20201578 Ver 1_Approval Letter_20210216

DocuSign Envelope ID: BC231994-9263-4B96-AE70-704E43BFC396 _
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ROY COOPER '5
Governor *--
MICHAEL S.REGAN ` f s nr a• a
Secretary $ viot -
S.DANIEL SMITH NORTH CAROLINA
Director Environmental Quality
February 16,2021
DWR#20201578
Macon County
Mr.Dave McHenry,Division 14 Environmental Officer
NCDOT,Division 14
253 Webster Road
Sylva,NC 28779
Subject: APPROVAL OF 401 WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION WITH ADDITIONAL
CONDITIONS
Replace Bridge 180 on SR 1369 in Macon County
Sugar Cove Creek[Little Tennessee River Basin,06010202,C; Trout]
Dear Mr.McHenry:
You have our approval for the impacts listed below for the purpose described in your application dated January 29,
2021,received by the Division of Water Resources(Division)on October 27,2020,and payment received on
January 29,2021. These impacts are covered by the attached Water Quality General Certification Number 4132 and
the conditions listed below. This certification is associated with the use of Nationwide Permit Number 3 once it is
issued to you by the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers. Please note that you should get any other federal,state,or local
permits before proceeding with your project,including those required by(but not limited to)Sediment and Erosion
Control,Non-Discharge,and Water Supply Watershed regulations.
The Division has determined that the proposed project will comply with water quality requirements provided that
you adhere to the conditions listed in the enclosed certification and to the additional conditions itemized below.
The following proposed impacts are hereby approved. No other impacts are approved,including incidental impacts.
[15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)]
Stream Impacts in the Little Tennessee River Basin
Permanent Fill Temporary Fill Permanent Fill Temporary Fill 'Stream Impacts
Total Stream
Site in Intermittent in Intermittent in Perennial in Perennial mpact Requiring
IStream Stream Stream Stream MV itigation
(linear ft)
(linear ft) (linear ft) (linear ft) (linear ft) (linear ft)
S1 _ 60 _ 60 0
S2 75 75 0
TOTAL 0 0 60 75 135 0
Total Stream Impact for Project: 60 linear feet of permanent and 75 linear feet of temporary.
This approval is for the purpose and design described in your application.The plans and specifications for this
project are incorporated by reference as part of this Certification. If you change your project,you must notify the
Division and you may be required to submit a new application package with the appropriate fee. If the property is
sold,the new owner must be given a copy of this Certification and is responsible for complying with all conditions.
[15A NCAC 02H.0507(d)(2)].
D_E Nop Enio Qty I iv: Water Resources
® 512 North rthCarolina Salisbury
De Streetartment 1 of 1617 Mail
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NOR CAROLINA
Oeparbrnent mE.w�..rt..t.E9uzlity 919.707.9000

DocuSign Envelope ID: BC231994-9263-4B96-AE70-704E43BFC396
Bridge 180 on SR 1369
DWR#20201578
401 Certification
Page 2 of 5
If you are unable to comply with any of the conditions of the attached Water Quality General Certification or with
the additional conditions itemized below,you must notify the Asheville Regional Office within 24 hours(or the next
business day if a weekend or holiday)from the time the permittee becomes aware of the circumstances.
The permittee shall report to the Asheville Regional Office any noncompliance with,and/or any violation of,stream
or wetland standards [15A NCAC 02B .0200]including but not limited to sediment impacts to streams or wetlands.
Information shall be provided orally within 24 hours(or the next business day if a weekend or holiday)from the
time the permittee became aware of the non-compliance circumstances.
Condition(s)of Certification:
Project Specific Conditions
1. As a condition of this 401 Water Quality Certification,the bridge demolition and construction must be
accomplished in strict compliance with the most recent version of NCDOT's Best Management Practices
for Construction and Maintenance Activities. [15A NCAC 02H.0507(d)(2)and 15A NCAC
02H.0506(b)(5)]
2. 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. To meet the requirements of NCDOT's NPDES
permit NCS000250,please refer to the most recent version of the North Carolina Department of
Transportation Stormwater Best Management Practices Toolbox manual for approved measures. [15A
NCAC 02H.0507(d)(2)and 15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(5)]
3. The permittee shall use Design Standards in Sensitive Watersheds(15A NCAC 4B.0124[a]-[e])in areas
draining to Trout waters. However,due to the size of the project,the NCDOT shall not be required to
meet 15A NCAC 4B .0124(a)regarding the maximum amount of uncovered acres.
4. The permittee will need to adhere to all appropriate in-water work moratoria(including the use of pile
driving or vibration techniques)prescribed by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. No in-water
work is permitted between October 15 and April 15of any year,without prior approval from the NC
Division of Water Resources and the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.
In-stream work and land disturbance within the 25-foot buffer zone are prohibited during the trout-
spawning season of October 15 through April 15 to protect the egg and fry stages of trout.
General Conditions
1. Unless otherwise approved in this certification,placement of culverts and other structures in open waters
and streams shall be placed below the elevation of the streambed by one foot for all culverts with a
diameter greater than 48 inches,and 20 percent of the culvert diameter for culverts having a diameter less
than 48 inches,to allow low flow passage of water and aquatic life. Design and placement of culverts
and other structures including temporary erosion control measures shall not be conducted in a manner
that may result in dis-equilibrium of wetlands or streambeds or banks,adjacent to or upstream and
downstream of the above structures.The applicant is required to provide evidence that the equilibrium is
being maintained if requested in writing by NCDWR. If this condition is unable to be met due to
bedrock or other limiting features encountered during construction,please contact NCDWR for guidance
on how to proceed and to determine whether or not a permit modification will be required. [15A NCAC
02H.0506(b)(2)]

DocuSign Envelope ID: BC231994-9263-4B96-AE70-704E43BFC396
Bridge 180 on SR 1369
DWR#20201578
401 Certification
Page 3 of 5
2. If concrete is used during construction,a dry work area shall be maintained to prevent direct contact
between curing concrete and stream water. Water that inadvertently contacts uncured concrete shall
not be discharged to surface waters due to the potential for elevated pH and possible aquatic life and
fish kills. [15A NCAC 02B.0200]
3. During the construction of the project,no staging of equipment of any kind is permitted in waters of
the U.S. or protected riparian buffers. [15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(2)]
4. The dimension,pattern,and profile of the stream above and below the crossing shall not be modified.
Disturbed floodplains and streams shall be restored to natural geomorphic conditions. [15A NCAC
02H.0506(b)(2)]
5. The use of rip-rap above the Normal High Water Mark shall be minimized. Any rip-rap placed for
stream stabilization shall be placed in stream channels in such a manner that it does not impede aquatic
life passage. [15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(2)]
6. The Permittee shall ensure that the final design drawings adhere to the permit and to the permit
drawings submitted for approval. [15A NCAC 02H .0507(c)and 15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(2)and
(c)(2)]
7. All work in or adjacent to stream waters shall be conducted in a dry work area. Approved BMP
measures from the most current version of NCDOT Construction and Maintenance Activities manual
such as sandbags,rock berms,cofferdams and other diversion structures shall be used to prevent
excavation in flowing water. [15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(3)and(c)(3)]
8. Heavy equipment shall be operated from the banks rather than in the stream channel in order to
minimize sedimentation and reduce the introduction of other pollutants into the stream. [15A NCAC
02H.0506(b)(3)]
9. All mechanized equipment operated near surface waters must be regularly inspected and maintained to
prevent contamination of stream waters from fuels, lubricants, hydraulic fluids, or other toxic materials.
[15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(3)]
10. No rock,sand or other materials shall be dredged from the stream channel except where authorized by this
certification. [15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(3)]
11. Discharging hydroseed mixtures and washing out hydro seeders and other equipment in or adjacent to
surface waters is prohibited. [15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(3)]
12. The permittee and its authorized agents shall conduct its activities in a manner consistent with State water
quality standards(including any requirements resulting from compliance with§303(d)of the Clean Water
Act) and any other appropriate requirements of State and Federal law. If the NCDWR determines that
such standards or laws are not being met(including the failure to sustain a designated or achieved use)or
that State or federal law is being violated, or that further conditions are necessary to assure compliance,
the NCDWR may reevaluate and modify this certification. [15A NCAC 02B.0200]
13. All fill slopes located in jurisdictional wetlands shall be placed at slopes no flatter than 3:1, unless
otherwise authorized by this certification. [15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(2)]
14. A copy of this Water Quality Certification shall be maintained on the construction site at all times. In
addition,the Water Quality Certification and all subsequent modifications,if any,shall be maintained with
the Division Engineer and the on-site project manager. [15A NCAC 02H .0507(c) and 15A NCAC
02H.0506(b)(2)and(c)(2)]

DocuSign Envelope ID: BC231994-9263-4B96-AE70-704E43BFC396
Bridge 180 on SR 1369
DWR#20201578
401 Certification
Page 4 of 5
15. The outside buffer, wetland or water boundary located within the construction corridor approved by this
authorization shall be clearly marked by highly visible fencing prior to any land disturbing
activities. Impacts to areas within the fencing are prohibited unless otherwise authorized by this
certification. [15ANCAC 02H.0501 and.0502]
16. The issuance of this certification does not exempt the Permittee from complying with any and all statutes,
rules,regulations,or ordinances that may be imposed by other government agencies(i.e. local, state, and
federal)having jurisdiction, including but not limited to applicable buffer rules, stormwater management
rules,soil erosion and sedimentation control requirements,etc.
17. The Permittee shall report any violations of this certification to the Division of Water Resources within 24
hours of discovery. [15A NCAC 02B.0506(b)(2)]
18. Upon completion of the project(including any impacts at associated borrow or waste sites),the NCDOT
Division Engineer shall complete and return the enclosed"Certification of Completion Form"to notify the
NCDWR when all work included in the 401 Certification has been completed. [15A NCAC 02H.0502(f)]
19. Native riparian vegetation must be reestablished in the riparian areas within the construction limits of the
project by the end of the growing season following completion of construction. [15A NCAC
02B.0506(b)(2)]
20. There shall be no excavation from,or waste disposal into,jurisdictional wetlands or waters associated with
this permit without appropriate modification. Should waste or borrow sites, or access roads to waste or
borrow sites, be located in wetlands or streams, compensatory mitigation will be required since that is a
direct impact from road construction activities. [15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(3)and(c)(3)]
21. Erosion and sediment control practices must be in full compliance with all specifications governing the
proper design,installation and operation and maintenance of such Best Management Practices in order to
protect surface waters standards [15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(3)and(c)(3]):
a. The erosion and sediment control measures for the project must be designed,installed,operated,
and maintained in accordance with the most recent version of the North Carolina Sediment and
Erosion Control Planning and Design Manual.
b. The design, installation, operation, and maintenance of the sediment and erosion control
measures must be such that they equal,or exceed,the requirements specified in the most recent
version of the North Carolina Sediment and Erosion Control Manual. The devices shall be
maintained on all construction sites, borrow sites, and waste pile (spoil) projects, including
contractor-owned or leased borrow pits associated with the project.
c. For borrow pit sites, the erosion and sediment control measures must be designed, installed,
operated, and maintained in accordance with the most recent version of the North Carolina
Surface Mining Manual.
d. The reclamation measures and implementation must comply with the reclamation in accordance
with the requirements of the Sedimentation Pollution Control Act.
22. Sediment and erosion control measures shall not be placed in wetlands or waters unless otherwise
approved by this Certification. [15A NCAC 02H.0506(b)(3)and(c)(3)]
This approval and its conditions are final and binding unless contested. [G.S. 143-215.5]This Certification can be
contested as provided in Chapter 150B of the North Carolina General Statutes by filing a Petition for a Contested
Case Hearing(Petition)with the North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings(OAH)within sixty(60)
calendar days.Requirements for filing a Petition are set forth in Chapter 150B of the North Carolina General
Statutes and Title 26 of the North Carolina Administrative Code.Additional information regarding requirements for
filing a Petition and Petition forms may be accessed at http://www.ncoah.com/or by calling the OAH Clerk's Office
at(919)431-3000.

DocuSign Envelope ID: BC231994-9263-4B96-AE70-704E43BFC396
Bridge 180 on SR 1369
DWR#20201578
401 Certification
Page 5 of 5
One(1)copy of the Petition must also be served to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality:
William F. Lane,General Counsel
Department of Environmental Quality
1601 Mail Service Center
Raleigh,NC 27699-1601
This letter completes the review of the Division under section 401 of the Clean Water Act and 15A NCAC
02H.0500. Please contact Kevin Mitchell at 828-296-4650 or [e-mail] if you have any
questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
—DocuSigned by:
C—AWKAAA,
\-9C9886312DCD474...
S.Daniel smith,Director
Division of Water Resources
ec: Crystal Amschler,US Army Corps of Engineers Asheville Regulatory Field Office(via email)
Patrick Breedlove,Division 14 Environmental Specialist(via email)
Holland Youngman,US Fish and Wildlife Service(via email)
Marla Chambers,NC Wildlife Resources Commission(via email)
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