20070596 Ver 1_More Info Received_20070426

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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ~~~
MICHAEL F. EASLEY LYNDO TIPPETT
GOVERNOR SECRETARY
March 27, 2007
Mr. John Hennessy
DWQ
1650 Mail Service Ctr
Raleigh, NC 27699
RE: Request for comments on NCDOT Hyde Co. Bridge Replacement Projects
MA1011B -Bridge No. 10 on NC 12 over Island Creek
1 SP.1048xxx -Bridge No. 24 on NC 12 over Shad Hole Creek
B-5015 -Bridge No. 31 on NC 12 over Old Hammock Creek
B-5016 -Bridge No. 39 on NC 12 over Molasses Creek
B-5017 -Bridge No. 42 on NC 12 over Quokes Point Creek
MA1009B -Bridge No. 46 on NC 12 over Parkers Creek
State Project 41481 -Bridge No. 49 on NC 12 over Try Yard Creek
Dear Mr. Hennessy:
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is conducting the planning
and environmental studies for the above referenced bridge replacement projects. The
projects are located in NCDOT Division 1. Due to changes in the scope of the projects, we
are again asking for your comments.
Based on comments received from the public and coordi-~atio:~ ~rtr the National Park
Service, NCDOT proposes to close NC 12 and replace all seven bridges simultaneously
during a 75-day period. Bridge Number 24 will be replaced with a culvert. Construction
would occur during winter months, and a 3.2-mile long detour along the beach would be
provided.
The purpose of this letter is to solicit your input concerning the potential impact of the
seven proposed projects upon social, economic, demographic, land use or environmental
conditions near the project sites. A project location map is attached.
To allow us to fully evaluate the impacts of the proposed projects, please respond in writing
by Apri130, 2007 to the address below concerning any beneficial or adverse impacts of the
proposed projects relating to the interest of your agency.
113 Airport Drive, Suite 100, Edenton, NC 27932, Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]

If you have any questions ox comments concerning the projects, please contact me at
[phone]. Thank you fox your assistance.
Sincerely,
c7'~~/1~1~',
Sterling Baker,
Division Maintenance Engineer
NCDOT Division 1
SB/cf
Attachment
113 Airport Drive, Suite 100, Edenton, NC 27932, Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]

United States Department of the Interior
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Raleigh Field Office
Post Office Box 33726
Raleigh, North Carolina 27636-3726
March 29, 2007
Clay Willis
North Carolina Department of Transportation
113 Airport Dr., Suite 100
Edenton, NC 27932
Dear Mr. Willis:
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This letter is in response to your letter of March 22, 2007 which provided the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service) with biological determinations for federally listed species for the
replacement of the following seven bridges on Ocracoke Island in Hyde County, North Carolina:
• Bridge No. 10 over Island Creek, MA 1O11B
• Bridge No. 24 over Shad Hole Creek
• Bridge No. 31 over Old Hammock Creek, B-5015
• Bridge No. 39 over Molasses Creek, B-5016
• Bridge No. 42 over Quorks Point Creek, B-5017
• Bridge No. 46 over Parkers Creek, MA 1009B
• Bridge No. 49 over Try Yard Creek, SB 622
Each bridge will be replaced with a longer bridge in the same location except for Bridge No. 24,
which will be replaced with two 48 inch culverts. In lieu of temporary detour bridges, off-road
vehicles will be detoured to the Atlantic coast beach between the National Park Service
campgrounds and the Pony Pens dune break. All work will be conducted from January 2, 2008
to March 15, 2008. These comments are provided in accordance with section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543).
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has made the following biological
determinations: '
Common Name Scientific Name Biolo ical Determination
Pi in lover Charadrius melodus ~ MA-NLAA
Green sea turtle Chelonia m das ~ ~ MA-NLAA
Hawksbill sea turtle Eretomochel s imbricata . MA-NLAA
Kem 's ridle sea turtle Le idochel s kem ii' ` MA-NLAA
Leatherback sea turtle Dermochel s coriacea MA-NLAA
Lo erhead sea turtle Caretta caretta ~ MA-NLAA
West Indian manatee Trichechus manatus MA-NLAA
Seabeach amaranth Amaranthus umilus No effect

Bald eagle Haliaeetus leucoce~ lt`ctlus No effect
Red-cockaded wood ecker Picoide~ ,borealis No effect
Red wolf Canis ru us ~ No effect
Sensitive joint-vetch Aeschynomene virginica No effect
MA-NLAA =May affect, not likely to adversely affect
Based on the information provided and other available information, the Service concurs with
your determination that the seven projects may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect the
piping plover, green sea turtle, hawksbill sea turtle, Kemp's ridley sea turtle, leatherback sea
turtle and loggerhead sea turtle. The Service~previously concurred (in a March 4, 2005 letter)
that the projects may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect the West Indian manatee. This
concurrence was based on NCDOT's commitment to implement the Service's GUIDELINES
FOR AVOIDING IMPACTS TO THE WEST INDIAN MANATEE. That concurrence is
still valid. Based on the lack of habitat, the Service concurs with your determination that the
projects will have no effect on the bald eagle, red-cockaded woodpecker, red wolf and sensitive
joint-vetch. Also, since the project will be conducted during a time period in which seabeach
amaranth would not be present (winter), the Service concurs with your determination that the
project will have no effect on seabeach amaranth.
The Service requests that, upon project completion, any ruts left on the beach from off-road
vehicle traffic be smoothed out so as to facilitate any .future sea turtle nesting and to avoid
trapping the chicks of any shore nesting birds.
We believe that the requirements of section 7(a)(2) of the ESA have been satisfied. We remind
you that obligations under section 7 consultation must be reconsidered if (1) new information
reveals impacts of these identified actions that may affect listed species or critical habitat in a
manner not previously considered in this review; (2) these actions are subsequently modified in a
manner that was not considered in this review; or (3) anew species is listed or critical habitat
determined that maybe affected by these identified actions.
The Service appreciates the opportunity to review this project. If you have any questions
regarding our response, please contact Mr. Gary,Jordan at [phone] (Ext. 32).
Sincerely,
a
- Pete Beni ' n
Field Supervisor
cc: Bill Biddlecome, USACE, Washington, NC
David Wainwright, NCDWQ, Raleigh, NC
Travis Wilson, NCWRC, Creedmoor, NC
Chris Militscher, USEPA, Raleigh, NC

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Narne of Stream Description Curr. Class Date Prop. Class Basin Stream Index #
Berrys Bay Entire Bay SA;HQW 06/06/62 Tar-Pamlico 29-71
Otter Creek From source to Pamlico SA;HQW 06/06/62 Tar-Pamlico 29-72
Sound
Long Shoal River From U.S. Hwy. 264 to SA;HQW 06/06/62 Tar-Pamlico 29-73-(2)
Pamlico Sound
Cumberland Creek From source to Long C;Sw,HQW 08/01/90 Tar-Pamlico 29-73-3
Shoal River
Broad Creek From source to Long SA;HQW 06/06/62 Tar-Pamlico 29-73-7
Shoal River
Cockrel Creek From source to Pamlico SA;HQW 06/06/62 Tar-Pamlico 29-77
Sound
Shingle Creek From source to Pamlico SA;HQW 06/06/62 Tar-Pamlico 29-78
Sound
North Bitterwash From source to Pamlico SA;HQW 06/06/62 Tar-Pamlico 29-79
Creek Sound
South Bitterwash From source to Pamlico SA;HQW 06/06/62 Tar-Pamlico 29-80
Creek Saund
Knoll Creek From source to Pamlico SA;HQW 06/06/62 Tar-Pamlico 29-81
Sound
Knoll House Creek From source to Pamlico SA;HQW 06/06/62 Tar-Pamlico 29-82
Sound
Try Yard Creek From source to Pamlico SA;HQW 06/06/62 Tar-Pamlico 29-83
Sound
Little Swash From source to Pamlico SA;HQW 06/06/62 Tar-Pamlico 29-84
Opening Sound
Old Hammock Creek From source to Pamlico SA;HQW 06/06/62 Tar-Pamlico 29-85
Sound
Island Creek From source to Pamlico SA;HQW 06/06/62 Tar-Pamlico 29-86
Sound
Sand Hole Creek From source to Pamlico SA;HQW 06/06/62 Tar-Pamlico 29-87
Sound
Northern Pond Entire Pond SA;HQW 06/06/62 Tar-Pamlico 29-88
Mary Anns Pond Entire Pond SA;HQW 06/06/62 Tar-Pamlico 29-89
Silver Lake at Entire Lake SC 06/06/62 Tar-Pamlico 29-90
Ocracoke Village
Old Slough From source to Pamlico SA;HQW 06/06/62 Tar-Pamlico 29-91
Sound
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Page 10 of 10

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