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United States Department of the Interior

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Raleigh ES Field Office
Post Office Box 33726
Raleigh, North Carolina 27636-3726
June 9, 2021

Paul C. Williams
North Carolina Department of Transportation
113 Airport Drive, Suite 100
Edenton, NC 27932

Dear Mr. Williams:

This letter is in response to your letter of June 8, 2021 which provided the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service) with the biological conclusion of the North Carolina Department of
Transportation (NCDOT) that the interim repair of Bridge No. 7 on NC 615 over Corey’s Ditch
in Currituck County may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect the federally endangered
West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus). These comments are provided in accordance with
Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543).

The NCDOT has agreed to implement the Service’s GUIDELINES FOR AVOIDING IMPACTS
TO THE WEST INDIAN MANATEE: Precautionary Measures for Construction Activities in
North Carolina Waters. Based on this commitment, and given the fact that the West Indian
manatee is only an occasional visitor to North Carolina waters, the Service concurs with your
conclusion that the proposed project may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect the West
Indian manatee. We believe that the requirements of Section 7(a)(2) of the ESA have been
satisfied. We remind you that obligations under Section 7 consultation must be reconsidered if:
(1) new information reveals impacts of these identified actions that may affect listed species or
critical habitat in a manner not previously considered in this review; (2) these actions are
subsequently modified in a manner that was not considered in this review; or (3) a new species is
listed or critical habitat determined that may be affected by these identified actions. If you have
any questions regarding our response, please contact Mr. Gary Jordan at [e-mail].

Sincerely,

Pete Benjamin
Field Supervisor

Electronic copy:

Kyle Barnes, USACE, Washington, NC
Travis Wilson, NCWRC, Creedmoor, NC