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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20201911 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20210115ROY COOPER Governor MICNAEL S. REGAN Secretary BRAXTON C. DAVIS Director NORTH CAROLINA Environmental Quality December 7, 2020 MEMORANDUM +aF a,ry FROM: Gregg Bodnar, Assistant Major Permits Coordinator NCDEQ - Division of Coastal Management 400 Commerce Ave., Morehead City, NC 28557 Fax: 252-247-3330 (Courier 04-16-33) gregg. bodnar(a)ncdenr.gov SUBJECT: CAMA/Dredge & Fill Application Review Applicant: Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, LI_C; National Park Service Project Location: 8770 Oregon Inlet Road in Dare County Proposed Project: Redevelopment of the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center Please indicate below your agency's position or viewpoint on the proposed project and return this form to Grego Bodnar at the address above by December 28, 2020. If you have any questions regarding the proposed project, contact Yvonne Carver (252-264-3901, ext. 237) when appropriate, in-depth comments with supporting data is requested_ REPLY: This agency has no objection to the project as proposed. *Additional comments may be attached*" This agency has no comment on the proposed project. This agency approves of the project only if the recommended changes are incorporated. See attached. This agency objects to the project for reasons described in the attached comments. PRINT NAME"1� tnn AGENCY �L SIGNATURE f DATE aNmaR OS imimnmMNlal4WtlRY North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Coastal Management Elizabeth City Office � 401 youth Griffin Street. Suite 300 I Elizabeth Ciry, North Carolina 27909 252.2643901 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission �I Cameron Ingram, Executive Director TO: Gregg Bodnar Division of Coastal Management North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality FROM: Maria T. Dunn, Coastal Coordinator Habitat Conservation Division DATE: January 11, 2021 SUBJECT: CAMA Dredge/Fill Permit Application for Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, LLC, National Park Service, Dare County, North Carolina. Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed the permit application with regard to impacts on fish and wildlife resources. The project site is located at 8770 Oregon Inlet Road adjacent to Motts Creek and the Roanoke Sound near Nags Head, NC. Our comments are provided in accordance with provisions of the Coastal Area Management Act (G.S. i 13A-100 through I I3A-128), as amended, Sections 401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act, as amended, and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661 et seq_). The applicant proposes to redevelop the existing Oregon Inlet Fishing Center (O1FC). The six -acre site will continue to be used as a fishing center but will rehabilitate and expand services. Major components of the proposal include demolition of existing structures and rebuild to improve facilities (including a parking increase to 293 vehicular spaces and slip increase to 67), construction of a 90' by 10' transient fuel dock outside the basin and within Motts Creek, installation of a new on -site waste water treatment and disposal system to handle all on -site waste, improvement of stormwater treatment to handle a 1.5" rainfall event for new BUA, maintenance dredge of the marina boat basin and Motts Creek to -8' MLLW in the areas of the access channel from the public boat ramp and proposed fuel dock to tie into the federal Walter Slough Channel at the USCG station, and on -site placement of spoil material until sediment analysis can occur for final placement. A scoping meeting was conducted on July 21, 2020 with state and federal agencies. The property is leased from the National Park Service (NPS) and will revert back to the agency after the lease expires. Motts Creek is classified SC and the Roanoke Sound and Oregon Inlet are classified SA HQW by the Environmental Management Commission. The waters near the OIFC are closed to shellfish harvesting. Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721 Telephone: (919) 707-0220 • Fax: (919) 707-0028 Page 2 The NCWRC reviewed the development proposal for the scoping meeting as well as the current application. Several concerns and recommendations presented during the scoping meeting have been incorporated into the project design. However, we request the following be considered and incorporated into the design or as permit conditions: • The final water depths for the project are stated to be -S' MLLW. The permitted water depths for the Walter Slough channel, which this project ties into, are -7' MLW with a 2' overdredge. At no time should the OIFC project exceed permitted connecting depths of Walter Slough in either design or final project dimensions. The OIFC depths should be consistent with the federal project to minimize impacts to water quality and aquatic resources. • In -water dredging should adhere to the same moratorium as the adjacent federal channel. NCWRC requested a February 15 — September 30 moratorium to minimize impacts to anadromous fish such as striped bass (Morone saxatilis) that utilize the Oregon Inlet area. In addition, this moratorium will also provide protection for the federally listed Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser ox yranchus oxyrinchus). • A Marina flan should be designed for the site that includes the basin as well as the transient fueling area_ This plan would address emergency action toward spills, location of spill and safety equipment, presence of a dockmaster, docking rites, and other contact information. It is recommended spill equipment is maintained on site in the case of fuel spills from the fuel dispenser or other vessel incidents_ • The 01FC is leased from the NPS. NPS property provides habitat opportunities for numerous wildlife species, some of which receive state and federal protection. To reduce predation by species such as raccoons and coyotes on shorebird nests and other wildlife species, we request predator trash cans be used at OIFC and that any fish cleaning stations be maintained to remove forage and scavenge opportunities for predators. We appreciate the opportunity to review and comment on this permit application. If you need further assistance or additional information, please contact me at (252) 948-3916 or at mari a_dunn(a�.newildlife. orQ