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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20071823 Ver 1_USACE Correspondence_20080410REPLY TO ATTENTION OF: Regulatory Division DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY WILMINGTON DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS P.O. BOX 1890 WILMINGTON. NORTH CAROLINA 28402-1890 April 8, 2008 DENR-FRO AM I u 2008 Action ID 199801941, US I Widening, Richmond and Moore Counties, NortoW%, TIP Project R-2502, State Project No. 6.589009T. Mr. Gregory J. Thorpe, Ph.D. Environmental Management Director Project Development & Environmental Analysis 1548 Mail Service Center Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1548 Dear Mr. Thorpe: This is in response to your permit application, dated October 27, 2007, requesting authorization to place fill material into approximately 5.18 acres of wetlands to widen US 1 from SR 1001 (Marston Road) (TIP R-2502A and 13) in Richmond County to the existing multi-lane facility just north of the Moore County line, North Carolina. After review of your permit application, information subsequently provided and your responses to Mr. Marsh Smith's letter dated February 14, 2008, we have determined that your application requires further clarification of certain identified issues before further review can continue. Please provide information relating to the relationship of TIP projects R-2501 and R- 2502. It appears, based on information we have, that the construction of R-2502 would necessitate the construction of R-2501 to accommodate the existing and projected through traffic flow beyond SR 1001 toward Rockingham. Available information indicates that R-2501 and 8- 2502 are interrelated in that R-2502 is dependent on the completion of R-2501 to provide free uninterrupted flow of traffic traveling to Rockingham and Hamlet (726 DHV and 6600 directional ADT). Furthermore, considering the age of the current available traffic data for both projects, decisions on the projects are being made based on past conditions, which have most likely changed since the studies were completed some eight years ago. Therefore, we ask that you provide more up to date traffic analysis information for both R-2501 and R-2502. Since the purpose and need of both projects has a traffic safety component and that the study contained within the state environmental assessment and environmental impact statement is eleven years old, we require a more up to date accident study be provided for the administrative record and incorporation into our decision documents. Also, you will need to provide a discussion concerning any significant changes within the study area that may have occurred since the development of the environmental documents. This should include, but should not necessarily be limited to, information on displacements, new development or new highway projects constructed within the study area. Also, a brief synopsis describing future highway projects that are planned within the area should be provided as part of this response. This information should include a discussion of how the projects would be related to the purposed project under review. In order to conduct a thorough and proper public interest review and to access the cumulative effects of the proposed project, it is essential that.accurate and detailed information regarding the project be provided. Until this information is provided, the application will be considered incomplete and processing cannot proceed. When we have received the requested information described above, we will continue our review of the proposed project pursuant with our Regulations at 33 CFR 325. Should you have any questions concerning our request or wish to discuss the matter further, please contact me at (910) 251 -4172. ,Sincerely, Richard K. Spencer Regulatory Project Manager Copies furnished: Ms. Polly Lespinasse Division of Water Quality North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources 610 E. Center Ave,, Suite 301 Mooresville, NC 28115 Ken Averitte Dr ision of Water Quality North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources 225 Green Street, Suite 714 Fayetteville, NC 288301 -5043 Mr. Jaynes Pflaum Project Development and Environmental Analysis North Carolina Department of Transportation 1548 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699 -1548