20201815 Ver 1_NCDOT-17BP.9.R.57 Bridge PCN Cover Letter-Div 9_jkt_20210528

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
ROY COOPER J. ERIC BOYETTE
GOVERNOR SECRETARY

Mailing Address:
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
DIVISION 9
375 SILAS CREEK PARKWAY
WINSTON SALEM, NC 27127
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Customer Service: 1-877-368-4968

Website: ncdot.gov
Location:
375 SILAS CREEK PARKWAY
WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27127

27 May 2021

Andrew Williams
Regulatory Project Manager
Regulatory Division Office
US Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District
3331 Heritage Trade Drive, Suite 105
Wake Forest, North Carolina 27587

SUBJECT: Pre-Construction Notification Pursuant to Nationwide Permit #14
NCDOT Division 9 Bridge Replacement Program Project
Bridge No. 63 on SR 1472 over Reedy Creek (Class C), Davidson County, NC
WBS Number: 17.BP.9.R.57

Dear Mr. Williams:
We are requesting a Section 404 Nationwide Permit (NWP) #14 from the US Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE) for the replacement of Bridge No. 63 with a new bridge on SR 1472 (Welcome-Arcadia Road)
over Reedy Creek in Davidson County. Bridge No. 63 will be replaced on its existing alignment, and traffic
will be detoured offsite during the construction period.
In addition to the PCN form, the following documentation, supporting the natural and cultural resources
related to the site, are included with the submittal:
• Permit Drawings, including Stormwater Management Plan
• United States Geological Survey (USGS) Topographic Map and Natural Resources Conservation
Services (NRCS) Soils Map
• USACE Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination SAW-2019-01111 (2 August 2019)
• Protected Species:
o North Carolina National Heritage Program (NCNHP) Database Query Records Report (4
March 2021)
o US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) List of Threatened/Endangered Species from the
Asheville Ecological Services Field Office (4 March 2021)
• Cultural/Historic Resources:
o “Archaeological Survey Required Form” (15 June 2017)

 “No National Register of Historic Places Eligible or Listed Archaeological Sites
Present Form” (6 April 2018)
o “Historic Architecture and Landscapes No Survey Required Form” (16 June 2017)
• Natural Resources Technical Memorandum (July 2019) including documentation in support of the
delineation of jurisdictional waters, protected species reviews, and the Bat Habitat Assessment
(field work for these efforts conducted on 15 April and 25 June 2019 by Three Oaks Engineering).
The project will permanently impact 0.02 acre of headwater forested wetland, and permanently impact 89
linear feet of Reedy Creek and 0.02 acre of open water for construction of the new bridge and demolition of
the old bridge, with temporary impacts of 3 linear feet (stream) and 0.01 acres (open water).
Protected Species
The USFWS lists Schweinitz’s sunflower (Helianthus schweinitzii) as endangered for Davidson County.
Suitable habitat (e.g., dry, clayey, early successional roadsides and utility rights-of-way) for Schweinitz’s
sunflower is not present within the study area. The area was initially assessed by NCDOT Division 9 staff
on September 25, 2014, where it was observed that no habitat was present due to roadside shoulders being
mowed up to the wood edge. During the April 15, 2019 site visit by Three Oaks, this was confirmed, and
suitable habitat is still absent within the study area. Open areas are regularly mowed and the wood edge
outside of the mowed areas is too thick to be considered habitat. The power line area appeared too thick
and/or wet to be considered habitat. Additionally, a review of the March 2021 NCNHP database indicates
no known Schweinitz’s sunflower occurrences within 1.0 mile of the study area. The biological conclusion
of “no effect” was determined.
The northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) (NLEB) is listed as threatened for Davidson County.
The NCDOT determined the project “May Affect, Not Likely to Adversely Affect” the NLEB. Habitat for
the NLEB is present within the study area. This habitat consists of forested areas throughout the study area.
A bridge assessment was performed by Three Oaks staff on June 25, 2019. No bats or evidence of bats were
observed under the bridge. Additionally, this project is located entirely outside of the red, 12-digit
Hydrologic Unit (HUC) basin mapping polygons provided by the USFWS Asheville Field Office. These red
12-digit HUCs represent watersheds with known NLEB maternity trees or hibernation sites. A review of the
March 2021 NCNHP database indicates no known NLEB occurrences within 1.0 mile of the study area.
Since this project is state-funded, USACE will act as the lead agency for issues related to the NLEB. The
USACE has developed a Standard Local Operating Procedure for Endangered Species (SLOPES) to address
NLEB when they are the lead agency, which NCDOT will follow for this project. The requirements of the
SLOPES for NLEB will be completed prior to Let and will be submitted to USACE. NCDOT has
determined that the proposed action does not require separate consultation on the grounds that the proposed
action is consistent with the final Section 4(d) rule, codified at 50 C.F.R. § 17.40(o) and effective February
16, 2016. Section 7 responsibilities are therefore considered fulfilled.
Bald eagles are protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Habitat for the bald eagle
primarily consists of mature forest in proximity to large bodies of open water for foraging. Large dominant
trees are utilized for nesting sites, typically within 1.0 mile of open water. A desktop-GIS assessment of the
project study area, as well as the area within a 1.0-mile radius of the project limits, was performed on June
13, 2019, using the most currently available orthoimagery. No water bodies large enough or sufficiently
open to be considered potential feeding sources were identified. Since there was no foraging habitat within
the review area, a survey of the project study area and the area within 660 feet of the project limits was not
conducted. Additionally, a review of the March 2021 NCNHP database revealed no known occurrences of

this species within 1.0 mile of the project study area. Due to the lack of individuals, nests, or known
occurrences within 1.0 mile, it has been determined that this project will not impact this species.
Cultural/Historic Resources
A background literature review was conducted in 2018 to identify previously recorded cultural resources,
including archaeological sites, features, or historic structures within the area of potential effects (APE) of
Bridge No. 63. Sources reviewed included the files at the North Carolina Office of State Archaeology
(OSA), the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and the North Carolina Historic Preservation
Office (NC SHPO) GIS service. No previously recorded archaeological resources appeared to be located
within the proposed APE. An examination of the data presented on the HPOWEB GIS Service
(http://gis.ncdcr.gov/hpoweb/) revealed only one recorded historic property located within .5 mile of the
proposed project. In March 2018 consultants completed an intensive archaeological survey within the APE,
located along Bridge No. 63. A pedestrian survey was conducted by visual inspection of exposed ground
surfaces throughout the project APE in conjunction with systematic shovel testing. The NCDOT
Archaeology Group reviewed the subject project and determined: “there are no National Register listed or
eligible archaeological sites present within the project’s area of potential effects; and subsurface
investigations did not reveal the presence of any archaeological resources” (April 2018). Additionally, a
Finding of No Architectural Survey Required” was issued by the NCDOT Architectural Historian on 16
June 2017.
If you have any questions, comments or need additional information after reviewing this material please
contact me at [phone]. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,

Amy Euliss
Division Environmental Officer, NCDOT Division 9
Attachments: Application package
CC: