20110667 Ver 1_Scoping Comments_20090708

NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Beverly Eaves Perdue Coleen H, Sullins
Governor Director
July 8, 2009
MEMORANDUM
Dee Freeman
Secretary
TO: Bryan Kluchar, NCDOT, Bridge Project Development Unit
FROM: Brian Wrenn, NCDWQ, Transportation Permitting Unit 1P°-
SUBJECT: Scoping Review of NCDOT's Proposed Bridge Replacement Project Bridge No. 148 on
SR 1326 over Lamance Creek in Transylvania County, B-4989, Division 14.
In reply to your correspondence dated July 2, 2009 (received July 7, 2009) in which you requested
comments for the above referenced projects, the NCDWQ offers the following comments:
Project-Specific Comments
Lamance Creek is class C; Tr waters of the State. NCDWQ recommends that the most protective
sediment and erosion control BMPs be implemented to reduce the risk of turbidity violations in trout
waters. In addition, all disturbances within trout buffers shall be conducted in accordance with NC
Division of Land Resources and NC Wildlife Resources Commission requirements.
2. Preliminary investigation indicates that Lamance Creek runs parallel to SR 1326 along the north and
south sides of the road. NCDWQ requests that any bridge and approach widening be minimized to
avoid and minimize impacts to Lamance Creek.
General Comments Regarding Bridge Replacement Projects
1. NCDWQ is very concerned with sediment and erosion impacts that could result from this project.
NCDOT shall address these concerns by describing the potential impacts that may occur to the
aquatic environments and any mitigating factors that would reduce the impacts.
2. If foundation test borings are necessary; it shall be noted in the document. Geotechnical work is
approved under General 401 Certification Number 3687/Nationwide Permit No. 6 for Survey
Activities.
3. If a bridge is being replaced with a hydraulic conveyance other than another bridge, NCDWQ
believes the use of a Nationwide Permit may be required. Please contact the US Army Corp of
Engineers to determine the required permit(s).
4. If the old bridge is removed, no discharge of bridge material into surface waters is allowed unless
otherwise authorized by the US ACOE. Strict adherence to the Corps of Engineers guidelines for
bridge demolition will be a condition of the 401 Water Quality Certification.
5. Whenever possible, NCDWQ prefers spanning structures. Spanning structures usually do not
require work within the stream or grubbing of the streambanks and do not require stream channel
Transportation Permitting Unit One
1650 Mail service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1650 North/Carohna
Location: 2321 Crabtree Blvd., Raleigh, North Carolina 27604 ?a`ut+Q`{ J/
Phone: [phone] FAX: [phone] ./
Internet. hfp:llh2o.enr.state.nc.us/nmetlands/
An Equal Opportunity \ Affirmative Action Employer
realignment. The horizontal and vertical clearances provided by bridges shall allow for human and
wildlife passage beneath the structure. Fish passage and navigation by canoeists and boaters shall
not be blocked. Bridge supports (bents) should not be placed in the stream when possible.
Bridge deck drains shall not discharge directly into the stream. Stormwater shall be directed across
the bridge and pre-treated through site-appropriate means (grassed swales, pre-formed scour holes,
vegetated buffers, etc.) before entering the stream. Please refer to the most current version of
NCDWQ's Stormwater Best Management Practices.
If concrete is used during construction, a dry work area shall be maintained to prevent direct contact
between curing concrete and stream water. Water that inadvertently contacts uncured concrete shall
not be discharged to surface waters due to the potential for elevated pH and possible aquatic life and
fish kills.
If temporary access roads or detours are constructed, the site shall be graded to its preconstruction
contours and elevations. Disturbed areas shall be seeded or mulched to stabilize the soil and
appropriate native woody species shall be planted. When using temporary structures the area shall
be cleared but not grubbed. Clearing the area with chain saws, mowers, bush-hogs, or other
mechanized equipment and leaving the stumps and root mat intact allows the area to re-vegetate
naturally and minimizes soil disturbance.
9. Sediment and erosion control measures sufficient to protect water resources must be implemented
and maintained in accordance with the most recent version of North Carolina Sediment and Erosion
Control Planning and Design Manual and the most recent version of NCS000250.
10. All work in or adjacent to stream waters shall be conducted in a dry work area unless otherwise
approved by NCDWQ. Approved BMP measures from the most current version of NCDOT
Construction and Maintenance Activities manual such as sandbags, rock berms, cofferdams and
other diversion structures shall be used to prevent excavation in flowing water.
11. Heavy equipment shall be operated from the bank rather than in stream channels in order to
minimize sedimentation and reduce the likelihood of introducing other pollutants into streams. This
equipment shall be inspected daily and maintained to prevent contamination of surface waters from
leaking fuels, lubricants, hydraulic fluids, or other toxic materials.
12. In most cases, the NCDWQ prefers the replacement of the existing structure at the same location
with road closure. If road closure is not feasible, a temporary detour shall be designed and located
to avoid wetland impacts, minimize the need for clearing and to avoid destabilizing stream banks.
If the structure will be on a new alignment, the old structure shall be removed and the approach fills
removed from the 100-year floodplain. Approach fills shall be removed and restored to the natural
ground elevation. The area shall be stabilized with grass and planted with native tree species. Tall
fescue shall not be used in riparian areas.
General Comments if Replacing the Bridge with a Culvert
Placement of culverts and other structures in waters, streams, and wetlands shall be below the
elevation of the streambed by one foot for all culverts with a diameter greater than 48 inches, and 20
percent of the culvert diameter for culverts having a diameter less than 48 inches, to allow low flow
passage of water and aquatic life. Design and placement of culverts and other structures including
temporary erosion control measures shall not be conducted in a manner that may result in dis-
equilibrium of wetlands or streambeds or banks, adjacent to or upstream and down stream of the
above structures. The applicant is required to provide evidence that the equilibrium is being
maintained if requested in writing by NCDWQ. If this condition is unable to be met due to bedrock
or other limiting features encountered during construction, please contact the NCDWQ for guidance
on how to proceed and to determine whether or not a permit modification will be required.
If multiple pipes or barrels are required, they shall be designed to mimic natural stream cross section
as closely as possible including pipes or barrels at flood plain elevation, floodplain benches and/or
sills may be required where appropriate. Widening the stream channel shall be avoided. Stream
channel widening at the inlet or outlet end of structures typically decreases water velocity causing
sediment deposition that requires increased maintenance and disrupts aquatic life passage.
Riprap shall not be placed in the active thalweg channel or placed in the streambed in a manner that
precludes aquatic life passage. Bioengineering boulders or structures shall be properly designed,
sized and installed.
Thank you for requesting our input at this time. NCDOT is reminded that issuance of a 401 Water
Quality Certification requires that appropriate measures be instituted to ensure that water quality
standards are met and designated uses are not degraded or lost. If you have any questions or require
additional information, please contact Brian Wrenn at 919-233-5715.
cc: David Baker, US Army Corps of Engineers, Asheville Field Office
Mark Davis, Division 14 Environmental Officer
Chris Militscher, Environmental Protection Agency (electronic copy only)
Marla Chambers, NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Mike Parker, NCDWQ Asheville Regional Office
File Copy
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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA JUG Q ZOO9
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTA
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BEVERLY EAVES PERDUE EU try yyNTI, JR.
GOVERNOR SECRET RY
July 2, 2009
John Hennessy
DENR - Division of Water Quality
1650 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699 -1621
Dear Mr. Hennesey:
SUBJECT: Replacement of Bridge No. 148 on SR 1326 (Macedonia Church Rd.)
over Lamance Creek in Transylvania County.
B-4989 / Division 14
The Project Development and Environmental Analysis Branch is in the process of project
development, environmental and engineering studies for the replacement of Bridge
No. 148 in Transylvania County. This project is included in the North Carolina
Transportation Improvement Program and is scheduled for construction in fiscal year
2012.
We would appreciate any information you might have that would be helpful in evaluating
potential environmental impacts of the project. Your comments will be used in the
preparation of a federally funded Categorical Exclusion, prepared in accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act.
Please respond by August 10, 2009 and include the TIP Project Number in the comments.
If you have any questions concerning this project, please contact me at [phone].
Sincerely,
Bryan D. Kluchar, P.E.
Bridge Project Development Unit
Project Development and Environmental
Analysis Branch
MAILING ADDRESS: TELEPHONE: [phone] LOCATION:
INC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FAX: [phone] PDEA ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE CENTER
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTALANALYSIS 4701 ATLANTIC AVENUE-SUITE 116
BRIDGE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT UNIT WEBSITE. W NW.NCDOr ORG RALEIGH NC 27604
1598 MAIL SERVICE CENTER
RALEIGH INC 27699-1598
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TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY
REPLACE BRIDGE NO. 148 ON SR 1326
OVER LAMANCE CREEK
B-4989
Detour - 0 0 Figure 1
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