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Home My WebLink About20150955 Ver 1_Scoping Comments_20120319Department of Environment and Natural Resources Project Review Form Drolect Number 12 -0214 County Pender Due Date 3/21/2012 Date Received 02/25/2012 Orogect Description Environmental Assessment - Proposed Construction to replace the existing Topsail Island Bridge No 16 along NC 50 -210 over the Intercoastal Waterway TIP B 4929 This project is being reviewed as indicated beloNA Regional Office Regional Office Area In House Review Asheville ,/ Air ✓ Marine Fisherie- Fayetteville ✓ Water ✓ Coastal Manaaement Mooresville ✓ Aquifer Protection Water Resources Mamt Raleigh ✓ Land Quality Engineer ✓ Water Supply Section W ashmaton Paris & Recreation W ilminaton Water Quality Winston Salem ✓ Water Quality DOT Wildlife Wildlife DOT Waste Mgmt Air Qualitv N/ianaaer Sian Off /Region 1 € Response (check all applicable) in House Reviewer /Aaencv No objection to project a- proposed No Comment Insufficient information to complete review Other (specif✓ or attach comments) If you have any questions please contact Melba McGee, Environmental Coordinator at Melba McGeera)ncdenr ao` i?GiJ[� /Tf c PD - 49?012 V r4�SgRQY Q�PA NCDENR North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Water Quality Beverly Eaves Perdue Charles Wakild P E Dee Freeman Governor Director Secretary March 19 2012 MEMORANDUM To Melba McGee Environmental Coordinator Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs From David Wainwright Division of Water Quality Central Office Subject Comments on the Environmental Assessment related to the proposed Topsail Island Bridge replacement (Bridge No 16) Pender County Federal Aid Project No BRSTP 50(10) TIP B 4929 State Clearinghouse Project No 12 0214 This office has reviewed the referenced document dated October 2011 The NC Division of Water Quality ( NCDWQ) is responsible for the issuance of the Section 401 Water Quality Certification for activities that impact Waters of the U S including wetlands It is our understanding that the project as presented will result in impacts to jurisdictional wetlands streams and other surface waters NCDWQ offers the following comments based on review of the aforementioned document Proiect Specific Comments 1 This project is being planned as part of the 404/NEPA Merger Process As a participating team member NCDWQ will continue to work with the team 2 Section 5 3 7 discusses community character and the majority of this section is spent discussing the existing swing span and how important the community feels it is to the character and charm It is also stated that many of the residents feel it is an important part of the island and want it replaced with a similar swing span as a high rise may induce development However the last part of the discussion states that over one third of the comments from CIW #I preferred a high rise type bridge As presented the two statements appear to be in conflict If the existing swing span bridge is so important why did so many of the comments prefer the high rise options It should be discussed how many comments were received in favor of replacing the existing bridge with a similar low profile swing type bridge (along with other options such as the mid rise bridge) This would put the comments in favor of a low rise bridge in context with those which prefer the high rise or other option 3 Table 5 11 should include existing LOS This would allow for comparison between existing and design year 4 The NCDWQ prefers ons►te mitigation to offsite mitigation The NCDOT is encouraged to fully explore all onsite mitigation possibilities after the LEDPA is chosen if not before Transportabon and Permitting Unit 1650 Mail Service Center Raleigh North Carolina 27699 1617 One Location 512 N Salisbury St Raleigh North Carolina 27604 NorthCarollna Phone 91 ww ncwater FAX 919 807 6492 Naturally Internet uvww ncwaterauality oro An Equal Opportunity 1 Affirmative Action Employer I I The document does not fully discuss 303(d) listed waters only mentioning that no waters within one mile of the PSA are listed for turbidity or sediment It should be noted that Topsail Sound north of the ICWW (DWQ #18 871Oc) Topsail Sound south of the ICWW (DWQ #18 87 1Oa) and the ICWW (DWQ #18 87 [5 5]) are all listed on the 2010 and Draft 2012 303(d) list of impaired waters due to shellfish bed harvesting closures Additionally all 13 178 surface waters in the State are listed on the 2010 and Draft 2012 303(d) list due to fish consumption advisories of several species 6 Section 5 8 5 3 states that the waters in the study area are located within the Lower Cape Fear River Basin As of 2008 the NCDWQ considers this area to be part of the White Oak River Basin The NCDWQ has reassessed river basin boundaries to better align with the federal database of river basin boundaries General Comments 7 If mitigation is necessary as required by 15A NCAC 2H 0506(h) it is preferable to present a conceptual (if not finalized) mitigation plan with the environmental documentation Appropriate mitigation plans will be required prior to issuance of a 401 Water Quality Certification 8 Environmental impact statement alternatives should consider design criteria that reduce the impacts to streams and wetlands from storm water runoff These alternatives shall include road designs that allow for treatment of the storm water runoff through best management practices as detailed in the most recent version of NCDWQ s Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual July 2007 such as grassed swales buffer areas preformed scour holes retention basins etc 9 After the selection of the preferred alternative and prior to an issuance of the 401 Water Quality Certification the NCDOT is respectfully reminded that they will need to demonstrate the avoidance and minimization of impacts to wetlands (and streams) to the maximum extent practical In accordance with the Environmental Management Commission s Rules (15A NCAC 2H 0506[h]) mitigation will be required for impacts greater than 1 acre of wetlands and /or 150 linear feet to any single stream In the event that mitigation is required the mitigation plan shall be designed to replace appropriate lost )functions and values The NC Ecosystem Enhancement Program may be available for use as wetland mitigation 10 Future documentation including the 401 Water Quality Certification Application should continue to include an itemized listing of the proposed wetland and stream impacts with corresponding mapping 11 NCDOT is respectfully reminded that all impacts including but not limited to bridging fill excavation and clearing and rip rap to Jurisdictional wetlands streams and riparian buffers need to be included in the final impact calculations These impacts in addition to any construction impacts temporary or otherwise also need to be included as part of the 401 Water Quality Certification Application 12 Bridge deck drains shall not discharge directly into the stream Stormwater shall be directed across the bridge and pre treated through site appropriate means (grassed swales pre formed scour holes vegetated buffers etc ) before entering the stream Please refer to the most current version of NCDWQ s Stormwater Best Management Practices 13 The 401 Water Quality Certification application will need to specifically address the proposed methods for stormwater management More specifically stormwater shall not be permitted to discharge directly into streams or surface waters 14 If foundation test borings are necessary geotechnical work is approved under General 401 Certification Number 3687/Nationwide Permit No 6 for Survey Activities 15 Sediment and erosion control measures sufficient to protect water resources must be implemented and maintained to accordance with the most recent version of North Carolina Sediment and Erosion Control Planning and Design Manual and the most recent version ofNCS000250 16 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 that qualified personnel perform onsrte wetland delineations prior to permit approval NCDWQ appreciates the opportunity to provide comments on your project Should you have any questions or require any additional information please contact David Wainwright at (919) 807 6405 cc Brad Shaver US Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington Field Office (electronic copy only) Clarence Coleman Federal Highway Administration Chris Milrtscher Environmental Protection Agency (electronic copy only) Gary Jordan US Fish and Wildlife Service (electronic copy only) Travis Wilson NC Wildlife Resources Commission (electronic copy only) Steve Sollod Division of Coastal Management (electronic copy only) Mason Herndon NCDWQ Fayetteville Regional Office File Copy