20050453 Ver 2_Other Agency Comments_20121218

Strickland, Bev
From: Higgins, Karen
Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2013 4:48 PM
To: Strickland, Bev
Subject: FW: WRC comments on PCN for Neuse Regional WASA intake dredging
Attachments: Neuse Regional WASA intake dredging WRC comments.pdf
Sorry, one more for 2005 -0453 v2
Thanks -
Karen
Karen Higgins
Supervisor, Wetlands, Buffers, Stormwater - Compliance & Permitting Unit
NCDENR - Division of Water Quality
1650 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699 -1650
Phone: [phone]
Email: karen.higgins @ncdenr.gov
Website: http: / /Portal.ncdenr.org /web /wq /swp /ws /webscape
E -mail correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be
disclosed to third parties.
From: Stancil, Vann F
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2012 1:29 PM
To: Higgins, Karen
Cc: Scheller, Roberto; Hart, Kevin
Subject: WRC comments on PCN for Neuse Regional WASA intake dredging
I've attached WRC comments on the PCN for the Neuse Regional WASA intake dredging. Please let me know if you have
any questions or if I need to do anything else related to the comments on this project.
Thanks,
Vann
Vann F. Stancil - Special Project Coordinator
NCWRC - Division of Inland Fisheries
Habitat Conservation Program
215 Jerusalem Church Road
Kenly, NC 27542
919 - 284 -5218

Ernail corrpspondpnce to and ftorn this spndpr is subJpct to thp N.C. Public Records Law and may bp disclospd M Hwd patps.

L'=7711 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: Karen Higgins
NCDWQ
FROM: Vann F. Stancil
Special Project Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
DATE: December 18, 2012
SUBJECT: Comments on PCN for Neuse Regional WASA raw water intake dredging in the
Neuse River in Lenoir Co.
Biologists from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) have reviewed
the proposed project description. Our comments are provided in accordance with certain
provisions of the NC Environmental Policy Act (G.S. 113A -1 through 113A -10; 1 NCAC 25)
and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.).
The Neuse Regional Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) seeks a 401 Water Quality
Certification and Riparian Buffer Authorization from DWQ to dredge sediment that has
accumulated near the intake screens for the Neuse River Water Treatment Plant (WTP). The
Neuse River WTP in Lenoir County has supplied water from the Neuse River since 2008 but
sediment has accumulated around the intake screens and needs to be removed. Sediment will be
dredged from the river and deposited off site. Riparian buffer impacts will be temporary and
limited to equipment access at areas where the river bank is already stabilized with rip rap. A
turbidity barrier in the river during dredging will help confine turbidity and sediment impacts to
the work area and reduce downstream impacts.
To avoid and minimize impacts, the applicant states "No in -river work will be allowed between
February 15 and June 30 to avoid impacts to fish spawning." The Neuse River is a designated
Primary Nursery Area (PNA) from Milburnie Dam downstream to Pitchkettle Creek. Adult
anadromous fish such as striped bass Morone saxatilis, American shad Alosa sapidissima,
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699 -1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

NCWRC COMMENTS
NEUSE REGIONAL WASA INTAKE DREDGING
hickory shad A. mediocris, and blueback herring A. aestivalis ascend the Neuse River to spawn
in the spring and larval and juvenile anadromous fish remain in the river through the summer.
Because the sediment dredging will be done in a PNA, no in -river work should be conducted
from February 15th through September 30th.
The Neuse River WTP has only been operating since 2008 but sufficient sediment has already
accumulated near the intakes to require removal. If sediment accumulation continues to be a
problem, the Neuse Regional WASA may need to consider alternative approaches that reduce
sediment accumulation near the intakes and reduce the cumulative environmental impacts
associated with sediment maintenance.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. Please feel free to contact
me at vann.stancil(a,ncwildlife.org or 919- 284 -5218 if you have any questions or concerns about
these project comments.
ec: Roberto Scheller, NCDWQ
Kevin Hart, NCDMF
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