20171365_Scoping Comments_20111021

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NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Waler Quality �
Beverly Eaves Perdue Coleen H.Sullins Dee Freeman
Govemor Director Secretary
October 21,2011
MEMORANDUM
To: Gregory J Thorpe,Ph.D.,NCDOT
From: Mason Herndon,NC Division of Water Quality, Fayetteville Regional Office /yf/
Subjcct: Start of Study comments on proposed improvemcn[s to US 401/401 Business (Racford Road)
from SR 1409 (71�' School Road)to US 401 Business(Robcson Strcet) in Fayettcville,
Cumberland Counry,Fedcral Aid Project No. STPDA-0401(230),WBS No. 39049,TIP No. U-
4405.
Refercnce your correspondence dated Scptember 23, 2011 in which you requcstcd commen[s for the
refcrenccd project. Preliminary analysis of the project reveals the potential impacts to streams and
jurisdictional wetlands in the project area. More specifically, impacts to:
Stream Name River Basin Stream Stream Index 303(d)Listing
Classification s Number
UT to Branson Creck Cape Fear C IS-27-5-I N/A
Buckhead Creek Ca c Fcar C 18-31-24-5 N/A
Beaver Creck& UT's Ca e Fear C 18-27-5-I N/A
FuRher invcstigations at a higher resolution should be undertaken to verify the presence of other sVeams
and/orjurisdictional wetlands in Ihe area. In the event that any jurisdictional areas are identified,the
Division of Water Quality requests that NCDOT wnsider the following cnvironmental issues for the
proposed project:
Project Specific Comments:
I. The proposed project is located within the jurisdictional limits of the Phase II NPDES Stormwater
Program. Development of a stormwater management plan shall be coordinated with NCDWQ and the
local delegated authority. '
2. DWQ cannot comment on permit requirements with the limited information provided. A detailed
Idelineation is required to determinc the presence or absence of jurisdictional resources within the
, project limits. In addition,NCDOT must provide an estimate of impacts to any resources located
within the construction limits of the altematives before we can specifically commen[on DWQ permit
eligibility.
I General Project Comments:
3. The environmental documen[shall provide a detailed and i[emized presentation of the proposed
iimpacts to wetlands and streams with corresponding mapping. If mitigation is necessary as required
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, by I SA NCAC 2H.0506(h),it is preferable to present a conccptual(if�ot fivalized)mitigation plan
with[he environmen[al dowmentation. Appropriate mi[igation plans will be required prior to
issuance of a 401 Water Quality Ccrtification.
4. Environmental assessment altematives shall consider design criteria that reduce the impacts to
strcams and wctlands from storm watcr runof£ Thcsc alternatives shall include road designs that
allow for treatment of the storm wa[er runoff through best management practices as detailed in the
most reccnt version of NCDWQ Stormwater Best Management Practrces, such as gcassed swales,
buffer areas,preformed scour holes,retention basins,etc.
5. After Ihe selection of the preferrcd altemative and prior to an issuance of[he 401 Water Quality
Cer[ification, NCDOT is respectfully reminded that they will need to demonstrate the avoidance and
minimization of impacts to wctlands (and streams)to the ma�cimum extent prac[icaL In accordance
with the Environmental Management Commission's Rules {15A NCAC 2H.0506(h)},mi[igation will
be required for impacts of greater than 1 acre to wetlands. In the event that mitigation is required,the
mi[igation plan shall be designed to replace appropriate lost functions and values. The A'C Ecosystem
Enhancemcnt Program may be available for use as we[land mitigation.
6. In accordance with thc Environmental Management Commissiods Rules {ISA NCAC 2H.0506(h)},
mitigation will bc rcquired for impacts of greater than I50 linear feet to any single stream. In thc
event that mitigation is required, thc mitigation plan shall be designed to replace appropriate lost
functions and valucs. The NC Ecosystem Enhancement Program may be available for use as stream
mitigation.
7. NCDWQ is very concerned with sediment and erosion impacts that could result from[his project.
NCDOT shall address these concems by describing the potential impacts that may occur to the
aquatic environments and any mitigating factors that would reduce thc impacts.
8. If a bridge is being replaced with a hydraulic conveyance other than another bridge,NCDWQ
belicves the use of a Nationwide Permit may be required. Please contact the US Army Corp of
Engineers to determine the required permit(s).
' 9. If the old bridge is rcmoved,no discharge of bridge material into surface waters is allowed unless
' o[herwisc authorized by the US ACOE. Strict adherence to the Corps of Enginecrs guidclines for
bridge demolition will be a condition of the 401 Water Quality Certification.
10. Whcncver possible,NCDWQ prefers spanning structures. Spanning structures usually do not require
work within the stream or grubbing of[he sVeambanks and do not require stream channel
realignmen[. The horizon[al and ver[ical cleazances provided by bridges shall allow for human and
wildlife passage benea[h Ihe sWChtre. Fish passage and naviga[ion by canoeists and boaters shall not
be blocked. Bridge supports (bents) shall not be placed in the stream when possible.
I11. Bridge deck drains shall not dischazge direc[ly i�to the stream. Stormwater shall be direc[ed across
, thc bridge and pre-treated through site-appropriate means(grassed swales,pre-formed scour holes,
vegetated buffers,etc.)before e�tering the stream. Please refer to the most current version of
NCDWQ's Stormwater Best Management Praetices.
12. IF concrete is used during construction;a dry work area shall be maintained to prevent direct contact
between curing conerete and stream watec Water[ha[inadvertently contacts unwred concrete shall
not be discharged to surface waters due to the potential for elevated pH and possible aquatic life and
fish kills.
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13. If temporary access roads or detours arc constructed,the site shall bc graded to its preconstruction
contours and elevations. Disturbed areas shall be sceded or mulched to stabilize the soil and
appropriate native woody specics should be planted. When using temporary structures thc area shall
be cleared but not grubbed. Clearing the area with chain saws,mowers, bush-hogs,or other
mechanized equipment and leaving the stumps and root mat intac[allows the area to re-vegetate
naturally and minimizcs soil disturbancc.
14. Placement of wlverts and o[hcr struc[ures in waters, streams,and wetlands shall be below the
elevation of the streambed by one foot for all cuberts with a diameter greater[han 48 inches,and 20
percent of Ihe culvert diameter for culverts having a diametcr less than 48 inches,to allow low flow
passage of water and aquatic life. Design and placemcnt of culverts and other structures including
temporary erosion conVOl measures shall not be conductcd in a manner that may result in dis-
equilibrium of wedands or streambcds or banks,adjaccnt to or upstream and down stream of the
above structures.The applicant is required to provide evidence that the equilibrium is being
maintained if requested in writing by NCDWQ. If this condition is unable to be mat due to bedrock
i or other limiting features encoun[ered during construction,please contact NCDWQ for guidance on
how to procecd and[o determine whether or not a permit modification will be required.
15. I£multiple pipes or barrels are required, thcy shall bc designed to mimic natural stream cross section
as closely as possible including pipes or barrels at flood plain clevation,floodplain benches, and/or
sills may bc required where appropriate. Widening the stream channcl shall be avoided. Stream
channel widening at the inlet or outlet end of structures typically dccreases water velocity causing
sedimcnt deposition Ihat requires increased maintenance and disrupts aquatic life passage.
16. If founda[ion test borings are necessary; it should be noted in[he document. Geotechnical work is
approved under General 401 Ccrtification Number 3624/Nationwide Permit No. 6 for Survey
Activities.
17. Sediment and crosion control measures sufficient to protect water resources must be implemented and
maintained i�accordance with the most recent version of North Carolina Sediment and Erosion
Control Planning and Design Manual and the most rceen[version of NCS000250.
1 18. All work in or adjacent to stream waters shall be conducted in a dry work area unless otherwise
approved by NCDWQ. Approved BMP mcasures from the most current version of NCDOT '
Construction and Maintenance Activities manual such as sandbags,rock berms,cofFerdams and other
diversion structures should be uscd to prcvcnt excavation in flowing water.
19. Sediment and erosion control measures shall not be placed in wedands and streams.
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' 20. Borrow/waste areas shall avoid wetlands to the maximum extent practicaL Impacts to wetlands in
' borcow/waste areas could precipita[e compensatory mitigation.
21. While the use of National Wetland Inventory(NWI)maps,NC Coastal Region Evaluation of Wetland
Significance(NC-CREWS)maps and soil survey maps are useful tools,their inherent inaccuracies
require[hat qualified personnel perform onsite wetland delineations prior to petmit approval.
i 22. Heavy equipment shall be opera[ed from[he bank rather than in stream channels in order to minimize
sedimentation and reduce the likelihood of introducing other pollu[ants into s[reams. This equipment
shall be inspected daily and maintained to prevent contamination of surface waters from leaking fuels,
lubricants,hydraulic fluids,or othcr toxic matcrials.

23. In most cases,NCDWQ prefers the replacement of the exis[ing structure at thc 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 shall be removed and the approach fills
removed from the 100-year floodplain: Approach fills should be removed and restored to the natural
ground elevation. The azea shall be stabilized with grass and planted with native tree species. Tall
fescue shall not be used in riparian areas. '
24. Riprap shall not be placed in the active thalweg channel or placed in the strcambed in a manner that
precludes aquatic life passage. Bioengineering boulders or stmcmres should be properly designed,
sized and installcd.
Thank you for requesting our input at this time. NCDOT is reminded that issuance of a 401 Water
Quality CeRification requires that appropnate measures be instituted to ensure that_water quality
standards are met and designated uses are no[degraded or lost. If you have any questions or require
additional information,please contact me at(910)308-4021.
ec: Ronnie Smith,US Army Corps of Engincers,Wilmington Field Office(electronic copy only)
Clarence Coleman,Federal Highway Admioistration
Greg Burns, PE,Division 6 Engineer
Jim Rerko,Division 6 Environmental Officer(electronic copy only)
Matthew Potter,PE,NCDOT PDEA(electronic copy only)
Chris Militscher,Environmental Protection Agency(elcctronic copy only)
Travis Wilson,NC Wildlife Resources Commission (electronic copy only)
Mike Lawyer,NCDWQ Fayetteville Rcgional Office(electronic copy only)
Sonia Carrillo,NCDWQ Central Regional Office(electronic copy only)
Belinda Henson,NCDWQ Fayetteville Regional Office(elcctronic copy only)
File Copy
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