20110745 Ver 1_Other Agency Comments_20111013

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
WILMINGTON DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS
69 DARLINGTON AVENUE
WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA 28403-1343
REPLY TO
ATTENTION OF'
CESAW-RG(1145-b)
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13 October 2011
MEMORANDUM FOR Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, ATTN:
Mr. Martin Korenek, PSC 20004, Building 12 Camp Lejeune, North Carolina 28542
SUBJECT: Action ID No. 2011 1427, Department of the Army permit request for the Main Battle Tank Railroad
Connector Road on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
1. Please reference your request for a Department of the Army authorization and a State Water Quality Certification
to impact 0.932 acre and temporarily impact 0.39 acre of wetlands regulated pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean
water Act, associated with the construction of the Main Battle Tank Railroad Connector Road on Camp Lejeune,
Onslow County, North Carolina.
2. At the conclusion of the thirty day public notice period, we received two comment letters, one from the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service and one from the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources in reference to
the proposed project. The Corps has not received any other agency or public comments to date. Neither agency had
an objection to the current proposal. These comment letters have been attached for your review.
3. Upon a closer review of the submitted plans, we noted some inconsistencies between plans as well as points that
need to be clarified to complete our decision document. These comments will be addressed in order from avoidance
opportunities, clarification to possible minimization efforts, and mitigation measures.
A. Your alternatives analysis discusses three alternatives (l, 2, 3, and 3A). Your plans show a drawing with
alternatives labeled 3A and 3B. Which alternative is the preferred and what is the impact difference between the
refined alternative 3?
B. Starting from the north side of the project, is it possible to avoid wetland impact 6 with a slight shift in the
road between stations 49 and 50?
C. The current drawings show an existing tank trail of less than 50' of width, approximately 40' depicted
wetland edge to wetland edge at the north end of construction. Two questions come to mind. First, if the current
trail functions at 40' wide could the rest of the trail be reduced to 40' thus reducing impacts further? Second, if the
trail needs to be 50' wide for the crossing of recovery vehicles does this area not need to be permitted as well?
D. In an effort to minimize impacts further, could the pipes proposed within the wetland system be reduced
in size resulting in a lower grade and narrower fill footprint?
E. In order to minimize impacts a pipe is proposed within wetland impact number 5. The pipe would be
located west of the main wetland system. With this current design, please explain how water will flow in the top of
the system and drain down the gradient across the tank trail? Also this structure is shown in the hydro cross sections
but not shown in the permit plan view drawings; therefore, please include all structures in the permit plan view
drawings. Conversely, there are two 36" pipes shown in the plan view drawings of impact area 3 that are not shown
in the cross section drawings. Both sets of these drawings need to be consistent.
F. At wetland impact 5, the hydro or cross section drawings show a 24" pipe with a rip rap dissipater pad on
the outlet, but the impacts from this structure are not shown on the plan view permit drawings. Will there be
temporary excavation for the placement of these pipes outside the depicted footprint? If so this impact should be
shown and enumerated in the impact summary table. Also, any temporary impact for pipe installation should be
disclosed.

CESAW-RG (1145-b) 13 October 2011
SUBJECT: Action ID: 2011 1427, Department of the Army permit request
G. Regarding temporary impact, why is there a temporary impact shown up and down slope of the headwall
for wetland impact 4, but not for wetland impact 3? It appears that there is a temporary impact proposed around
station 41 (wetland impact 5) down slope as the construction limits extend into the wetland area. Should this be
labeled as a temporary impact area?
H. The design calls for an articulated block wall at wetland impact areas 1 and 2, but permanent fill is shown
down gradient of the block wall. Why would there be permanent impact down gradient of the proposed block wall?
1. For clarity purposes, please explain why baffles are proposed for wetland crossings?
J. According to figure 2, there exists a stream channel within wetland impact area 3, which is not accounted
for. The hydro cross section drawings (CP 205) indicate a ridge at station 17+50. Is this truly a ridge or the stream
channel inverted on the drawing? Finally, if this is a stream, then .it will need to be accounted for correctly on the
impact summary and compensatory mitigation plan.
K. Regarding mitigation, the application states the mitigation for the project will come from NCEEP. Are
all of the impacts associated with this project considered riparian. If not, then the Base's mitigation bank, that has
available non-riparian credits, should be utilized first.
4. The information/clarification requested above is essential to our continued evaluation of your permit request.
We would appreciate your response to the above questions, in writing, on or before October 31, 2011.
5. Mr. Brad Shaver of the Regulatory Division is responsible for processing your application. If you have any
questions or comments concerning this correspondence, please call Mr. Shaver at [phone].
-~-~N~-
~STEVEN A. BAKER
~~~~,,,///) Colonel, EN
Commanding
2 Encls
CF:
Ms. Cyndi Karoly
Division of Water Quality
N.C Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
1650 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1650
Ms. Joanne Steenhuis
Division of Water Quality
N.C. Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
127 Cardinal Drive'Ext.
Wilmington, NC 28405
Mr. Ron Johnson
AECOM
701 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 475
Raleigh, NC 27607
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