20030909 Ver 1_EEP Acceptance Letters_20030923

Michael F. Easley, Governor
September 2~, 2003
IV1r. Gregory J. Thorpe, Ph.D., Manager,
Project Development and Environmental Analysis Branch
North Carolina Department of Transportation
1548 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1548
Dear Dr. Thorpe:
Subject: Project: Greensboro Western Urban Loop
TIP#: U-2524AB/AC
County: Guilford County
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
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The purpose of this letter is to notify you that the Ecosystem Enhancement Program
(EEP) will provide mitigation for the Randleman Buffer impacts of the subject project. Based on
the information supplied to EEP by you in a letter dated August 18, 2003, the buffer itnpacts and
mitigation are as follows:
Impacts Zone 1: 18.09 ac. Zone 2: 10.23 ac.
Mitigation Zone 1: 45.96 ac. Zone 2: 14.30 ac. Total: 60.26 ac.
For this mitigation, a payment will need to be made to the NC Wetland Restoration Fund in
accordance with the requirements of this watershed. If you have any questions or need
additional information, please contact Ron Ferrell at 919-733-5219.
Sincerely,
,, ~ ~ ~
William D. Gilmore, P.E.
Transition Manager
cc: John Dorney, Division of Water Quality, Wetlands/401 Unit
/Phil Harris, Office of Natural Environment, NCDOT
Ron Ferrell, Wetland Restoration Program
File: U-2524AB/AC
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North Carolina Department of Environment antl Natural Resources
Division of Ecosystem Enhancement
1652 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1652
Phone: [phone] FAX: [phone]
An Equal Opportunity \ Affirmative Action Employer

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W A rF Michael F, Easley, Governor
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O~O 9pG William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
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~ ~ Alan W. Klimek, P.E., Director
~ Division of Water Quality
0 .~ Coleen H. Sullins, Deputy Director
Division of Water Quality

September 24, 2003
Guilford County
DWQ Project No. 030909
TIP Project No. U-2524AB and AC
Greensboro Western Urban Loop from I-85 to south of I-40 Interchange
CERTIFIED MAIL: Return receipt requested
Mr. Gregory J. Thorpe, Ph.D., Manager
NCDOT Project Development & Environmental Analysis Branch
1548 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1548
Dear Dr. Thorpe:
The Division of Water Quality (DWQ) staff has reviewed your submittal of an application for an
Individual §401 Water Quality Certification for the aforementioned project. Upon detailed review, the
Application was deficient in the following areas:
1. NCDOT wishes to use the NC Ecological Enhancement Program (EEP) for stream and
Randleman Buffer mitigation. NCDWQ is not in receipt of a letter from EEP accepting buffer
mitigation for the above-referenced project.
2. The on-site channel relocations were not included in the section on compensatory mitigation. It
appears as though there are two relocations on Section AB Part I, one stream relocation on
Section AB and two stream relocations on Section AC. Please organize the on-site stream
relocation information intended into a packet detailing all of the on-site stream relocations, the
length of the relocations (in English units), the reference reaches (depicted on a map),
morphological measurements, sediment transport analysis, typical details, sediment transport
analyses, buffers and planting plans.
3. Will all of the on-site stream relocations have 50-foot buffers? It appears that there may not be
50-foot buffers on Long Branch due to the proximity of Ramp A.
4. Page 11 of the Application states that Long Branch will be relocated using natural channel design.
DWQ is in favor of this relocation, however, the Application states that it will be performed
during construction of U-2524BA. This activity was not permitted in the Water Quality
Certification for U-2524BA & BC. A modification to this Certification will be required if
NCDOT desires to impact Long Branch during the U-2524BA construction.
5. Since the on-site stream relocations are proposed as compensatory mitigation for project impacts,
the relocated streams and associated riparian buffer areas must be preserved in perpetuity through
a preservation easement or some other legally binding mechanism or agreement. A permanent
conservation easement, with adequate buffer, must be secured around the proposed relocated
channel in order for this onsite mitigation to be acceptable. Please provide a copy of a legal
document (i.e., deed) to ensure that this land is in protective easement.
Pursuant to 15A NCAC 2H .0507(a)(3), the permit application is placed on hold until we are supplied the
necessary information. Furthermore, until the information is received by the NC Division of Water
Quality, we request (by copy of this letter) that the US Army Corps of Engineers continue to place the
permit application on hold.
N. C. Division of Water Quality, 401 Wetlands Certification Unit,
1650 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1650 (Mailing Address)
2321 Crabtree Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27604-2260 (Location)
[phone] (phone), 919-733-6893 (fax), (htto://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/ncwetlands)
Customer Service #: 1-877-623-6748

Dr. Gregory J. Thorpe
Page 2
September 24, 2003
We look forward to working with you to expedite the processing of your permit application. If you have
any questions, please telephone Ms. Cynthia Van Der Wiele at 919.733.5715.
Sincerely,
j~~ John R. Dorney
//~,S _ Water Quality Certification Program
cc: Wilmington District Corps of Engineers
Eric Alsmeyer, Corps of Engineers Raleigh Field Office
NCDWQ Winston-Salem Regional Office
File Copy