20110691 Ver 1_Information Letter_20040809

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NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Michael F. Easley, Governor
August 9, 2004
William G. Ross, Jr., Secretary
Alan W. Klimek, P.E., Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: John Conforti, NCDOT Project Development Engineer
FROM: Brian L. Wrenn, NC Division of Water Quality ~3GJ
SUBJECT: Scoping Review of NCDOT's proposed bridge replacement projects: B-4293
In reply to your correspondence dated July 16, 2004 (received July 23,2004) in which you requested
comments for the referenced projects, the NC Division of Water Quality has the following comments:
!. Project-Specific Comments
B-4293 Bridge No. 2l9 over Twelve Mile Creek, Union Co. `~
DWQ has no specific concerns regazding this bridge replacement.
l7. General Comments Re~ardinA Bride Replacement Projects
1. If corrugated metal pipe arches, reinforced concrete pipes, or concrete box culverts are used to replace
the bridge, then DWQ recommends the use of Nationwide Permit No. 14 rather than Nationwide
Permit 23.
2. If the old bridge is removed, no discharge of bridge material into surface waters is preferred. Strict
adherence the Corps of Engineers guidelines for bridge demolition will be a condition of the 401
Water Quality Certification.
3. DWQ prefers spanning structures. Spanning structures usually do not require work within the stream
and do not require stream channel realignment. The horizontal and vertical cleazances provided by
bridges allows for human and wildlife passage beneath the structure, does not block fish passage, and
does not block navigation by canoeists and boaters.
4. Bridge deck drains should not dischazge directly into the stream; stormwater should 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 NCDOT Best Management
Practices for the Protection of Surface Waters
5. Live concrete should not be allowed to contact the water in or entering into the stream. Concrete is
mostly made up of lime (calcium cazbonate) and when in a dry or wet state (not hardened) calcium
carbonate is very soluble in water and has a pH of approximately 12. In an unhazdened state concrete
or cement will change the pH of fresh water to very basic and will cause fish and other
macroinvertebrate kills.
6. If possible, bridge supports (bents) should not be placed in the stream.
401 Transportation Permitting Unit
1650 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1650 one
2321 Crabtree Boulevard, Suite 250, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604 NorthCarolina
Phone: [phone] /FAX [phone] /Internet: h~~//h2o cnr state nc us/ncwetlands a'~ 1~~ `//~

If temporary access roads or detours are constructed, they should be removed back to original ground
elevations immediately upon the completion of the project. Disturbed areas should be seeded or
mulched to stabilize the soil and native tree species should be planted with a spacing of not more than
10'x10'. If possible, when using temporary structures the area should be cleazed 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 disturbed soil.
8. A cleaz bank (rip rap-free) area of at least 10 feet should remain on each side of the steam underneath
the bridge.
9. Sedimentation and erosion control measures sufficient to protect water resources must be
implemented prior to any ground disturbing activities. Structures should be maintained regularly,
especially following rainfall events.
10. Baze soil should be stabilized through vegetation or other means as quickly as feasible to prevent
sedimentation of water resources.
11. All work in or adjacent to stream waters should be conducted in a dry work area. Sandbags, rock
berms, cofferdams, or other diversion structures should be used where possible to prevent excavation
in flowing water. `
12. Heavy equipment should 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 should be inspected daily and maintained to prevent contamination of surface waters from
leaking fuels, lubricants, hydraulic fluids, or other toxic materials.
ILL General Comments if Replacing the Bride with a Culvert
1. The culvert must be designed to allow for aquatic life and fish passage. Generally, the culvert or pipe
invert should be buried at least 1 foot below the natural streambed (measured from the natural thalweg
depth). If multiple barrels are required, barrels other than the base flow barrel(s) should be placed on or
neaz stream bankfull or floodplain bench elevation (similar to Lyonsfield design). These should be
reconnected to floodplain benches as appropriate. This may be accomplished by utilizing sills on the
upstream end to restrict or divert flaw to the base flow barrel(s). Sufficient water depth should be
provided in the base flow barrel during low flows to accommodate fish movement: -b` culverts aze
longer than 40-50 lineaz feet, alternating or notched baffles should be installed in a manner that mimics
existing stream pattern. This should enhance aquatic life passage: 1) by depositing sediments in the
barrel, 2) by maintaining channel depth and flow regimes, and 3) by providing resting places for fish
and other aquatic organisms. In essence, the base flow barrel(s) should provide a continuum of water
depth and channel width without substantial modifications of velocity.
2. If multiple pipes or cells are used, at least one pipe or box should be designed to,remain dry during
normal flows to allow for wildlife passage.
3. Culverts or pipes should be situated along the existing channel alignment whenever possible to avoid
channel realignment. Widening the stream channel should 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.
4. Riprap should 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 should be professionally
designed, sized, arid installed.

In most cases, we prefer the replacement of the existing structure at the same location with road closure.
If road closure is not feasible, a temporary detour should 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 should be removed and the approach fills removed from the 100-
year floodplain. Approach fills should be removed down to the natural ground elevation. The area
should be stabilized with grass and planted with native tree species. Tall fescue should not be used in
riparian areas. If the area that is reclaimed was previously wetlands, NCDOT should restore the area to
wetlands. If successful, the site may be used as wetland mitigation for the subject project or other
projects in the watershed.
Thank you for requesting our input, at this time. The DOT is reminded that issuance of a 401 Water
Quality Certification requires [hat 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 919-733-5715.
pc: Steve Lund, USACE Asheville Field Office
Chris Militscher, USEPA
Marla Chambers, NCWRC
File Copy `'~

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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA'
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
MICHAEL F. EASLEY
GOVERNOR
July 16, 2004
Mr. Brian Wrenn
Department of Environment & Natural Resources
Department of Water Quality
1650 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1621
Dear Mr. Wrenn:
LYNDO TIPPETT
SECRETARY
WETLANDS 140? GROUP
JUL 2 3 2004
WATER QUALITY SECTI0~1
SUBJECT: Notification of Start of Study and Request for Environmental Input
NCDOT Bridge Replacement Group #48
The Project Development and Environmental Analysis Branch (PDEA) of the North
Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), has begun studying alternatives for the
proposed replacement of the bridge listed below. The project is included in the 2004 - 2010
North Cazolina Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and is scheduled for right of way
acquisition to begin in Federal Fiscal Yeaz 2005 (FFY05) and construction to begin in Federal
Fiscal Year 2006 (FFY06). A site location map and other project information are attached for
your review.
TIP No. Federal Aid No. Slate Projec[ NCDOT County Project Description
No. Division
B-4293 BRSTP-1008(11) 8.2693101 10 Union Replace Bridge No. 219 on SR 1008
(Howie Mine Road) over Twelve Mile
Creek
We would appreciate any information you might have that would be helpful in evaluating
the potential social, economic, and/or environmental impacts of the project. If applicable, please
identify any permits or approvals that may be required by your agency. Your comments will be
used in the prepazation of a federally funded Categorical Exclusion (CE) document for each
project. The document will be prepazed in accordance with the National Environmental Policy
Act. It is desired that your agency respond by August 20, 2004 so that your comments can be
used in the preparation of this document. Please note that there will be no formal interagency
scoping meetings for this project.
MAILING ADDRESS:
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
1548 MAIL SERVICE CENTER
RALEIGH NC 27699-1546
TELEPHONE: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
WEBSITE: WWYV.NCDOT.ORG
LOCATION:
TRANSPORTATION BUILDING
1 SOUTH WILMINGTON STREET
RALEIGH NC
G

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If you have any questions concerning the project, please contact Mr. John Conforti,
Project Development Engineer, of this Branch at [phone], Extension 208.
Sincerely,
Gregory J. Thorpe, Ph.D., Director
Project Development and Environmental Analysis Branch
GJT/plr

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1. DEPARTMMQdT OF TRANSPORTATION
I\, PROJECT DEVELOPMENT &
`~ ENVIRONMIIJ'fAL ANALYSIS BRANCH
iJNION COUNTY
~ ~ BRIDGE NO. 219 ON SR 1008 OVER
,~ TWELVE MILE CREEK
TIP NO. B-4293
LOCATION MAP
FIGURE I