20210644 Ver 1_NC 208 signed cover letter_20210602

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

Mailing Address:
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
DIVISION THIRTEEN
55 ORANGE STREET
ASHEVILLE, NC 28801-2340
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Customer Service: 1-877-368-4968

Website: www.ncdot.gov
Location:
55 ORANGE STREET
ASHEVILLE, NC 28801-2340

Location:
ADDRESS 2
CITY, NC ZIP

June 2, 2021

Ms. Lori Beckwith
US Army Corps of Engineers
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, NC 28801-5006

Subject: Nationwide Permit #14
NC 208
State Project No. 49339
Madison County, NC

Dear Ms. Beckwith:

I have enclosed a PCN application for a NWP #14, and a vicinity map relative to the proposed
road improvement project on NC 208, Madison County, NC.

We propose to improve NC 208 from its intersection with NC 212 to the Tennessee border.
Improvements include minor widening (1-2 feet where possible), paving, guardrail installation,
and pipe extensions. Allen Creek (Class C; ORW) flows along and crosses NC 208 from near
the Tennessee state line until it joins with Little Laurel Creek (Class C; Tr; ORW). Little Laurel
Creek continues to flow along and cross NC 208 in multiple locations. The pipe extensions will
occur at 7 unnamed tributaries (UT) of Little Laurel Creek. Most of these UTs are 1-2 feet in
width and less than 1 foot deep. They have a predominately sand substrate with some cobble.
Forty-seven linear feet (LF) of the UTs will be permanently impacted by pipe extension. They
will be dewatered temporarily while pipes are replaced/extended.

Riparian vegetation will be reestablished along disturbed areas associated with the project.
Stormwater will be diverted through grass-lined ditches or vegetated buffers prior to entering
streams.

This project will not affect the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) (NLEB).
Following the SLOPES protocol from NWP Regional Condition 3.13, the project is not located
in or within 0.25 mile of a red HUC. Tree clearing and percussive activities will not occur. No
effect on the remaining Madison County list of federally protected species (threatened or
endangered) will occur.

After checking the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources website (HPOWEB
2.0 (arcgis.com) we determined no Historic Resource will be affected. Tribal coordination
letters were sent out on April 30, 2021. The Cultural Resources Screening Checklist for Section
106 was completed on May 12, 2021, after determining that this project qualified as exempt.

Lori Beckwith
Page –2 NC 208, Madison County
June 2, 2021

We are requesting a Jurisdictional Determination (JD) be completed for the project with the
inclusion of a Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination (PJD) form in the electronic Pre-
Construction Notification (PCN). The study corridor is 5.6 miles long and 25 feet on either side
of the roadway. The study area measures approximately 34 acres.

We request Marla Chambers, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Western Region
Coordinator, to comment directly to the Corps concerning the permit request.

Kristi Lynn Carpenter, NC Division of Water Resources, Transportation Permitting Un it and
Kevin Mitchell, NC DWR Asheville Regional Office will review the project through the
electronic form (https://edocs.deq.nc.gov/Forms/Pre-Construction_Notification_Form).
Please charge the application fee of $240.00 to WBS element # 49339. Please forward
comments directly to the Corps with copy to Division 13 Environmental Officer.

Your earliest consideration for this request would be greatly appreciated. If you have any
questions or information needs, please contact me at [phone].

Sincerely,

Yates Allen
Environmental Specialist

Enclosures

cc: Mark T. Gibbs, P.E., Division Engineer
Chris Medlin, P.E., District Engineer