20131017_Other Agency Comments_20130111

Ms. Natalie Lockhart
Bridge Project Planning Engineer
North Carolina Department of Transportation
Project Development & Environmental Analysis
1598 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1598
I INO IVA a grog I TM nd
Reference is made to your letter of December 13, 2011, regarding the proposed bridge
replacement projects for bridge numbers 374, 307, 208 and 154 in Randolph County, North
Carolina. The letter requested information to assist in evaluating potential environmental
impacts of the project including alternatives to be studied.
We have reviewed the subject documents and determined that, based upon a review of
the infon-nation provided and available maps, the construction of this project may impact streams
and/or wetlands within the work corridor. Please be aware that impacts- associated with the
discharge of fill into jurisdictional waters of the United States are subject to our regulatory
authority pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Any discharge of excavated or fill
material into waters of the United States and/or any adjacent wetlands would require Department
of the Army (DA) pen-nit authorization. The type of DA authorization required (i.e., general or
individual permit) will be determined by the location, type, and extent of jurisdictional area
impacted by the project, and by the project design and construction limits.
Until additional data is furnished which details the extent of the construction limits of the
proposed project, and an onsite inspection is completed with regard to determinations of the
presence of jurisdictional waters in the project area, we are unable to verify that the project will
not have jurisdictional impacts, or to provide specific comments concerning DA permit
requirements or a recommendation of alternatives. To assist you with determining permitting
requirements, we recommend that you perform a detailed delineation of the streams and/or
wetlands present on the project site. When this information becomes available, it should be
forwarded to our office for review and comment, as well as a determination of DA permit
eligibility.

-2-
We have the following additional recommendations and comments concerning the
proposed bridge replacement projects:
• All bridges should be replaced with bridges that have hydraulic openings as large as or
larger than the existing bridges.
• If the bridges or causeways will have to be widened, they should be widened in the
direction that will avoid and /or minimize wetland and stream impacts.
• Off -site detours should be used for all projects.
• If any underground utility lines will have to be relocated as a result of the projects, they
should be directionally drilled under all streams and adjacent wetlands. If overhead
utility lines will have to be relocated within wetland areas, the new corridors should be
cleared in a way that does not disturb the root mat or result in re- deposition of soil.
Should you have any further questions related to DA permits for this project, please
contact me at (910) 251 -4829.
Sincerely,
cAiz-�
Ronnie Smith
NCDOT, Project Manager
Wilmington Regulatory Field Office
Copies Furnished:
r. Mason Herndon
NCDENR -DWQ
225 Green Street, Suite 214
Fayetteville, NC 28301 -5094
Mr. Art King
NCDOT
Post Office Box 1067
Aberdeen, NC 28315

51
Mr. Timothy Johnson
NCDOT
Post Office Box 1067
Aberdeen, NC 28315
Mr. Chris Militcher
US EPA
c/o Federal Highway Administration
310 New Bern Avenue, Room 206
Raleigh, NC 27601
Mr. Gary Jordan
United States Fish & Wildlife Service
Fish and Wildlife Enhancement
Post Office Box 33726
Raleigh, NC 27636 -3726
Mr. Travis Wilson
Highway Coordinator
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
1142 I -85 Service Road
Creedmoor, NC 27522
Electronic Copies furnished:
CESAW -RG /Scott McLendon
CESAW-RG-LIDale Beter