20211248 Ver 1_B-6012 United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Letter_20210816

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

Mailing Address:
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PROJECT MANAGEMENT UNIT
1595 MAIL SERVICE CENTER
RALEIGH NC 27699
Telephone: [phone]
Customer Service: 1-877-368-4968
Website: www.ncdot.gov
Location:
1000 BIRCH RIDGE DRIVE
RALEIGH NC 27610

February 16, 2021

Mr. James Hartley
United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians
Tribal Historic Preservation Office
PO Box 1245
Tahlequah, OK 74465

Dear Mr. Hartley,

The North Carolina Department of Transportation is starting the project development,
environmental, and engineering studies for the replacement of Bridge No. 560222 over Back
Branch on SR 1151 (Baltimore Branch Road) in Madison County as project B-6012. The Federal
Highway Administration (FHWA)is the lead federal agency for compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act
(NHPA) and a Permit is anticipated under the Section 404 Process with the USACE. The project
vicinity map is attached. The coordinates of this project are approximately 35° 47' 48.42", 82°
48' 25.66".

We would appreciate any information you might have that would be helpful in evaluating
potential environmental impacts of the project including recommendation of alternates to be
studied. Your comments may be used in the preparation of a NEPA/ State Environmental Policy
Act (SEPA) Environmental Document.

In accordance with Section 106 of the NHPA, we also request that you inform us of any historic
properties of traditional religious or cultural importance that you are aware of that may be
affected by the proposed project. Be assured that, in accordance with confidentiality and
disclosure stipulations in Section 304 of the NHPA, we will maintain strict confidentiality about
certain types of information regarding historic properties.

Please respond by March 16th so that your comments can be used in the scoping of this project. If
you have any questions concerning this project, or would like any additional information, please
contact me at [e-mail] or [phone].

Thank you,

Jessica Earley, PE
NCDOT Project Executive-PMU

cc: Matt Wilkerson, NCDOT Archaeology Team Leader
Lori Beckwith, US Army Corps of Engineers
George Hoops, FHWA
David Stark, PE, NCDOT-PMU
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