20070595 Ver 1_Approval Letter_20070430

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lDI~VISI~N~ 1
April 19, 2007
G4i k, P.E. Director
}"i ~ ter Quality
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Hyde County ;r~,l~~ypsl~f•.hq/ ~Q®~
DWQ Project No. 20070595 +!~nSr~~~Qaq~~,i
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APPROVAL of 401 WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION and TAR-PAMLICO BUFFER AUTHORIZATION with
ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS
Mr. Anthony Roper, P.E.
NCDOT, Division I
113 Airport Drive Suite 100
Edenton, NC 27932
Dear Mr. Roper:
You have our approval, in accordance with the attached conditions and those listed below, for the following impacts:
Wetland fill
Site Number
acres
Bridge 24 0.029
The project shall be constructed in accordance with your application dated March 22, 2007 for the purpose of replacing
Bridge # 24 with a culvert on a relic channel on NC 12 on Ocracoke Island in Hyde County. After reviewing your
application, we have decided that these impacts are covered by General Water Quality Certification Number 3627. This
certification corresponds to the General Permit 31, issued by the Corps of Engineers. This approval is also valid for the Tar-
Pamlico Buffer Rules (15A NCAC 2B .0259). In addition, you should acquire any other federal, state or local permits before
you proceed with your project including (but not limited to) Sediment and Erosion Control, Non-Discharge and Water Supply
Watershed regulations. This approval will expire with the accompanying 404 permit issued by the US Army Corps of
Engineers (this supercedes Condition 19 of General Certification 3627 issued on March 19, 2007).
This approval is valid solely for the purpose and design described in your application (unless modified below}. Should your
project change, you must notify the DWQ and submit a new application. If the property is sold, the new owner must be given
a copy of this Certification and approval letter, and is thereby responsible for complying with all the conditions. If total
wetland fills for this project (now or in the future) exceed one acre, or total impacts to streams or buffers (now or in the
future) exceed 1501inear feet, compensatory mitigation may be required as described in 15A NCAC 2H .0506 (h) (6) and (7).
For this approval to remain valid, you must adhere to the conditions listed in the attached certification.
1.) Upon completion of the project, the NCDOT Division Engineer shall complete and return the enclosed "Certification of
Completion Form" to notify DWQ when all work included in the 401 Certification has been completed.
2.) The penmittee and its authorized agents shall conduct its activities in a manner consistent with State water quality
standards (including any requirements resulting from compliance with §303(d) of the Clean Water Act) and any other
appropriate requirements of State and Federal law. If DWQ determines that such standards or laws are not being met
(including the failure to sustain a designated or achieved use) or that State or federal law is being violated, or that further
conditions are necessary to assure compliance, DWQ may reevaluate and modify this certification
3.) 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.
N. C. Division of Water Quality
FAX [phone]
943 Washington Square Mall
Michael F. Easley, Governor
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Washington, N.C. 27889
Telephone [phone]
Internet: www.ncwaterquality.org
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No Carolina
~tura!!y

4.) Sediment and erosion control measwes shall not be placed in wetlands or waters unless otherwise approved
by this Certification. If placement of sediment and erosion control devices in wetlands and waters is
unavoidable, they shall be removed and the natwal grade restored upon completion of the project.
5.) Erosion and sediment control practices must be in full compliance with all specifications governing the
proper design, installation and operation and maintenance of such Best Management Practices in order to
protect surface waters standards:
a. The erosion and sediment control measwes for the project must be designed, installed, operated, and
maintained in accordance with the most recent version of the North Carolina Sediment and Erosion
Control Planning and Design Manual.
b. The design, installation, operation, and maintenance of the sediment and erosion control measwes must be
such that they equal, or exceed, the requirements specified in the most recent version of the North Carolina
Sediment and Erosion Control Manual. The devices shall be maintained on all construction sites, borrow
sites, and waste pile (spoil) projects, including contractor-owned or leased borrow pits associated with the
project.
c. For borrow pit sites, the erosion and sediment control measwes must be designed, installed, operated, and
maintained in accordance with the most recent version of the North Carolina Surface Mining Manual.
d. The reclamation measwes and implementation must comply with the reclamation in accordance with the
requirements of the Sedimentation Pollution Control Act.
6.) During the construction of the project, no staging of equipment of any kind is permitted in waters of the U.S., or
protected riparian buffers.
7.) Placement of culverts and other structwes in waters, streams, and wetlands shall be placed 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 structwes including temporary erosion control measwes shall not be conducted in a
manner that may result in dis-equilibrium of wetlands or streambeds or banks, adjacent to or upstrearn and down stream
of the above structwes. The applicant is required to provide evidence that the equilibrium is being maintained if
requested in writing by DWQ. If this condition is unable to be met due to bedrock or other limiting featwes encountered
dwing construction, please contact the NC DWQ for guidance on how to proceed and to determine whether or not a
permit modification will be required.
8.) All mechanized equipment operated near surface waters must be regularly inspected and maintained to prevent
contamination of stream waters from fuels, lubricants, hydraulic fluids, or other toxic materials.
9.) The outside buffer, wetland or water boundary located within the construction corridor approved by this authorization
shall be clearly marked by highly visible fencing prior to any land distwbing activities. Impacts to areas within the
fencing are prohibited unless otherwise authorized by this certification.
10.) Discharging hydroseed mixtures and washing out hydroseeders and other equipment in or adjacent to surface waters is
prohibited.
11.) All fill slopes located in jurisdictional wetlands shall be placed at slopes no flatter than 3:1, unless otherwise authorized
by this certification.
12.) Native riparian vegetation must be reestablished within the construction limits of the project by the end of the growing
season following completion of construction.
13.) There shall be no excavation from, or waste disposal into, jurisdictional wetlands or waters associated with this permit
without appropriate modification. Should waste or borrow sites be located in wetlands or streams, compensatory
mitigation will be required since that is a duect impact from road construction activities.
14.) Strict adherence to the most recent version of NCDOT's Best Management Practices For Bridge Demolition and
Removal approved by the US Army Corps of Engineers is a condition of the 401 Water Quality Certification.

15.) A copy of this Water Quality Certification shall be posted on the construction site at all times. In addition, the Water
Quality Certification and all subsequent modifications, if any, shall be maintained with the Division Engineer and the on-
site project manager.
If you do not accept any of the conditions of this certification, you may ask for an adjudicatory hearing. You must act within
60 days of the date that you receive this letter. To ask for a hearing, send a written petition that conforms to Chapter 150B of
the North Carolina General Statutes to the Office of Administrative Hearings, P.O. Box 27447, Raleigh, N.C. 27611-7447.
This certification and its conditions are final and binding unless you ask for a hearing.
This letter completes the review of the Division of Water Quality under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. If you have any
questions, please contact Garcy Ward at [phone].
incerel ,
~.
for A 1'
Director, Division of Water Quality
Attachment
cc: Wilmington District Corps of Engineers
Mr. Bill Biddlecome, US Army Corps of Engineers, Washington Field Office
Mr. Clay Willis, Division 1 Environmental Officer, NCDOT
Cathy Brittingham, DCM, 1638 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699
Sonia Gregory, NC DWQ, 401/Wetlands Unit
Central Files
File copy

WQC #3627
This General Certification is issued in conformity with the requirements of Section 401,
Public Laws 92-500 and 95-217 of the United States and subject to the North Carolina Division of
Water Quality (DWQ) Regulations in 15A NCAC 2H, Section .0500 and 15A NCAC 26 .0200 for
the discharge of fill material to waters and adjacent wetland areas or to wetland areas that are not
a part of the surface tributary system to interstate waters or navigable waters of the United States
(i.e., isolated wetlands) as described in 33 CFR 330 Appendix A (B) (14) of the Corps of
Engineers regulations (Nationwide Permit No. 14 and Regional General Permit 198200031) and
for the Riparian Area Protection Rules (Buffer Rules) in 15A NCAC 26 .0200. The category of
activities shall include any fill activity for road crossings and is limited to fill less than one-third
acre in tidal waters and less than one-half acre in non-tidal waters. This Certification replaces
Water Quality Certification Number 2177 issued on November 5, 1987, Water Quality Certification
Number 2666 issued on January 21, 1992, Water Quality Cert~cation Number 2732 issued on
May 1, 1992, Water Quality Certification Number 3103 issued on February 11, 1997, Water
n...,l•a.. l+..-L'i:....~:.... wl.....i...r AOfIA 'ocunrl nn J41ne , 0000 anr41 Water (]~ lality C~Prtifratinn
\.iUQlllY \JGI l11 RsQlIV 11 IYUIIIVGI ~lLVN IJJYl.4 ., ~ J
Number 3375 issued March 18, 2002 and WQC 3404 issued March 28, 2003. This WQC is
rescinded when the Corps of Engineers re-authorizes Nationwide Permit 14 or Regional General
Permit 198200031 or when deemed appropriate by the Director of DWQ.
The State of North Carolina certifies that the specified category of activity will not violate
applicable portions of Sections 301, 302, 303, 306 and 307 of the Public Laws 92-500 and 95-217
if conducted in accordance with the conditions hereinafter set forth.
Conditions of Certification:
1. Enumerating and Reporting of Impacts:
Streams -Impacts to streams as determined by the Division of Water Quality shall be
measured as length of the centerline of the normal flow channel. Permanent and/or
temporary stream impacts shall be enumerated on the entire project for all impacts
regardless of which 404 Nationwide Permits are used. Stream relocations and stream
bed and/or bank hardening are considered to be permanent stream impacts. Any
activity that results in a loss of use of stream functions including but not limited to
filling, relocating, flooding, dredging and complete shading shall be considered
stream impacts. Enumeration of impacts to streams shall include streams enclosed
by bottomless culverts, bottomless arches or other spanning structures when a 404
Permit is used anywhere in a project unless the entire structure (including
construction impacts) spans the entire bed and both banks of the stream, is only
used for a road, driveway or path crossing, and is not mitered to follow the stream
pattern. Impacts for dam footprints and flooding will count toward the threshold for
stream impacts, but flooding upstream of the dam will not (as long as no filling,
excavation, relocation or other modification of the existing stream dimension, pattern
or profile occurs) count towards mitigation requirements.
Wetlands -Impacts to wetlands as determined by the Division of Water Quality shall
be measured as area. Permanent and/or temporary wetland impacts shall be
enumerated on the entire project for all impacts regardless of which 404 Nationwide
Permits are used. Any activity that results in a loss of use of wetland functions
including but not limited to filling, draining, and flooding shall be considered wetland
impacts. Enumeration of impacts to wetlands shall include activities that change the
hydrology of a wetland when a 404 Permit is used anywhere in a project.

WQC #3627
Lakes and Ponds -Lake and Pond Impacts Enumeration- Impacts to waters other.
than streams and wetlands as determined by the Division of Water Quality shall be
measured as area. Permanent and/or temporary water impacts shall be enumerated
on the entire project for all impacts proposed regardless of which 404 Nationwide
Permits are used. Any activity that results in a loss of use of aquatic functions
including but not limited to filling and dredging shall be considered waters impacts;
2. Proposed fill or substantial modification of wetlands or waters (including streams) under
this General Cert~cation requires application to and prior written concurrence from the
Division of Water Quality;
3. Application to and payment of a fee to DWQ is not required for construction of a driveway
to a single family lot as long as the driveway impacts less than 25 feet of stream channel
including any in-stream stabilization needed for the crossing;
4. Impacts to any stream length in the Neuse, Tar-Pamlico or Randleman River Basins (or
any other major river basins with Riparian Area Protection Rules [Buffer Rules; in effect at
the time of application) requires written concurrence for this Certification from DWQ in
accordance with 15A NCAC 26.0200. Activities listed as `exempt" from these rules do not
need to appiy for written concurrence under This Certification. New deveiopment activities
located in the protected 50-foot wide riparian areas (whether jurisdictional wetlands or not)
within the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico River Basins shall be limited to `uses" identified within
and constructed in accordance with 15A NCAC 2B .0200. All new development shall be
located, designed, constructed, and maintained to have minimal disturbance to protect
water quality to the maximum extent practicable through the use of best management
practices;
Irrespective of other application thresholds in this General Certification, all impacts to
perennial waters and their associated buffers require written approval from DWQ since
such impacts are allowable as provided in 15A NCAC 26. 0212 (WS-I), 26 .0213 (WS-II),
2B .0214 (WS-III) and 26 .0215 (WS-IV). Only water dependent activities, public projects
and structures with diminimus increases in impervious surfaces will be allowed as outlined
in those rules. All other activities require a variance from the delegated local govemment
and/or the NC Environmental Management Commission before the 401 Water Quality
Certification can be processed. In addition, a 30 foot wide vegetative buffer for low
density development or a 100 foot wide vegetative buffer for high density development
must be maintained adjacent to all perennial waters except for allowances as provided
under the Water Supply Watershed Protection Rules. Far the purposes of this condition,
perennial waters are defined as those shown as perennial waters on the most recent
USGS 1:24,000 topographic map or as otherwise determined by local government
studies;
6. Additional site-specific stormwater management requirements may be added to this
Certification at DWQ's discretion on a case by case basis for projects that have or are
anticipated to have impervious cover of greater than 30 percent. Site-specific stormwater
management shall be designed to remove 85% TSS according to the latest version of
DWQ's stormwater Best Management Practices manual at a minimum.
Additionally, in watersheds within one mile and draining to 303(d) listed waters, as well as
watersheds that are classified as nutrient sensitive waters (NSW), water supply waters
(WS), trout waters (Tr), high quality waters (HQW); and outstanding resource waters
(ORW}, the Division shall require that extended detention wetlands, bio-retention areas,
and ponds followed by forested filter strips (designed according to latest version of the NC
DENR stormwater Best Management Practices Manual) be constructed as part of the
stormwater management plan when asite-specific stormwater management plan is
required.

WQC #3627
Alternative designs may be requested by the applicant and will be reviewed on a case-by-
case basis by the Division of Water Quality.
Approval of stormwater management plans by the Division of Water Quality's other
existing state stormwater programs including appropriate local programs are sufficient to
satisfy this Condition as Tong as the stormwater management plans meet or exceed the
design requirements specified in this condition. This condition applies unless more
stringent requirements are in effect from other state water quality programs.
• Unless specified otherwise in the approval letter, the final, written stormwater
management plan shall be approved in writing by the Division of Water Quality's
Wetlands Unit before the impacts specified in this Certification occur.
• The facilities must be designed to treat the runoff from the entire project, unless
otherwise explicitly approved by the Division of Water Quality.
• Also, before any permanent building or other structure is occupied at the subject site,
the facilities (as approved by the Wetlands Unit) steal! be constructed and operational,
and the stormwater management plan (as approved by the Wetlands Unit) shall be
implemented.
• The structural stormwater practices as approved by the Wetlands Unit as well as
drainage patterns must be maintained in perpetuity.
• No changes to the structural stormwater practices shall be made without written
authorization from the Division of Water Quality.
7. Compensatory stream mitigation shall be required at a 1:1 ratio for not only perennial but
also intermittent stream impacts that require application to DWQ in watersheds classified
as ORW, HQW, Tr, WS-I and WS-II unless the project is a linear, publicly-funded
transportation project, which has a 150-foot per-stream impact allowance;
8. In accordance with North Carolina General Statute Section 143-215.3D(e), any
application fora 401 Water Quality Certification must include the appropriate fee.
If a project also requires a CAMA Permit, one payment to both agencies shall be
submitted through the Division of Coastal Management and will be the higher of the two
fees;
9. In accordance with 15A NCAC 2H .0506 (h) compensatory mitigation may be required for
impacts to 150 linear feet or more of streams and/or one acre or more of wetlands. For
linear public transportation projects, impacts equal to or exceeding 150 feet per stream
may require mitigation. In addition, buffer mitigation may be required for any project with
Buffer Rules in effect at the time of application for buffer impacts resulting from activities
classified as "allowable with mitigation" within the "Table of Uses" section of the Buffer
Rules or require a variance under the Buffer Rules. A determination of buffer, wetland
and stream mitigation requirements shall be made for any Certification for this Nationwide
Permit. The most current design and monitoring protocols from DWQ shall be followed
and written plans submitted for DWQ approval as required in those protocols. When
compensatory mitigation is required for a project, the mitigation plans must be approved
by DWQ in writing before the impacts approved by the Certification occur, unless
otherwise specified in the approval letter. The mitigation plan must be implemented and/or
constructed before any permanent building or structure on site is occupied. In the case
of public road projects, the mitigation plan must be implemented before the road is
opened to the travelling public. Projects may also be implemented once payment is made
a,.., ,..t.,.,+„ „~.~+7,,.~-].,r, hon4 nr nthor in_Iioi i fqr~ mm~ram as specified in the written
concurrence of 401 Certification for a project. Please note that if a stream relocation is
conducted as a stream restoration as defined in The Internal Technical Guide for Stream
Work in North Carolina ,April 2001, the restored length can be used as compensatory
mitigation for the impacts resulting from the relocation;

WQC #3627
10. For any project involving re-alignment of streams, a stream relocation plan must be
included with the 401 application for written DWQ approval. Relocated stream designs
should include the same dimensions, patterns and profiles as the existing channel, to the
maximum extent practical. The new channel should be constructed in the dry and water
shall not be turned into the new channel until the banks are stabilized. Vegetation used for
bank stabilization shall be limited to native woody species, and should include
establishment of a 30 foot wide wooded and an adjacent 20 foot wide vegetated buffer on
both sides of the relocated channel to the maximum extent practical. A transitional phase
incorporating coir fiber and seedling establishment is allowable. Also, rip-rap may be
allowed if it is necessary to maintain the physical integrity of the stream, but the applicant
must provide written justification and any calculations used to determine the extent of rip-
rap coverage requested. If suitable stream mitigation is not practical on-site, then stream
impact will need to be mitigated elsewhere;
11. Placement of culverts and other structures in waters, streams, and wetlands must be
placed below the elevation of the streambed to allow low flow passage of water and
aquatic life unless it can be shown to DWQ that providing passage would be impractical.
Design and placement of culverts including open bottom or bottomless arch culverts and
other structures including temporary erosion control measures shall not be conducted in a
manner that may result in aggradation, degradation or significant changes in hydrology of
wetlands or stream beds or banks, adjacent to or upstream and down stream of the above
structures. The applicant is required to provide evidence that the equilibrium shall be
maintained if requested to do so in writing by DWC~. Additionaily, when roadways,
causeways or other fill projects are constructed across FEMA-designated floodways or
wetlands, openings such as culverts or bridges must be provided to maintain the natural
hydrology of the system as well as prevent constriction of the floodway that may result in
aggradation, degradation or significant changes in hydrology of streams or wetlands;
12. That appropriate sediment and erosion control practices which equal or exceed those
outlined in the most recent version of the "North Carolina Sediment and Erosion Control
Planning and Design Manual" or the "North Carolina Surface Mining Manual" whichever is
more appropriate (available from the Division of Land Resources (DLR) in the DENR
Regional or Central Offices) shall be in full compliance with all specifications governing
the proper design, installation and operation and maintenance of such Best Management
Practices in order to assure compliance with the appropriate turbidity water quality
standard;
13. All sediment and erosion control measures placed in wetlands and waters shall be
removed and the original grade restored within two months after the Division of Land
Resources has released the project;
14. That additional site-specific conditions may be added to projects proposed under this
Certification in order to ensure compliance with all applicable water quality and effluent
standards;
15. Measures shall be taken to prevent live or fresh concrete from coming into contact with
freshwaters of the state until the concrete has hardened;
16. If an environmental document is required, this Certification is not valid until a Finding of
No Significant Impact (FONSI) or Record of Decision (ROD) is issued by the State
Clearinghouse;
17. If this Certification is used to access building sites, all lots owned by the applicant must be
buildable without additional fill beyond that explicitly allowed under other General

WQC #3627
Certifications. For road construction purposes, this Certification shall only be utilized from
natural high ground to natural high ground;
18. When written concurrence is required, the applicant is required to use the most recent
version of the Certification of Completion form to notify DWQ when all work included in the
401 Certification has been completed;
19. Concurrence from DWQ that this Certification applies to an individual project shall expire
three years from the date of the cover letter from DWQ or on the same day as the
expiration date of the corresponding Nationwide Permit 14 or Regional General Permit
198200031, whichever is sooner.
Non-compliance with or violation of the conditions herein set forth by a specfic fill project
may result in revocation of this Cert~cation for the project and may also result in criminal and/or
civil penalties.
The Director of the North Carolina Division of Water Quality may require submission of a
formal application for Individual Certification for any project in this category of activity that
requires written concurrence under this certification, if it is determined that the project is likely to
have a significant adverse effect upon water quality or degrade the waters so that existing uses of
the wetland or downstream waters are precluded.
Public hearings may be held for specific applications or group of applications prior to a
Certification decision if deemed in the public's best interest by the Director of the North Carolina
Division of Water Quality.
Effective date: 19 March 2007
DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY
ray
~~ ,
Alan W. Klimek, P.E.
Director
WQC # 3627

Michael F. Easley, Uovernor
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Alan W. Klimek, P.E. Director
Division of Water Quality
DWQ Project No.:
Applicant:
Project Name:
Date of Issuance of 401 Water Quality Certification:
County:
Certificate of Completion
Upon completion of all work approved within the 401 Water Quality Certification or applicable Buffer Rules, and
any subsequent modifications, the applicant is required to return this certificate to the 401/Wetlands Unit, North
Carolina Division of Water Quality, 1621 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC, 27699-1621. This form may be
returned to DWQ by the applicant, the applicant's authorized agent, or the project engineer. It is not necessary to
send certificates from all of these.
Applicant's Certification
hereby state that, to the best of my abilities, due care and diligence
was used in the observation of the construction such that the construction was observed to be built within substantial
compliance and intent of the 401 Water Quality Certification and Buffer Rules, the approved plans and
specifications, and other supporting materials.
Signature:
Agent's Certification
Date:
hereby state that, to the best of my abilities, due care and diligence
was used in the observation of the construction such that the construction was observed to be built within substantial
compliance and intent of the 401 Water Quality Certification and Buffer Rules, the approved plans and
specifications, and other supporting materials.
Signature:
Engineer's Certification
Partial Final
Date:
I, , as a duly registered Professional Engineer in the State of North
Carolina, having been authorized to observe (periodically, weekly, full time) the construction of the project, for the
Permittee hereby state that, to the best of my abilities, due care and diligence was used in the observation of the
construction such that the construction was observed to be built within substantial compliance and intent of the 401
Water Quality Certification and Buffer Rules, the approved plans and specifications, and other supporting materials.
Signature
Date
Registration No.
NJo e~Carolina
Transportation Permitting Unit " ' ""~uCa~~l~
1650 Mail Service Center, Ralegh, North Carolina 27699-1650
2321 Crabtree Boulevard, Suite 250, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
Phone: [phone] FAX [phone] Internet: httn_i/h2o.enr.state.nc.us/ncwetlands
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