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Home My WebLink AboutUS 13/US 158 (15)� � d ®R STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA 20 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION /7y BEVERLY EAVES PERDUE EUGENE A CON GOVERNOR SECRETARY February 2 2012 NCDWQ Stormwater Section Washington Regional Office 943 Washington Square Mall Washington NC 27889 Dear Mr Vinson Subject Request for a Stormwater Permit Exclusion for R 2507A US13/US 158 Widening From US 158/NC 45 Near Winston To The US 158 Bypass In Tarheel The North Carolina Department of Transportation proposes to build the subject project and is requesting that it be reviewed for a Stormwater Permit Exclusion A Stormwater Management Permit Application Form two sets of project plans and a Stormwater Management Plan are provided with this request If you have any questions or need additional information concerning this request do not hesitate to contact Marshall Clawson P E or Bill Zerman P E at (919) 707 6700 Sincerely 4114ZI-- /�, 1111�®1 ,,,t, David S Chan P E PhD State Hydraulics Engineer Enclosure cc w /out attachments Mr Bill Biddlecome USACE Mr David Wainwright NCDWQ Ms Cathy Brrttingham NCDCM MAILING ADDRESS NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HYDRAULICS UNIT 1590 MAIL SERVICE CENTER RALEIGH NC 27699 1590 TELEPHONE 919 250 4100 FAX 919 250 4108 WEBSITE WWW NCDOT ORG /DOH/ LOCATION CENTURY CENTER COMPLEX BUILDING B 1020 BIRCH RIDGE DRIVE RALEIGH NC winning team consisted of E V Williams Inc Rose Brothers Paving Company McLean Contracting Company and the design firm of RK &K Mr Tommy Peacock (RK &K) presented information in support of the design build team s proposed changes to Concurrence Point 2 and 3 Mr Peacock (RK &K) began by giving the latest design overview of the project The project begins at the US 158/NC 45 interchange and extends for approximately 7 1 miles to the intersection of US 158 The new roadway is to be constructed as a 4 lane divided facility with a varying 30 to 46 median A new bridge will be built over the Chowan River and dual bridges constructed over US 158 and Buckhorn Creek Directional crossovers with median u turns are to be built at various locations along the project Mr Peacock (RK &K) stated the purpose of the meeting is (1) to re evaluate previous CP 2 and CP 3 decisions to widen on the west side from US 158/NC 45 interchange at the beginning of the project to Powell Lane (Section 1) a length of approximately 3 2 miles (2) to request the agencies concur that the impacts for the proposed east side widening are less than the impacts required for west side widening and (3) to request the agencies concurrence with East Side widening thru Section 1 Mr Peacock (RK &K) presented a power point presentation of the east side widening vs west side widening for Section 1 of the project The following are highlights of the presentation Initially NCDOT during the evaluation of alternatives and preparation of the preliminary design recommended west side widening along Section 1 and the west side widening was presented as the LEDPA in the SEA/FONSI As RK &K learned more about the project it was determined that based on the 1970 s design plans for US 13 the project was planned for future widening to be on the east side and additional right of way was purchased to accommodate the future widening Also a 12 high pressure gas line is located within the NCDOT right of way on the west side of the project Mr Peacock (RK &K) presented the following reason why east side widening is preferred (1) reduces acquiring additional right of way from NCWRC game lands (2) reduces utility relocation, (3) reduces undercut for this section of the project (4) will allow the project to stay on schedule, (5) improves the project safety and (6) reduces overall environmental impacts Mr Peacock (RK &K) gave a discussion concerning the use of retaining walls to reduce impacts to wetland and streams There are three locations where retaining walls are proposed for the east side widening The first retaining wall is located on the west side of US 13 at the gore area of the US 158/ NC 45 interchange and is approximately 362 in length A retaining wall at this location would reduce stream impacts by 162 feet The second retaining wall is located on the east side of US 13 dust south of the Chowan River adjacent to the proposed new lanes and is approximately 895 in length A retaining wall at this location would reduce wetland impacts by 0 45 acre and stream impacts by 183 feet A third retaining wall is located on east side of US 13 dust north of the Chowan River adjacent to the proposed new lanes and is approximately 550 in length A retaining wall at this location would reduce wetland impacts by 0 53 acre Mr Peacock (RK &K) then gave a summary comparison of Section 1 impacts for east side vs west side widening The west side widening for Section 1 without retaining walls would result in 11 0 acres of wetland impacts and 266 feet of stream impacts The east side widening for Section 1 with retaining walls would result in 1126 acres of wetland impacts and impact 46 feet of streams The west side widening would al ,,o re4uire relocation )f the gas hae "hick would result in an additional wetland impact of hand 2 clearing 1 68 acres However USACE stated they would recognize this 1 68 acres as a permanent impact since the removal of vegetation along the gas line would be maintained by the gas company Mr Peacock (RK &K) discussed five potential on site mitigation areas the design build team had included in their proposal to NCDOT Site No 1 is 1 1 acres of proposed restoration on the east side of US 13 in the vicinity of Old Shoups Landing Road Site No 2 is 0 5 acre of proposed restoration on the west side of US 13 and is surrounded by game lands Site No 3 is 0 1 acre of proposed restoration on the west side of US 13 north of the Chowan River bridge Site No 4 is 1 9 acres of proposed restoration on the west side of US 13 north of Old Shoups Landing Road Site No 5 is 40 to 50 acres of proposed wetland creation/preservation in conjunction with project borrow pit site located southwest of the Story s Crossroads Historic District Mr Peacock (RK &K) in his closing remarks gave the summary of advantages for the recommended east side widening for Section 1 of the US 13 design build project East side widening thru Section 1 will (1) reduce right of way acquisition (2) reduce utility relocations (3) reduce jurisdictional impacts (4) improve the schedule by accelerating the construction time (5) reduce construction duration within environmentally sensitive areas (6) reduce impacts to NCWRC Game Lands by 1 52 acres and (7) improve the overall safety of the project during construction - Mr Peacock (RK &K) began facilitating discussions concerning the advantages of the east side widening vs west side widening Members of the Merger Project Team had various questions concerning the utilization of retaining walls for the east side widening (a) Would retaining walls be included in the re evaluation of the SFONSI? NCDOT responded a reevaluation or other documentation would be prepared to address inclusion of the retaining walls in the project design (b) Are there safety concerns with construction of retaining walls adjacent to the travel lanes? Mr Peacock responded the roadway design plans will incorporate guard rail along the shoulder and a chain link fence will also be incorporated near the tops of the wall as a safety measure (c) Will the height of the walls impede wildlife crossing the project? Mr Wilson ( NCWRC) stated he did not see this as a problem since this section of the project is located near the crossing of the Chowan River and bridging of the river will facilitate wildlife crossings (d) Did you look at including walls with west side widening option? Mr Peacock responded retaining walls were not considered effective in reducing jurisdictional impacts for the west side widening option West side retaining walls would reduce impacts to wetlands by 0 4 acre and stream impacts would be reduced 91 feet (e) Will there be a cost savings in providing retaining walls9 Mr Peacock responded there is no cost savings in constructing retaining walls for the east side Mr Rochelle ( NCDOT) responded the real value is in the construction time within the environmental sensitive areas By not having to relocate the gas line the construction schedule can be accelerated Members of the Merger Project Team had questions concerning the relocation of the gas line for the west side widening option (a) Where will the gas line be located for the west side widening and will it be within NCDOT right of way? Mr Peacock responded by reterring the merger team to the west side widening proposed roadway cross section The proposed new travel lanes would be constructed by undercutting an area adjacent to the existing roadway which would extend outside the existing NCDOT right of way and bring in suitable fill material for the new road bed The gas line would be located a minimum of five feet from the construction limits (slope stake line), but within the new NCDO1 right of way This would require relocating 10 800 of existing gas line drilling 900 under the Chowan River and acquiring 1 52 acres o right of wty fiom the NCWRC game lan.ls Impacts to vetl.,nd would -Iso 3 require hand clearing 1 68 acres of land and maintaining this area clear of vegetation Mr Biddlecome (USACE) stated this 168 acres of clearing would be considered a permanent impact to the wetlands Mr Wilson (NCWRC) stated the proposed onsite mitigation within or adjacent to the game land had only marginal benefits Mr Biddlecome (USACE) noted you cannot buy down impacts with on site mitigation Mr Wilson (NCWRC) stated that he was initially in favor of east side widening and had no objection to recommending the LEDPA be revised from west side widening to east side widening in Section 1 He would like for the access from US 13 to Shoups Landing Road be at as flat a grade as possible Mr Biddlecome (USACE) stated he had no objection to recommending the LEDPA be revised from west side widening to east side widening Mr Jordan (USFWS) stated he had no objection to recommending the LEDPA be revised from west side widening to east side widening Ms Brittmgham (DCM) stated she had no objection to recommending the LEDPA be revised from west side widening to east side widening Mr Wainwright (NCDWQ) stated he had no objection to recommending the LEDPA be revised from west side widening to east side widening Mr Militsher (USEPA) stated he had no objection to recommending the LEDPA be revised from west side widening to east side widening Mr Oakes (RPO) stated he had no objection to recommending the LEDPA be revised from west side widening to east side widening Ms Gledhill Early (DCR/SHPO) stated she had no objection to recommending the LEDPA be revised from west side widening to east side widening Ms Gledhill Early questioned why it was not known earlier by NCDOT staff that additional existing right of way exists on the east side The merger project team signed the Revised Concurrence Point 3 — LEDPA concurrence forms and Revised Concurrence Point 4A — LEPDA/Avoidance & Minimization concurrence forms 4 SECTION 404 /NEPA INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT CONCURRENCE POINT 3 LEAST ENVIRONMENTALLY DAMAGING PRACTICABLE ALTERNATIVE (LEDPA) /PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE SELECTION Proiect Title US 13 158 From US 158 near Winton to US 158 in Tarheel Hertford & Gates Counties TIP Project R 2507A WBS Element 35488 1 1 Least Environmentally Damaging Practicable Alternative (LEDPA) Section 1 — East Section 2 — East Section 3 — West Section 4 — West Section 5 — East Section 6 — East Section 7 — East Section 8 — East The Section 404 /NEPA Merger Project Team concurred on the 14th day of September 2011 with the LEDPA listed above for TIP Project R 2507A This supersedes the Concurrence Point No 3 Agreement dated October 19 2010 NAME AGENCY ' 1+111 US Army Corps of Engineers US Environmental Protection Agency I son US Fish and Wildlife Service l ^ �� /% National Marine Fisheries Service NC Division of Coastal Management 144- 11 NC Department of Cultural Resources NCDENR Division of Water Quality NC Division of Marine Fisheries NC Wildlife Resources Commission NC Department of Transportation M \prclects\2011111109_US 13 US158 DMdmin\Section 404 NEPA Interagency Agreement Concurrence Point 3 Sign in sheet 09 09 11 doc SECTION 4041NEPA INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT CONCURRENCE POINT 4A LEAST ENVIRONMENTALLY DAMAGING PRACTICABLE ALTERNATIVE (LEDPA) /AVOIDANCE & MINIMIZATION Project Title US 13 158 From US 158 near Winton to US 158 in Tarheel Hertford & Gates Counties TIP Project R 2507A WBS Element 35488 1 1 404 Avoidance and Minimization Measures The preliminary design for the project will only affect 28 of the wetland sites and 4 of the streams for the alternative In an effort to avoid minimize impacts to jurisdictional wetlands and streams associated with the LEDPA (Alternative 1) NCDOT has proposed to implement the following measures • Steeper side slopes (3 1) will be used in jurisdictional areas • The median width in Section 1 was reduced from 46 to 30 at the Chowan River structure The impact to the wetlands was not reduced on the south side and was reduced by 0 4 acre on the north side of narrowing the median width Additional Avoidance and Minimization Measures 1 Based on the September 14 2011 Concurrence Point No 3 Agreement to use East Side widening through Section 1 (Beginning of Project to Powell Lane) NCDOT has agreed to implement the following measures a) Provide retaining wall left of Station 41 +00± to 44 +50± to reduce stream impacts by 162 feet b) Provide retaining wall right of Station 41 +75- to 50 +701 to reduce wetland and stream impacts by 0 45 acre and 183 feet respectively c) Provide retaining wall right of Station 76 +50:- to 82 +001 to reduce wetland impacts by 0 53 acre The Section 404 /NEPA Merger Project Team concurred on the 14'h day of September 2011 with the Avoidance /Minimization measures listed above for TIP Project R 2507A This supersedes the Concurrence Point No 4A Agreement dated October 19 2010 NAME AGENCY US Army C f Engineers ( V /y/2y11 US Fish and Wildlife Service National Marine Fisheries Service of Cultural Resources NC Division of Marine Fisheries NC Wildlife Resources Commission M \projects \2011 \11109_US 13 US 158 DB\Admin \Section 404 NEPA Interagency Aggrement Concurrence Point 4A09-09 11 doc