20211105 Ver 1_Jackson County - B203 - FHWA CE Form (Signed)_20210816

1 Updated 4/25/17

Type I and II Ground Disturbing Categorical Exclusion Action
Classification Form

STIP Project No. B-6035
WBS Element 48230.3.1
Federal Project No. BRZ – 1738 (008)

A. Project Description: (Include project scope and location, including Municipality and County.
Refer to the attached project location map and photos.)

B-6035 – PE – Jackson County Bridge.
Replace Bridge B203 over Caney Fork Creek on SR 1738 (Hooper Cemetery Road)

B. Description of Need and Purpose:

The project purpose is to replace a deteriorating and/or obsolete bridge on a secondary
road.

C. Categorical Exclusion Action Classification: (Check one)

☒ TYPE I A
☐ TYPE I B
☐ TYPE II A
☐ TYPE II B

D. Proposed Improvements

23. Federally-funded projects:
a) That receive less than $5,000,000 (as adjusted annually by the Secretary to reflect
any increases in the Consumer Price Index prepared by the Department of Labor)
of Federal funds; or
b) With a total estimated cost of not more than $30,000,000 (as adjusted annu ally by
the Secretary to reflect any increases in the Consumer Price Index prepared by the
Department of Labor) and Federal funds comprising less than 15 percent of the
total estimated project cost.
https://www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/projdev/FAST_ACT_Section1314_Final_Me
mo.asp
https://www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/projdev/FAST_ACT_Section1314_Implemen
tation_Guide.asp

28. Bridge rehabilitation, reconstruction, or replacement or the construction of grade
separation to replace existing at-grade railroad crossings, if the actions meet the
constraints in 23 CFR 771.117(e) (1-6).

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E. Special Project Information: (Provide a description of relevant project information, which
may include: vicinity map, costs, alternative analysis (if any), traffic control and staging,
and resource agency/public involvement).

A combination Nationwide Permit Cover Letter and Natural Resource Review document is
available in the project file.

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F. Project Impact Criteria Checklists:

Type I & II - Ground Disturbing Actions
FHWA APPROVAL ACTIVITIES THRESHOLD CRITERIA
If any of questions 1-7 are marked “yes” then the CE will require FHWA approval. Yes No
1 Does the project require formal consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS) or National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)? ☐ ☒
2 Does the project result in impacts subject to the conditions of the Bald and
Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGPA)? ☐ ☒
3 Does the project generate substantial controversy or public opposition, for any
reason, following appropriate public involvement? ☐ ☒
4 Does the project cause disproportionately high and adverse impacts relative to
low-income and/or minority populations? ☐ ☒
5 Does the project involve a residential or commercial displacement, or a
substantial amount of right of way acquisition? ☐ ☒
6 Does the project require an Individual Section 4(f) approval? ☐ ☒
7
Does the project include adverse effects that cannot be resolved with a
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) under Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act (NHPA) or have an adverse effect on a National Historic
Landmark (NHL)?
☐ ☒
If any of questions 8 through 31 are marked “yes” then additional information will be required for those
questions in Section G.
Other Considerations Yes No
8
Does the project result in a finding of “may affect not likely to adversely affect”
for listed species, or designated critical habitat under Section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act (ESA)? ☒ ☐
9 Is the project located in anadromous fish spawning waters? ☐ ☒
10
Does the project impact waters classified as Outstanding Resource Water
(ORW), High Quality Water (HQW), Water Supply Watershed Critical Areas,
303(d) listed impaired water bodies, buffer rules, or Submerged Aquatic
Vegetation (SAV)?
☐ ☒
11 Does the project impact waters of the United States in any of the designated
mountain trout streams? ☒ ☐
12 Does the project require a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Individual
Section 404 Permit? ☐ ☒
13 Will the project require an easement from a Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (FERC) licensed facility? ☐ ☒
14 Does the project include a Section 106 of the NHPA effects determination
other than a no effect, including archaeological remains? ☐ ☒
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Other Considerations (continued) Yes No
15 Does the project involve hazardous materials and/or landfills? ☐ ☒
16
Does the project require work encroaching and adversely affecting a
regulatory floodway or work affecting the base floodplain (100-year flood)
elevations of a water course or lake, pursuant to Executive Order 11988 and
23 CFR 650 subpart A?
☐ ☒
17
Is the project in a Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) county and
substantially affects the coastal zone and/or any Area of Environmental
Concern (AEC)?
☐ ☒
18 Does the project require a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) permit? ☐ ☒
19 Does the project involve construction activities in, across, or adjacent to a
designated Wild and Scenic River present within the project area? ☐ ☒
20 Does the project involve Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) resources? ☐ ☒
21 Does the project impact federal lands (e.g. U.S. Forest Service (USFS),
USFWS, etc.) or Tribal Lands? ☐ ☒
22 Does the project involve any changes in access control? ☐ ☒
23 Does the project have a permanent adverse effect on local traffic patterns or
community cohesiveness? ☐ ☒
24 Will maintenance of traffic cause substantial disruption? ☐ ☒
25
Is the project inconsistent with the STIP or the Metropolitan Planning
Organization’s (MPO’s) Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) (where
applicable)? ☐ ☒
26
Does the project require the acquisition of lands under the protection of
Section 6(f) of the Land and Water Conservation Act, the Federal Aid in Fish
Restoration Act, the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, Tennessee Valley
Authority (TVA), or other unique areas or special lands that were acquired in
fee or easement with public-use money and have deed restrictions or
covenants on the property?
☐ ☒
27 Does the project involve Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
buyout properties under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)? ☐ ☒
28 Does the project include a de minimis or programmatic Section 4(f)? ☐ ☒
29 Is the project considered a Type I under the NCDOT's Noise Policy? ☐ ☒
30 Is there prime or important farmland soil impacted by this project as defined by
the Farmland Protection Policy Act (FPPA)? ☐ ☒
31 Are there other issues that arose during the project development process that
affected the project decision? ☐ ☒

G. Additional Documentation as Required from Section F

Question 8: A MANLAA is anticipated for this project with winter tree clearing (October 15th to
April 15th) for Indiana Bats.

Question 11: A USACE NWP 3 will be required.
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H. Project Commitments

Jackson County Bridge 203
TIP Number: B - 6035
WBS Number: 48230.3.1
Federal Project Number: BRZ – 1738 (008)

 NCDOT Construction – Tree clearing will be conducted in “winter only” from October
15th to April 15th to avoid potential disturbance of roosting Indiana Bats.

 NCDOT Construction – Project will follow USACE NWP 3 permit and NCDWR 401
certification.

 NCDOT Construction – Project will comply the standard 2017 NWP 3 conditions,
NCDWR 2017 GC 4132 and the N.C. Wildlife Resource Conditions, including trout
moratorium, if required.

 NCDOT Construction – Orange Safety Fence will be used to isolate construction from
environmental & culturally sensitive areas near bridge.

 NCDOT Construction – Project will adhere to NCDOT best management practices for
construction and maintenance activities. This is particularly important since the
project area is in a watershed that harbors protected species. Design
standards for sensitive watersheds will be applicable to the project
(15A NCAC 04B.0124). Erosion control and maintenance will be particularly important
since the project crosses (Class: HQW, Tr. WS III) Caney Fork Creek

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I. Categorical Exclusion Approval

STIP Project No. B – 6035
WBS Element 48230.3.1
Federal Project No. BRZ – 1738 (008)

Prepared By:

Date Patrick Breedlove, Environmental Specialist II
NCDOT Division 14

Prepared For:
Organization

Reviewed By:

Date Patrick Breedlove, Environmental Specialist II
NCDOT Division 14

☒ Approved
If all of the threshold questions (1 through 7) of
Section F are answered “no,” NCDOT approves this
Categorical Exclusion.

☐ Certified
If any of the threshold questions (1 through 7) of
Section F are answered “yes,” NCDOT certifies this
Categorical Exclusion.

Date Adam Dockery
Division 14 – Bridge Program Manager
On behalf of Brian Burch, P.E., Division 14 Engineer
North Carolina Department of Transportation

FHWA Approved: For Projects Certified by NCDOT (above), FHWA signature
required.

Date John F. Sullivan, III, PE, Division Administrator
Federal Highway Administration

NCDOT Division 14
9/9/2019
9/9/2019
9/10/2019