20141310 Ver 2_USACE Correspondence_20210525

Strickland, Bev
From: Bailey, David E CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>
Sent: Monday, May 24, 2021 9:02 AM
To: Alexander Elkan
Cc: Homewood, Sue; Pete Goria; Bob Zarzecki; Patrick K Smith Smith
Subject: [External] RE: Updated McConnell Center Wetland Grading Plan
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
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Alex,
Thank you for your email from 5/19/2012, as well as your follow-up/revised email from 5/21/2021. The Corps is in favor
of the updated wetland restoration plan as shown in the attachments sent 5/21/2021 and description sent 5/19/2021.
Once notified that the additional grading is completed, the Corps will review in the field to confirm that the grades are
appropriate to facilitate restoration of the wetland. Once grades are confirmed the Corps, the remaining site work
activities to satisfy Corps requirements include the following items per the Wetland Restoration Plan (Sheet EXH WL 3)
included as part of Special Condition 2 of the Nationwide Permit (NWP) 39 verification dated 4/21/2020:
• Items 4-6 listed under "Restoration Construction Sequence;
• Items listed under "Wetland Restoration Notes and Planting Plan."
Upon completion of the above bulleted items (photos sent to the Corps are expected to be sufficient to document
completion), the Corps will close out the existing enforcement action. Note that, following close out, monitoring of the
wetland restoration area will still be required per Special Condition 3 of the NWP 39 verification dated 4/21/2020.
Thank you again for your cooperation in these efforts. Please let me know if you have any questions as work resumes.
Sincerely,
Dave Bailey
David E. Bailey, PWS
Regulatory Project Manager
US Army Corps of Engineers
CE-SAW-RG-R
3331 Heritage Trade Drive, Suite 105
Wake Forest, North Carolina 27587
Office: [phone], Ext. 30.
Mobile: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
We would appreciate your feedback on how we are performing our duties. Our automated Customer Service Survey is
located at: https://regulatory.ops.usace.army.mil/customer-service-survey/
Thank you for taking the time to visit this site and complete the survey.
i

From: Alexander Elkan <[e-mail]>
Sent: Friday, May 21, 20214:54 PM
To: Bailey, David E CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>
Cc: Homewood, Sue <[e-mail]>; Pete Goria <[e-mail]>; Bob Zarzecki
<[e-mail]>; Patrick K Smith Smith <[e-mail]>
Subject: [Non-DoD Source] FW: Updated McConnell Center Wetland Grading Plan
Hi David —
I am following up on my below email of 05/19/21.
Attached is an Updated Proposed Wetland Contours map for the McConnell Center site that was prepared by the site
engineer and will, once approved by USACE and DWR, be used by the surveyor to do the construction staking that was
described in my below email. ( Also attached is the previous grading sketch for reference. )
Please note that the grading through the restored wetland area is consistent with the previous version that was
provided (and currently under review by the Corps) - with the following two exceptions: (1) the updated sketch adds the
708.50 contour near the far west end of the wetland to allow for a grade tie-in; and (2) it provides proposed contours
(the darker solid contour lines) along the southern (and western) slope of the wetland area as it blends up to high
ground, which were not described in the 5/18/21 version.
The same general Proposed Grading Operations (described in my 05/19/21 email) will be implemented once approved
by the agencies. And while this updated/refined version does require the disturbance of more of the perimeter slopes
than we'd hoped (noted in Item 5 in the Proposed Grading Operations), we believe it is appropriate in that it honors the
restored wetland footprint that the permit requires and lays back the perimeter slopes so that they can be readily
stabilized upon the completion of the grading - thus further protecting the restored wetland area.
Please call if you'd like to discuss any issues/questions/concerns.
Mr. Goria plans to move forward with the proposed work as soon as Corps approval is provided.
Thank you again for your review, and for your time and effort on this project.
Alex
Alexander Elkan, Partner
BROOKS
PIERCE
FOUNDED (897
t: 336.271.3134
336.232.9034
2000 Renaissance Plaza
230 North Elm Street
Greensboro, NC 27401
P.O. Box 26000 (27420)
2

From: Alexander Elkan <[e-mail]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2021 10:40 AM
To: Bailey, David E CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>
Cc: Homewood, Sue <[e-mail]>; Pete Goria <[e-mail]>; Bob Zarzecki
<[e-mail]>; Patrick Smith <[e-mail]>
Subject: mcconnell center
Hello David —
Following up on our discussion Monday, Mr. Goria proposes to complete the restoration work in accordance with the
attached schematic and below grading parameters.
We ask that at your earliest convenience you please review and confirm or let us know of any proposed revisions. Once
approved by USACE, Mr. Goria intends to immediately proceed to carry out the work.
Thank you.
PROPOSED GRADING OPERATIONS:
1. Surveyor to install grading stakes at roughly 30 foot (+/-) intervals to define the
proposed contour lines shown on the attached sketch map. Stakes to be
labeled with proposed final grade elevation and depth of cut. Surveyor will
remove Photo Point stakes for reinstallation later. Other remaining stakes
(from previous work) will be removed prior to staking.
2. Contractor to determine means and methods of grading. However, based on
expected wetness at depth (observed in test pits) grading will likely be
performed in a generally east to west direction working from the edge of water
to the existing 708.00 contour.
NOTE: If excessively wet conditions are encountered during grading such
that heavy equipment cannot operate or other conditions indicating
further cut is not necessary (ie. stumps or buried vegetation indicating the
old pond bed) we will notify USACE and DWR with proposed modifications
this plan. Visible, sizeable debris (concrete, tires, etc.) will be removed.
3. North and east boundaries of wetland restoration area will be graded such that
there is a transition of slopes from below the existing water surface (where
present) to the adjacent restored wetland surface.
4. Perform perimeter grading so as to limit open water within newly graded
wetland area (assume average water surface at approx. Elev. 705.50').
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5. Reasonable efforts will be made to limit disturbance of existing stable vegetated
slopes along south and west edge of restored wetland area. However, one or
more access paths down slope will be required.
6. Grading will be undertaken along the toe of the existing upland slope (along
south and west edge of restored wetland) with a goal of establishing stable
transition slopes to wetland surface. Where practicable, slopes will be graded
to 2H:1V or flatter but steeper slopes may result in certain areas due to existing
contours. Efforts will be made to grade to the contours described on the
attached sketch map to the extent practicable, however contours at toe of slope
may be adjusted during grading based on field conditions.
7. Removed clean fill will be stockpiled or graded elsewhere in upland areas on
site and stabilized in a manner consistent with erosion control practices.
8. Visible, sizeable rubble, debris, and trash at the surface of the final graded
restored wetland surface will be removed and disposed of.
9. Following the completion of grading activities, surveyor to reinstall Photo Points
at their respective original locations and install elevation benchmark pins (for
contour elevations shown on map) along toe of upland slope. If practicable,
similar elevation benchmarks will be installed along north edge of wetland
(however, pedestrian access may be limited).
10. Meet on site with USACE (and DWR if desired) to review final site grading and
comparison with benchmark elevations prior to seeding.
11. Once grading is completed and approved by USACE, stabilize wetland surface
per Wetland Restoration Notes and Planting Plan described on Wetland
Restoration Plan (Sheet ESH WL 3). If necessary, erosion control matting may be
installed on steeper slope areas.
Alex
Alexander E1kan, Partner
BROOKS
PIERCE
F.UN rID (8g7
t: 336.271.3134
336.232.9034
4

2000 Renaissance Plaza
230 North Elm Street
Greensboro, NC 27401
P.O. Box 26000 (27420)
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