total 0.1 acres. Due to the use of an off-site detour, there will be no temporary impacts to natural plant communities in the project study area. Table 1. Terrestrial Community Coverage and Impacts Within the Project Study Area Plant Community Coverage (Acres) Coverage (Percent) Area Impacted (Acres) Disturbed/maintained land 1.6 57 0.5 Alluvial Forest 1.2 43 0.1 Total 2.8 100: 0.6 JURISDICTIONAL TOPICS Waters of the United States Little Long Creek is considered to a be jurisdictional surface water under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. No vegetated wetlands occur within the project study area (Figure 3). The proposed bridge replacement results in - no jurisdictional area impacts. NCDOT will coordinate with resource agencies during project planning to ensure that all concerns regarding bridge demolition are resolved. Permits Replacement of Bridge No. 155 is anticipated to result in no impacts to the open-water area of Little Long Creek. It is anticipated that there will be no temporary fill resulting from bridge demolition. This project may be processed as a Categorical Exclusion (CE) under Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) guidelines. USACE has made available Nationwide Permit (NWP) 23 (67 FR 2020, 2082; January 15, 2002) for CEs due to minimal impacts to waters of the United States expected with bridge construction. NCDWQ has made available a General 401 Water Quality Certification for NWP 23 (GC 3403). Potential impacts to waters of the United States resulting from replacement of this bridge are expected to be avoided. 3 Protected Species Species with the federal classification of Endangered, Threatened, or officially Proposed for such listing are protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). As of June 19, 2007, the USFWS lists three federally protected species for Gaston County. Table 2. Federally Protected Species Listed for Gaston County (USFWS 2007) Common Name Scientific Name Status* Habitat Biological Present? Conclusion Schweinitz's Helianthus schweinitzii E sunflower Y No Effect Bald eagle Haliaeetus T N No Effect leucocephalus Bog turtle Glyptemys (Clemmys) T (S/A) N Not Required muhlenbergii *Federal Status: E--Endangered; T--Threatened; T (S/A)-- Threatened due to similarity of appearance (e.g., American alligator )--a species that is threatened due to similarity of appearance with other rare species and is listed for its protection. These species are not biologically Endangered or Threatened and are not subject to Section 7 consultation. SCHWEINITZ'S SUNFLOWER BIOLOGICAL CONCLUSION: NO EFFECT Within the project study area there is suitable habitat for Schweinitz's sunflower in some of the disturbed/maintained areas. A systematic plant-by-plant survey was conducted on October 11, 2006 by EcoScience biologists David O'Loughlin and Ross Andrews. No specimens of Schweinitz's sunflower were found. NCNHP records (reviewed October 2006) document no occurrence of the Schweinitz's sunflower within 2.0 miles of the project study area. Based on the survey results and NCNHP records, this project will have No Effect on Schweinitz's sunflower. BALD EAGLE BIOLOGICAL CONCLUSION: NO EFFECT There are no large bodies of water located within 1.0 mile of the project study area; therefore, there is no habitat for bald eagle nesting. NCNHP records (reviewed October 2006) document no occurrence of bald eagle within 2.0 miles of the project study area. Based on a lack of habitat and NCNHP records, this project will have No Effect on bald eagle. The bog turtle (Clemmys muhlenbergii) is listed as Threatened due to Similarity of Appearance, is not subject to Section 7 consultation, and a biological conclusion is not required. However, this project is not expected to affect the bog turtle as the project study area contains no suitable wetland habitat. NCNHP records (reviewed June 2007) document two occurrences of bog turtles within 1.0 mile of the project study area. T (S/A) species are not subject to Section 7 consultation and a biological conclusion for this species is not required; however, the project study area contains no suitable habitat for bog turtle. 4 Water Supply 1(WS. CLUSIONS h (duality W aters (H oW)rout Waters (Tr) occur CON N(), H?9 CA), Section of the Waters (0 Critical Areas ( on any Resource waters, watershed creek ;s not listed one jurisdictional No Outstanding WS-11) w Little Long area contains lacernent 1), W ater. Supply 11 ( project study area. roject study from rep to ;le of the list. Thep States resulting CE due 0 m 303(4) United be processed as a The within 1 ction 2004 draft Se acts to waters of the project may bridge construction. N C Potential imp avoided. This ected with ecies. surface water expected to be States eXp protected sp bridge are of the United act any imp federally of this acts to waters to adversely imp rn;n;mal proposed project is not expected 5 5 f < :,Z-- '.I ?. • ?/ lJ_ Puns x w } 1,' _? RIDGE IVO rep n , ..? 1 5 ,ena , ?ics v ._ ? • 1" ? i"?C2 I 1 I; % J N, r, t t 7*1 -77 c: 7 L s M/ i t °£ `afro 1Z • r ! f 1??•} i Sch r 7t ? r' " t Faris t i 2000 0 2000 SCALE IN FEET 1 Ce.-d- / 51. Fk. 7 73 Cfenl: - ' I----' JDG JW FIGURE PROJECT LOCATION FEB 2006 Replacement of Bridge No. 155 (B-4519) S.- over Little Long Creek AS SHOWN Gaston County, North Carolina ESC P-j- N- 05-2621 J LEGEND F-I Project Study Area ® Alluvial Forest t ?. Bridge No. 155' a t 0 Disturbed/Maintained Land' ® Road Little Long Creek ) X ; . 441 }?l' z A" +f • zf l + r Sewer Easement i' ? ?, ¦ D 40 80 120 Feet iiewt Ckd By: JRW ES FIGURE Date: October 17, 2006 Scale: AS SHOWN ESC Project No.: 05-262.00