20201987 Ver 1_US Dept of the Interior Comments_20210514

Strickland, Bev
From: Dunn, Maria T.
Sent: Friday, May 14, 2021 8:37 AM
To: Coats, Heather
Cc: [e-mail]; Godfrey, Matthew H; Currey, Gregory E CIV USARMY
CELRP (USA); Kelly, David; Leigh Mann
Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] SAW 2018-2230 2020/2021 Oak Island Beach Nourishment Project
Attachments: 20210513_boa_Oaklsland_postisaias.pdf
Heather,
NCWRC has been continuously involved with the 2020-2021 Oak Island Beach Nourishment project and is fully aware of
the project's details and progression. We have discussed and coordinated numerous efforts with state and federal
agencies, the local turtle monitoring program, the Town and their contracted employees. We concur with statements
made by the USFWS and their amended BO (attached) to allow a one-time extension until May 17 for pipeline dredging
and a one-time extension until May 22 for hopper dredging with complete demobilization and equipment removal by
May 26. We expect continued coordination and adherence to all conditions within the permit and amended BO to
complete the previously referenced project components and forthcoming dune planting. It is recommended that if the
permit extension if granted, a brief meeting is conducted with the appropriate parties to ensure extended monitoring
requirements are understood and implemented.
Thank you for the continued coordination efforts to facilitate this project. Please do not hesitate to call or email if
NCWRC can provide additional assistance.
Maria
Maria T. Dunn
Coastal Coordinator
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
943 Washington Sq. Mall
Washington, NC 27889
office: 252-948-3916
www.ncwildlife.org
Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: Matthews, Kathryn H <[e-mail]>
Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2021 4:05 PM
To: Currey, Gregory E CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>
Cc: Coats, Heather <[e-mail]>; Dunn, Maria T. <[e-mail]>; Kelly, David
<[e-mail]>; Mann, Leigh <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] SAW 2018-2230 2020/2021 Oak Island Beach Nourishment Project
1

CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an attachment to
Report Spam.
Hi Greg,
Please find attached the signed BO amendment for the requested extension to March 17 and 22,
respectively. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
THanks,
Kathy
Please note that I am teleworking almost exclusively. Email is the best way to reach me. Thanks,
Kathy Matthews
Fish and Wildlife Biologist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
551-F Pylon Drive
Raleigh, NC 27606
919-856-4520, x. 27
From: Currey, Gregory E CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2021 10:08 AM
To: Matthews, Kathryn H <kathryn [e-mail]>
Cc: 'Coats, Heather' <[e-mail]>; Dunn, Maria T. <[e-mail]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] SAW 2018-2230 2020/2021 Oak Island Beach Nourishment Project
This email has been received from outside of DOI - Use caution before clicking on links, opening
attachments, or responding.
Good morning Kathy,
By copy of this email, our office requests to re -initiate formal Section 7 consultation on behalf of the Town Of
Oak Island for the above permit to extend the beach fill placement deadline past April 30th , from May 1 to
May 22, 2021 for hopper dredge beachfill placement, and from May 1 to May 17 for hydraulic dredge beachfill
placement. Demobilization activities would be conducted (during daylight hours only) through May 26, 2021.
Thanks, Greg
Greg Currey
Project Manager
USACE, Wilmington
69 Darlington Ave.
Wilmington, NC 28403
2

PH 910-251-4707
3

United States Department of the Interior
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Raleigh ES Field Office
Post Office Box 33726
Raleigh, North Carolina 27636-3726
May 13, 2021
Greg Currey
Project Manager
USACE, Wilmington District
69 Darlington Ave.
Wilmington, NC 28403
SUBJECT: Town of Oak Island; Post -Isaias Sand Nourishment
Action ID No. SAW 2018-02230
FWS Log #: 04EN2000-2020-F-2226
Dear Mr. Currey:
This document constitutes an amendment to the April 29, 2021, Biological Opinion (BO) for the
extension of the Town of Oak Island's Post -Isaias Sand Nourishment Project. The applicant has
requested a further extension of the dredging and sand placement activities. Specifically, the
applicant proposes to extend the beach fill placement to May 22, 2021 for hopper dredge
beachfill placement, and to May 17, 2021 for hydraulic dredge beachfill placement.
Demobilization activities are proposed to be conducted during daylight hours through May 26,
2021. The Town of Oak Island and its Contractors commit to all terms and conditions as written
in the April 13, 2020 authorization and the April 30, 2021 permit modification from the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, including the conservation measures outlined in the BO for the
continued beach placement, demobilization, and dune planting activities.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reviewed the request, and the overall impacts to federally
listed species remain relatively unchanged. The current Conservation Measures in the BO are
adequate to avoid, minimize, and mitigate for adverse impacts to piping plover, red knot,
seabeach amaranth, leatherback, green, and Kemp's ridley sea turtles, and the Northwest
Atlantic Ocean (NWA) Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of the loggerhead sea turtle, along
with designated critical habitat for the NWA DPS of the loggerhead sea turtle. Therefore, it is
likely that the level of incidental take that would occur from the short-term extension of
construction within the existing project area would not exceed that which would occur from the
original proposal.
Accordingly, the April 29, 2021 BO issued to your agency is amended as follows. The change
from the original language is underlined and italicized.
Section 2, first paragraph:
The Town of Oak Island has requested authorization to extend state and federal permits to allow
for beach placement activities to proceed through May 22, 2021, with demobilization activities
(during daylight hours only) through May 26, 2021.

Section 2.2, first paragraph:
Beach sand placement is proposed to be conducted until May 22, 2021, followed by
demobilization activities (during daylight hours) until May 26, 2021.
Section 2.2, Conservation Measures:
To avoid and minimize impacts from sand placement to listed species and other resources, the
Corps has proposed the following conservation measures:
Proposed Conservation Measures for Beach Placement Activities from May 1— May 22, 2021
If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Matthews at <[e-mail]>. In
future correspondence concerning the project, please reference FWS Log No. 04EN2000-2021-
F-2226.
Sincerely,
THOMAS Digitally igned by
THOMAS SAUGS URGER
AUGSP URGER te0.02021.05.1315:58:28
for
Pete Benjamin
Field Supervisor
cc: NCDCM, Morehead City, NC
NCWRC, Washington, NC
Town of Oak Island