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