20211006 Ver 1_WRCComments_20210616

From:Chambers, Marla J
To:McHenry, David G; Crystal Amschler; Youngman, Holland J; Wilkerson, Matt T; Mitchell, Robert K
Cc:Grindstaff, Wesley T; Barnett, Kevin H
Subject:RE: Update: US 19 Eastbound in Clyde
Date:Tuesday, May 4, 2021 8:53:08 AM
Attachments:image006.png
We have no objections to the plan.

Marla

Marla Chambers // NCDOT Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program

NC Wildlife Resources Commission
12275 Swift Road
Oakboro, NC 28129
mobile: [phone]
[e-mail]

ncwildlife.org

From: McHenry, David G <[e-mail]>
Sent: Monday, May 3, 2021 9:38 PM
To: Crystal Amschler <[e-mail]>; Youngman, Holland J
<[e-mail]>; Wilkerson, Matt T <[e-mail]>; Mitchell, Robert K
<[e-mail]>; Chambers, Marla J <[e-mail]>
Cc: Grindstaff, Wesley T <[e-mail]>; Barnett, Kevin H <[e-mail]>
Subject: FW: Update: US 19 Eastbound in Clyde
Importance: High

All,
As Wesley described below., we have a sinkhole that developed on the divided 4-lane section of US
19/23 near Clyde in Haywood County that we need to urgently fix. We will use state money. The
sinkhole is above a rotting metal culvert that carries a stream about 30 feet or so below the road
grade. Due to the depth we will have to bore the new pipe at a shallower depth, which is also best
to construct a little to the side of the existing pipe so that water does not need to be handled (it’s
about impossible otherwise in these deep pipe situations). This will require filling about 40 feet of
existing stream channel below the existing pipe outlet and shifting the new channel a little to meet
the new bored pipe outlet, and then lining the channel with rock to remain stable. Attached are
annotated pictures, maps, and a x-sec “plan” of what we need to do that I hope will help you better
understand the situation.

Crystal,
This work would almost qualify for non-notification but the pipe may have a perch at the outlet and
we have about 4 additional trees to cut in an Indiana bat county. Notable is that the existing pipe
run has a high vertical drop in the junction box already (I couldn’t see the bottom) and so it would
not be passable anyway if it was placed at grade (about 20%). Would it be OK if we do this urgent
work as planned and permit ATF? Below is supporting information for your consideration. Please
advise.

Kevin,
I believe if we can permit this as a Nationwide 3 we would be below the written GC threshold.
Please advise with your thoughts or any other guidance we need to follow.

Section 7
We have 4 trees that will likely need to be removed along the road shoulder north of the road where
the bore machine would work from. They are small to mid-size trees as shown in the applicable
photo and do not have features conducive to bat roosting. The site is also about 0.5 mile from the
Pigeon River in a reach not far below the paper mill, which is where Appalachian elktoe are not
found. Holland, do you have any concerns with us clearing these trees in next few weeks, if
Crystal concurs with ATF, or do you need any additional information?

Section 106.
There are no eligible or listed properties near the site and the area is not in a river corridor which
can trip the need for written verifications. The work falls under exempt activity under the PA
(Section E 1 and 3), and I planned to use the PA checklist. However, Crawford-Ray Memorial
Gardens (see http://www.cemeterycensus.org/nc/ as referenced on DCR website as a resource) is
adjacent to the south side of the project where we will be replacing the upper portion of the
junction box (and grout filling the bottom). Question D of the PA checklist questions if the location
of cemeteries were Id’ed. Though adjacent, I believe the minor amount of disturbance would not be
plainly significant to the cemetery, which again is not shown on SHPO web viewer as historic in any
way. Right-of-way is also checking with the cemetery operator to see if they may have any concerns
about potential unmarked graves close to the box. If we encountered any internments we would
immediately cease work and contact coroner, OSA and others as applicable under GS 65 and 70.
Matt, do you think we need to do anything further archaeology/PA-wise?

Fish
The stream at the site is too small for fish at the site. As noted, even if it supported fish, existing
conditions would have blocked passage due to the extreme pipe elevation differences. Putting a
new pipe at existing grade would block passage anyway since the slope would be in the
neighborhood of 20%. And the stream is in about 200-300 feet of pipe upstream through the
cemetery property. Marla, I am guessing you all would not have concerns with this, but please
advise with any thoughts.

Thanks all for any quick guidance. Please call me if you have any questions.

Dave 828/246-7078.
From: Grindstaff, Wesley T <[e-mail]>
Sent: Monday, May 3, 2021 11:50 AM
To: Austin, Wanda H <[e-mail]>; Franklin, Chad J <[e-mail]>; Ferguson,
Marion A <[e-mail]>; Uchiyama, David <[e-mail]>; Leatherwood, Jason
M <[e-mail]>; Teague, Jeffrey L <[e-mail]>; Grindstaff, Wesley T
<[e-mail]>; Bishop, Joseph M <[e-mail]>; Tanner, Nathan R
<[e-mail]>; Cochran, Cameron <[e-mail]>; Golding, Robert C
<[e-mail]>; Kuhne, Jody C <[e-mail]>; McHenry, David G
<[e-mail]>; Woodard, Jonathan L <[e-mail]>; Kuhne, Jody C
<[e-mail]>
Cc: Grindstaff, Wesley T <[e-mail]>
Subject: Update: US 19 Eastbound in Clyde

As you are all likely aware, a deep pipe failure along US 19 east of Clyde has resulted in a sinkhole in
one of two EB travel lanes. The site , shown in this Google Maps LINK, is directly adjacent to the
eastern entrance to Crawford Ray Cemetery and just west of Hale Road (private). Mitchell Bishop,
Nathan Tanner, Jeff Teague and I met onsite this morning and are working toward developing a jack
and bore design to correct the failure. Listed below are the latest operational details involving this
situation:

Route: US 19/23
WBS: 14.104411
Function: 3128
Task No: 1507610

Sinkhole limits are being closely monitored by Jeff Teague and Haywood Maintenance to
verify the failure is not propagating into the remaining open EB lane.
Traffic Control - Efforts are underway with Bucky Galloway / Kevin Lacy for a temporary speed
limit reduction along this section that will allow all traffic to be shifted into the WB lanes and
operate in a 2 way pattern separated by skinny drums. Chad Franklin, Steven Buchanan are
coordinating these activities.
Utilities – Bob Golding is working to identify and accurately locate all affected utilities
Right of Way – Frankie Dills will contact the cemetery owners to notify them of the upcoming
emergency work and verify any burial records in close proximity to the site. Also will require
additional coordination with the RR owners (Blue Ridge Southern) on the north/outet side of
the road
Environmental – Dave McHenry was onsite this morning and is notifying the agencies of any
work requiring permits. Impacts appear to be minimal at this point.
Contract Admin – Wesley Grindstaff is drafting for Wanda Austin requesting a waiver of
traditional bidding requirements from the Chief Engineer.
Repair Design – Dist 2 Survey Crew are surveying existing pipe inverts and utility depths (when
determined) to design new pipe system
Geotech – Borings along the pipe were completed last week. Jody Kuhne is en route to advise
on subgrade stabilization and mitigation.

Wesley Grindstaff, P.E.
Division Maintenance Engineer
NC Department of Transportation

[phone] office
[e-mail]

NCDOT Division 14 Office
253 Webster Road
Sylva, NC 28779

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Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.