20211409 Ver 1_U-6223-CE_20210316

3/11/2021
Ms. Crystal Best
N. C. State Clearinghouse
Department of Administration
1301 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1301
Dear Ms. Best:
SUBJECT: Project: U-6223 (Ranch Road Extension) Johnston County
F. A. Project: 1560004 and 1560005
Type III CE
Attached to this email transmittal is a digital copy(PDF) of the Type III CE for the subject project. This
document is also available at https://xfer.services.ncdot.gov/pdea/EnvironmentalDocs/Documents/
Please send any comments, requests or acknowledgement letters for any documents to our project
development consultant, Elise Bielen, Project Manager, Simpson Engineers & Associates, at
[e-mail].
Sincerely,
DocuSigned by:
V'U/60b, Q aA itAii ((1
dissnoGaivtiey, PE
Project Team Lead, Division 4
DS
Qom /
Attachments (1 pdf)

DocuSign Envelope ID: A4BEB55C-D5F1-450E-8CFE-521330AD5866
Type III Categorical Exclusion Action Classification Form
STIP Project No.
WBS Element
Federal Project No.
U-6223
PE: 49502; ROW: 48811.2.1; Construction: 48811.3.1
1560004 and 1560005
A. Project Description:
U-6223 is located in northwest Johnston County, southeast of downtown Clayton (Figure 1). NCDOT proposes
to extend Ranch Road (SR 1560) on new location between Little Creek Church Road (SR 1563) and US 70
Business and re -align the intersection of Ranch and Little Creek Church Roads to make Ranch Road the through -
movement. The project area is slightly less than one mile in length, including approximately 2000 feet of new
location roadway and approximately 500 feet of relocated roadway at the intersection realignment.
B. Description of Need and Purpose:
The primary need for the proposed improvements is the lack of connectivity of the NC 42 corridor through the
Town of Clayton. NC 42 is split by the Town of Clayton. The current configuration requires two miles of travel
along the busy US 70 Business corridor and a circuitous westbound connection to connect the east and west
sides of NC 42. NC 42 currently provides the primary access to the US 70 Bypass and 1-40 for travelers coming
from the Town of Clayton. Affected users include a growing number of residents living in existing and planned
neighborhoods in southeast Clayton, along with commercial and truck traffic traveling to and from the area.
The primary purpose of the project is to enhance mobility and connectivity by providing a route that allows
users to directly access US 70 Bypass from east of Clayton from NC 42.
Other desirable outcomes include an alleviation of increasing congestion on US 70 Business by eliminating the
need to travel on US 70 Business to gain access between the east and west sides of NC 42, a reduction of
response times from Clayton Fire Station #2 to property owners and residents who live south of US 70 Business,
and the potential for Ranch Road to act as a detour route during the construction of the upcoming NC 42
Widening project (R-3410).
C. Categorical Exclusion Action Classification:
Type III
D. Proposed Improvements:
This project includes both new location roadway and improvements to existing roadways. The public meeting
map illustrating the preliminary roadway design is available in project files on SharePoint.
At the south end of the project, Little Creek Church Road will be realigned approximately 335 feet south to
terminate at a T intersection with Ranch Road, making Ranch Road the intersection through movement. Ranch
Road will be widened at this location to include a right turn lane from northbound Ranch Road to Little Creek
Church Road and a left turn lane from southbound Ranch Road to Little Creek Church Road. Little Creek Church
Road will be widened to include a right turn lane to northbound Ranch Road. The road in this location will
consist of two 12-foot wide lanes, undivided, with paved shoulders. On Ranch Road, the paved shoulder is 5-
foot wide to accommodate bicycles.
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At the northern end of the project area, Ranch Road will extend to the east onto new location.The road will be
widened to four 12-foot wide travel lanes divided by a 23-foot wide raised grassed median as the extension
reaches existing Rose Street and approaches the intersection with US 70 Business.At the intersection,
eastbound Ranch Road will include two through lanes, a dedicated left turn lane, and a dedicated right turn
lane.A new stream crossing occurs within the new-location portion with a 66" culvert under Ranch Road.
Boling Street (formerly signed Little Creek Church Road) meets the Ranch Road extension from the north at a T
intersection on new location.The intersection includes a left turn lane from northbound Ranch Road to Boling
Street, a right turn lane from southbound Ranch Road to Boling Street, and two right turn lanes from Boling
Street to southbound Ranch Road.
In addition to the roadway extension and improvements,the Town of Clayton has requested the incorporation
of a water line extension into this project,which would bring the Town's water line from the current extent at
the end of Rose Street along the new road right of way for the extension of Ranch Road and tying into existing
water lines on what is currently Little Creek Church Road.
No detour route is anticipated to be used during construction of this project. Right of way acquisition is
expected to begin in spring 2021. Construction is estimated to take 18 months, beginning in summer 2022.
E. Special Project Information:
Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation
The project design includes a 5-foot paved shoulder on Ranch Road to accommodate cyclists. Sidewalks
currently present near the Sheetz gas station will be replaced upon completion of project construction.
Waters of the US
The project may impact up to approximately .69 acre of jurisdictional wetlands and 219 linear feet of
jurisdictional streams as calculated from preliminary design cut and fill slopes, plus 25 feet. Impacts to these
resources are expected to be further minimized during the project's final design phase.
The final decision on the appropriate permit type, as well as any required mitigation, will be made by the
USACE upon completion of the final roadway design. A Nationwide permit (NWP) No. 23 may be applicable,
depending on the final impacts to jurisdictional resources. The USACE holds the final discretion as to which
permit will be required to authorize project construction. Because a Section 404 permit is required, a Section
401 Water Quality Certification (WQC)from the NCDWR will also be needed.
Traffic Estimates
Table 1. Traffic Estimates
2019 Existing 5,600 vpd*
2045 No-Build 15,400 vpd
2045 Build 25,800 vpd
*vehicles per day
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Cost Estimates
Cost estimates for the project were updated from those shown in the STIP based on the preliminary roadway
design.The following table summarizes the current estimated cost to construct the project.
Table 2. Project Cost Estimates (December 2020)
Right-of-Way Acquisition $ 1,690,500
Utility Relocation $ 617,688.00
Construction $ 6,100,000.00
Total $ 8,408,188.00
Summary of Project Impacts
Table 2 provides a summary of the possible environmental impacts of the project, based on the preliminary
roadway design. At this roadway design stage, detailed topographic and property boundary surveys were not
available. Therefore, a conservative approach to identifying impacts was utilized. Impacts are likely to be
reduced during the final design phase.
Table 3. Environmental Impact Summary
ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES POTENTIAL IMPACTS
Relocations Residential 7
Businesses 2
Total Relocations 9
Disproportionate Impact to Minority/Low Income Populations None
Historic Properties (effect) 0
Archeological Resources 0
Community Facilities1 1
Noise Receptors2 16
Streams (linear feet, based on slope stakes plus 25 feet) 219
Wetlands (acres, based on slope stakes plus 25 feet) 0.69
Prime Farmland Soils (acres) 1.37
Federally Protected Species3
Northern long-eared bat MA-LAA
1. Kid's Country Day Care Center will have driveway circulation changes.
2. Noise receptors are noise-sensitive locations where human activity may be impacted by high noise levels.
3. Effective January 1,2021,a Programmatic Biological Opinion for the Northern long-eared bat provides a
determination of May Affect,Likely to Adversely Affect for the entire NCDOT program in Divisions 1-8.
Technical Studies and Reports
The following technical reports and additional documentation are located in the project files on NCDOT's
SharePoint site and are available upon request.:
• U-6223 GeoEnvironmental Planning Report, March 2020
• No Historic Properties Present or Affected Form, April 2020
• No National Register of Historic Places Eligible or Listed Archaeological Sites Present Form,
December 2020
• Traffic Technical Memo, September 2020
• Natural Resources Technical Report, September 2020
• Aquatics Report, December 2020
• Community Impact Assessment, December 2020
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• Indirect and Cumulative Effects Screening Report, January 2021
• Traffic Noise Analysis, Ranch Road Extension, November 2020
• Programmatic Biological Opinion for Northern Long-eared Bats, NCDOT Divisions 1-8, November 06,
2020 (prepared by the US Fish and Wildlife Service)
Agency and Stakeholder Involvement
Scoping letters were sent to federal and state resource and regulatory agencies and local government officials
on May 24, 2019. In response, letters or emails were received from the following agencies:
• US Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service
• NC Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Resources
• North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
• US Army Corps of Engineers
Per NCDOT's Tribal Coordination Protocol,the Catawba Indian Nation and the Tuscarora Indian Nation were
informed about the project and invited to provide scoping feedback.A response was received from the
Catawba Indian Nation indicating no immediate concerns with regard to traditional cultural properties, sacred
sites or Native American archaeological sites within the boundaries of the proposed project areas.
Several coordination meetings were held with Town of Clayton staff from the planning, engineering, and public
works departments to determine the Town's needs for a water line extension betterment to the proposed
improvements.
Outreach and coordination with Johnston County Schools and Johnston County Emergency Medical Services
(EMS)to provide project information and an opportunity to identify potential impacts of the project to school
bus and EMS services. Input received from these agencies was incorporated into the Community Characteristics
Report and Community Impact Assessment Report.
A Pre-Merger Screening meeting was held with NCDOT,the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), US Army
Corps of Engineers (USACE), and the NC Department of Environmental Quality- Division of Water Resources
(NCDEQ-DWR) on April 28, 2020 to determine whether the proposed project should be processed through the
NEPA/404 Merger Process. It was concluded that the project would not go through the Merger Process.
All coordination letters and summaries are available in the project file on SharePoint.
Public Involvement
Project Post Card. A project post card was mailed in November 2020 to over 1,200 property owners located
near the Ranch Road Extension project corridor to notify them that project planning was underway and
directing them to visit the project website for more information.
Project Webpage. Because project planning occurred during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, NCDOT suspended
in-person meetings. As an alternative way to learn more and engage with the project, a project webpage was
established on NCDOT's website,found at: publicinput.com/RanchRd-Clayton. The webpage provides a video
overview of the project, a summary of the planning process, a downloadable pdf of the public meeting map,
and the ability to submit comments to project staff. For those who prefer other methods of communication,
project-specific email and phone numbers were also provided as ways to submit comments.
Between November 12, 2020 and December 11, 2020,the project website was used to collect project
comments. During this time, 29 comments and phone calls were received. A summary of the comments
received, and the responses provided is found in the project files on SharePoint.
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Press Releases. At the start of the public comment period, a press release was issued to encourage the public
to visit the project website and submit comments.The project website was also advertised via NCDOT social
media outlets.
Local Officials Informational Meeting (LOIM). A virtual local officials meeting was held November 9, 2020.
Local officials generally expressed support for the project.The major issue discussed during this meeting was
local officials' concern about the project schedule. At the time of the LOIM,the U-6223 project schedule had
been delayed in the STIP; after this meeting the STIP was adjusted to accelerate the U-6223 schedule.
F. Project Impact Criteria Checklists:
Table 4.
F3.Type Ill Actions
Proposed improvement(s)that fit Type III Actions (NCDOT-FHWA CE Programmatic Agreement, Appendix C)
answer questions below.
• NCDOT will certify the Categorical Exclusion for FHWA approval.
• If any questions are marked "Yes"then additional information will be required for those questions in Section
G.
Yes No
1 Does the project involve potential effects to Threatened or Endangered species listed by ❑
the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) or National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)?
2 Does the project result in impacts subject to the conditions of the Bald and Golden Eagle ❑
Protection Act (BGEPA)?
3 Does the project generate substantial controversy or public opposition,for any reason, ❑
following appropriate public involvement?
4 Does the project cause disproportionately high and adverse impacts relative to low- ❑ Q
income and/or minority populations?
5 Does the project involve substantial residential or commercial displacements or right of ❑ Q
way acquisition?
6 Does the project include a determination under Section 4(f)? ❑ Q
Is a project-level analysis for direct, indirect, or cumulative effects required based on the ❑ Q
NCDOT community studies screening tool?
8 Does the project impact anadromous fish spawning waters? ❑ Q
Does the project impact waters classified as Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW), High
9 Quality Waters (HQW), Water Supply Watershed Critical Areas, 303(d)-listed impaired Q ❑
water bodies, buffer rules, or submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV)?
10 Does the project impact Waters of the United States in any of the designated mountain ❑ Q
trout streams?
11 Does the project require a US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Individual Section 404 ❑ Q
Permit?
12 Will the project require an easement from a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) ❑ Q
licensed facility?
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Type III Actions (continued) Yes No
13 Does the project include Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) ❑ Q
effects determination other than a No Effect, including archaeological remains?
14 Does the project involve GeoEnvironmental Sites of Concerns such as gas stations, dry Q ❑
cleaners, landfills, etc.?
Does the project require work encroaching and adversely effecting a regulatory floodway
15 or work affecting the base floodplain (100-year flood) elevations of a water course or lake, ❑
pursuant to Executive Order 11988 and 23 CFR 650 subpart A?
16 Is the project in a Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) county and substantially affects ❑
the coastal zone and/or any Areas of Environmental Concern (AEC)?
17 Does the project require a US Coast Guard (USCG) permit? ❑ Q
18 Does the project involve construction activities in, across, or adjacent to a designated Wild ❑
and Scenic River present within the project area?
19 Does the project involve Coastal Barrier Resource Act (CBRA) resources? ❑ Q
Does the project impact federal lands (e.g. US Forest Service (USFS), US Fish and Wildlife
20 Service (USFWS), etc.) or Tribal (Trust) Lands? ❑
21 Does the project involve any changes in access control or the modification or construction ❑
of an interchange on an interstate?
22 Does the project have a permanent adverse effect on local traffic patterns or community ❑
cohesiveness?
23 Will maintenance of traffic cause substantial disruption? ❑ Q
24 Is the project inconsistent with the STIP, and where applicable,the Metropolitan Planning ❑
Organization's (MPO's)Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)?
Does the project require the acquisition of lands under the protection of Section 6(f) of the
Land and Water Conservation Act, the Federal Aid in Fish Restoration Act,the Federal Aid
25 in Wildlife Restoration Act, TVA,Tribal Lands, or other unique areas or special lands that ❑
were acquired in fee or easement with public-use money and have deed restrictions or
covenants on the property?
26 Does the project involve Federal Emergency Management Act(FEMA) buyout properties ❑
under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)?
27 Is the project considered a Type I under the NCDOT's Noise Policy? Q ❑
28 Is there prime or important farmland soil impacted by this project as defined by the 0 ❑
Farmland Protection Policy Act(FPPA)?
29 Is the project in an Air Quality non-attainment or maintenance area for a National Ambient 0 ❑
Air Quality Standard (NAAQS)?
30 Are there other issues that arose during the project development process that affected the ❑
project decision?
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G. Additional Documentation as Required from Section F (ONLY for questions marked 'Yes'):
Response to Question No.1: Threatened or Endangered Species
The US Fish and Wildlife Service has revised the previous programmatic biological opinion (PBO) in conjunction
with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA),the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and NCDOT for the
northern long-eared bat (NLEB) (Myotis septentrionalis) in eastern North Carolina. The PBO covers the entire
NCDOT program in Divisions 1-8, including all NCDOT projects and activities. Although this programmatic
covers Divisions 1-8, NLEBs are currently only known to occur in 30 counties within Divisions 1-8. NCDOT,
FHWA, and USACE have agreed to two conservation measures which will avoid/minimize mortality of NLEBs.
These conservation measures only apply to the 30-current known/potential counties shown on Figure 2 of the
PBO at this time. The programmatic determination for NLEB for the NCDOT program is May Affect, Likely to
Adversely Affect. The PBO provides incidental take coverage for NLEB and will ensure compliance with Section
7 of the Endangered Species Act for ten years for all NCDOT projects with a federal nexus in Divisions 1-8,which
includes Johnston County,where U-6223 is located. This level of incidental take is authorized from the
effective date of a final listing determination through December 31, 2030.
Johnston County is not one of the 30 known or potential counties shown on Figure 2 of the PBO.As such,the
mitigation measures listed in the PBO do not apply to this project.
Response to Question No.9: Water Quality
The streams within in the project area are class C tributaries to Little Creek. Per input received from NC Division
of Water Resources, Little Creek and its tributaries are Nutrient Sensitive Waters (NSW) and 303(d) impaired
waters of the State. Class C Waters are protected for uses such as secondary recreation,fishing, wildlife,fish
consumption, aquatic life including propagation, survival and maintenance of biological integrity, and
agriculture. Nutrient Sensitive Waters is a supplemental classification intended for waters needing additional
nutrient management due to excessive growth of microscopic or macroscopic vegetation.
The Ranch Road Extension project is located in the Neuse River Basin and will be subject to the Neuse River
Riparian Buffer Rules,which requires 50-foot wide vegetated buffers on all perennial and intermittent streams.
Impacts to existing riparian buffers will be minimized during the final roadway design phase. Unavoidable
impacts will be addressed through a Buffer Mitigation Plan,to be developed in coordination with the NC
Division of Mitigation Services and submitted to the NC Division of Water Resources with the application for a
401 Water Quality Certification.
Impacts to water quality resulting from the design and construction of the proposed improvements will be
minimized or avoided through the use of the NCDOT Storm water Best Management Practices Toolbox and strict
adherence to its Design Standards for Sensitive Watersheds for all waters within the Little Creek watershed.
These measures, coupled with adherence to the Neuse River Buffer Rules, will avoid significant impacts to
water quality in the project area.
Response to Question 14: Hazardous Materials
The GeoEnvironmental Section of the NCDOT Geotechnical Engineering Unit performed a Phase I field
investigation on March 18, 2020 to identify geoenvironmental sites of concern. One (1) site of concern,the
Sheetz gas station, was identified within the proposed study area. Low monetary and scheduling impacts
resulting from this site is anticipated. Information on the specific sites is provided in GeoEnvironmental
Planning Report.
Response to Question No. 27: Noise
A traffic noise evaluation was performed, documented in the Traffic Noise Analysis (November 2020), and is
available for public review upon request. This evaluation was conducted in accordance with the highway traffic
noise requirements of Title 23 CFR Part 772.
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The analysis preliminarily identified one (1) noise barrier that met feasible and reasonable criteria found in the
NCDOT Traffic Noise Policy. A more detailed analysis will be completed during the project's final design. Noise
barriers found to be feasible and reasonable during the preliminary noise analysis may not be found to be
feasible and reasonable during the final design noise analysis due to changes in proposed project alignment and
other design considerations, surrounding land use development, or utility conflicts, among other factors.
Conversely, noise barriers that were not considered feasible and reasonable may meet the established criteria
and be recommended for construction.
In accordance with NCDOT Traffic Noise Policy,the Federal/State governments are not responsible for
providing noise abatement measures for new development for which building permits are issued after the Date
of Public Knowledge. The Date of Public Knowledge of the proposed highway project will be the approval date
of the Categorical Exclusion (CE).
The maximum number of receptors predicted to become impacted by future traffic noise is shown in the table
below. The table includes those receptors expected to experience traffic noise impacts by either approaching
or exceeding the FHWA Noise Abatement Criteria or by a substantial increase in exterior noise levels.
Table 5. Predicted Traffic Noise Impacts
Traffic Noise Impacts
Residential Places of Worship/Schools, Businesses Total
(NAC B) Parks, etc. (NAC C& D) (NAC E)
16 0 0 16
*Per TNM 2.5 and in accordance with 23 CFR Part 772
A noise barrier evaluation was conducted for this project utilizing the Traffic Noise Model (TNM 2.5) developed
by the FHWA. Twelve (12) delineated Noise Study Areas (NSA) in the Ranch Road Extension project area were
analyzed, listed below:
• NSA 1: southeast of the intersection at Ranch Road and Little Creek Church Road near the western
terminus of the project
• NSA 2: southeast of Ranch Road between Ranch Road and Crooked Creek Road near the western
terminus of the project
• NSA 3: northwest of Ranch Road between Glenn Street and Grant Street near the western terminus
of the project
• NSA 4: northwest of the intersection of Ranch Road and Little Creek Church Road near the western
terminus of the project
• NSA 5: southeast of Ranch Road near the western terminus of the project
• NSA 6: southwest of Little Creek Church Road, near the central portion of the project
• NSA 7: southwest of Little Creek Church Road, near the central portion of the project
• NSA 8: southeast of the proposed Ranch Road Extension along Tulip Street and Iris Street near the
eastern terminus of the project
• NSA 9: east of the proposed Ranch Road Extension between US 70 BUS Route and Tulip Street near
the eastern terminus of the project
• NSA 10: north of the proposed Ranch Road Extension and west of US 70 BUS Route
• near the eastern terminus of the project
• NSA 11: consists of the Boling Townes Community and is located northwest of the proposed Ranch
Road Extension and east of Little Creek Church Road along Sunnyview Lane and Beechleaf Court
near the central portion of the project
• NSA 12: northwest of Little Creek Church Road in the eastern portion of the project
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The following table summarizes the results of the evaluation.
Table 6. Preliminary Noise Barrier Evaluation Results
Square Feet per Preliminarily
Noise Barrier Length Square Number of Benefited Receptor/ Feasible and
Locations (feet) Footage Benefited Allowable Square Reasonable
Receptors Feet per Benefited (Likely)for
Receptor Construction2
NSA 11 596 6,176 4 1,029/2,000 Yes
'NSA—Noise Study Area
2The likelihood for barrier construction is preliminary and subject to change,pending completion of final design and the public
involvement process.
Response to Question No. 28: Prime Farmland
A preliminary screening of farmland conversion impacts in the project area was completed for the U-6223
project. The US Department of Agriculture's Farmland Conversion Impact Rating Form was completed for the
project. Part VI, Corridor Assessment Criteria, assigned 31 points to the project's impacts, which is below the
60-point threshold established by the National Resource Conservation Service. Though farmland conversion
impacts may be anticipated, they are not considered notable and do not required consideration of mitigation to
prime farmland soils within the project study area.
Response to Question No. 29: Air Quality
This project follows the USDOT Interim Guidance on Conformity Requirements for the 1997 Ozone NAAQS
dated October 1, 2018. The project is in Johnston County, which is within the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill
nonattainment area for the prior 1997 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) as defined by the
EPA. This area was designated nonattainment for the 1997 8-hour ozone standard effective June 15, 2004.
However, due to improved monitoring data,this area was redesignated maintenance on December 26, 2007.
EPA approved a SIP revision for the removal of Federal low-reid vapor pressure requirement effective on
February 3, 2014. The Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area was attainment for the 2008 ozone NAAQS resulting in
the 1997 ozone NAAQS being revoked on April 6, 2015. On February 16, 2018,the United States Court of
Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in South Coast Air Quality Mgmt. District v. EPA ("South Coast II,"
882 F.3d 1138) held that transportation conformity determinations must be made in areas that were either
nonattainment or maintenance for the 1997 ozone NAAQS and attainment for the 2008 ozone NAAQS when
the 1997 ozone NAAQS was revoked.Transportation conformity for plans and TIPs for the 1997 Ozone NAAQS
can be demonstrated without a regional emissions analysis pursuant to 40 CFR 93.109(c). The Capital Area
Metropolitan Planning Organization 2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) and the 2018-2021
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) conform to the intent of the SIP. The USDOT made a conformity
determination on the MTP on February 12, 2019, the TIP on February 6, 2020, and Johnston County donut
projects on February 6, 2020. The current conformity determination is consistent with the final conformity rule
found in 40 CFR Parts 51 and 93. There are no significant changes in the project's design concept or scope, as
used in the conformity analyses.
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H. Project Commitments (attach as Green Sheet to CE Form):
NCDOT PROJECT COMMITMENTS
STIP Project No. U-6223
Project Description: Extend SR 1560 (Ranch Road) on new location between Little Creek Church Road (SR 1563) and
US 70 Business and re-align the intersection of SR 1563 and SR 1560
Johnston County
Federal Aid Project No. 1560004 and 1560005
WBS Element PE: 49502; ROW: 48811.2.1; Construction: 48811.3.1
Noise and Air Quality Section and Division 4—Noise Mitigation
A Design Noise Report (DNR) will be required based on the final roadway design to confirm the one reasonable and
feasible barrier location.
Division 4 and Hydraulics Unit— Water Quality
Because the project is expected to impact Neuse River Riparian Buffers with activities classified as "allowable with
mitigation" by the Buffer Rules, a buffer mitigation plan, coordinated with the North Carolina Division of Mitigation
Services, must be provided to the NC Division of Water Resources prior to approval of the Water Quality
Certification.
NCDOT will strictly adhere to its Design Standards for Sensitive Watersheds throughout the design and construction
of the project for all waters within the Little Creek watershed.
To minimize and avoid impacts to water quality, NCDOT will adhere to the practices delineated in the NCDOT
Storm water Best Management Practices Toolbox.
Right of Way Division and Division 4—Voluntary Agricultural District(VAD)
If the right of way acquisition process results in the need for condemnation of property on the affected Voluntary
Agricultural District(VAD), coordination is required with the Johnston County Voluntary Agricultural District
Advisory Board.The Johnston County Voluntary Agricultural District Ordinance requires that the Johnston County
Voluntary Agricultural District Advisory Board hold a public hearing on the proposed condemnation before
condemnation may be initiated.
Division 4—Water Line Extension
The Division will continue to coordinate with the Town of Clayton about the design and execution of the water line
extension requested by the town as a betterment to the proposed improvements.

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Categorical Exclusion Approval:
STIP Project No. U-6223
WBS Element PE: 49502; ROW: 48811.2.1; Construction: 48811.3.1
Federal Project No. 1560004 and 1560005
Prepared By:
2/18/21 Elise Bielen, AICP, Simpson Engineers and Associates
Date Name of Preparer,Title of Preparer
Preparer's Organization/Division
Prepared For: Rachel Evans, PE, NCDOT Division 4
Reviewed By: —Docusigned by:
2/18/2021 04Abt (,b0wS
—`---FA16F1361A89464...
Date Chad Coggins, Environmental Officer
North Carolina Department of Transportation
❑ Approved
Q Certified • If classified as Type Ill Categorical Exclusion.
,-Docusigned by:
2/18/2021 r Akt .640A,s
—`----117 C 9 07774 34 F 407...
Date Rachel Evans, PE, NCDOT Division 4
North Carolina Department of Transportation
FHWA Approved: For Projects Certified by NCDOT(above), FHWA signature required.
,-OacuSigned by:
2/19/2021 f 7ttL /I/ A/A li
`-•--F27&AAAB096141=...
Date for John F. Sullivan, Ill, PE, Division Administrator
Federal Highway Administration
Note:Prior to ROW or Construction authorization, a consultation may be required(please see
Section VII of the NCDOT-FHWA CE Programmatic Agreement for more details).
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Figures
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Figure 1. Vicinity Map
L i --0
) .
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