20130101 Ver 1_Emails_20130228

Strickland, Bev
From: Stancil, Vann F
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2013 3:53 PM
To: Scheller, Roberto
Subject: Piedmont Natural Gas Pipeline PCN
Attachments: Piedmont Nat Gas pipeline PCN WRC comments.pdf
Roberto,
I have attached my comments on the proposed Piedmont Natural Gas pipeline project. Please let me know if you have
any questions or need anything else from me.
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
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E North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission IQ
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: Roberto Scheller
NCDWQ
FROM: Vann F. Stanch ! /
Special Project Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
DATE: February 28, 2013
SUBJECT: Comments on 404/401 PCN for Piedmont Natural Gas Replacement Pipeline in
Johnston, Wayne, and Greene Counties.
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.).
Piedmont Natural Gas proposes to install approximately 25 miles of 12 inch natural gas line in
Johnston, Wayne, and Greene Counties. The project will cause temporary and / or permanent
impacts to wetlands, streams, and riparian buffers. Impacts will be reduced by limiting the width
of right -of -ways by installing most of the new the natural gas line parallel to an existing
Piedmont Natural Gas line. The Ecosystem Enhancement Program has agreed to provide
compensatory mitigation for the riparian and non - riparian wetlands impacted by the project.
Appendix E of the application materials specifies seed mixes for upland, wetland, and riparian
areas. Bermuda grass is a non - native species and while NCWRC recognizes the importance of
quickly stabilizing upland areas to reduce erosion, Bermuda grass has the potential to out
compete and displace native vegetation. NCWRC recommends the upland mix listed in Table
11 -1 on page 137 of the NC Forest Service's Best Management Practices Manual found at
htlp://neforestselvice.gov/publications/WQ0107/BMP chqpter l
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699 -1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

NCWRC COMMENTS PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS REPLACEMENT PIPELINE
Some of the vegetation listed in the wetland and riparian buffer seed list are not native to the
Coastal Plain of North Carolina. Creeping bentgrass, Agrostis stolonifera is not a native species
and therefore it should not be planted or an alternative native species should be added to the seed
mix to replace it. Additionally riverbank wild rye, Elymus riparius and fowl bluegrass, Poa
palustris are only believed to be native to western North Carolina based on county level
distribution maps available for each species on the USDA Plants Database
http : / /plants.usda.gov /index.html. Other Elymus species, such as E. virginicus or E. canadensis,
would be more appropriate.
For more guidance on methods to avoid and minimize impacts to wetlands and streams, refer to
the NCWRC's Guidance Memorandum to Address and Mitigate Secondary and Cumulative
Impacts to Aquatic and Terrestrial Wildlife Resources and Water Quality (August 2002;
http: / /www.ncwildlife.org /Portals /0 /Conserving /documents /2002 GuidanceMemorandumforSec
ondaryandCumulativelm acts. pdf.
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.
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