20211283 Ver 1_Final Alleghany 5 PCN letter_20211026

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

Mailing Address:
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
DIVISION 11
801 STATESVILLE RD
NORTH WILKESBORO, NC 28659
Telephone:[phone]
[e-mail]
Customer Service: 1-877-368-4968
Website: ncdot.gov

October 26th, 2021
Ms. Lori Beckwith
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
NCDOT Regulatory Project Manager
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, NC 28801-2714

Subject: Nationwide 14 Permit Application – Allegheny Bridge 5 replacement. Ashe County,
North Carolina. 17BP.11.R.152 - State Funded

Dear Ms. Beckwith:

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is proposing to replace the existing
single span timber bridge over Little River on SR 1133 (Pine Swamp Road) in Alleghany County
with a two-lane concrete, single-span bridge (Site 1). A nearby CMP on a UT of Little River will
also be replaced (Site 2). The project will be State Funded.

Site 1 - the existing bridge is functionally obsolete. The new bridge will be built just upstream, so
that the existing bridge can remain open during construction. Currently, all stormwater on the
bridge flows directly into Little River. Stormwater runoff from the new bridge and approach slabs
will be collected by a traffic bearing grated inlet and discharged onto a rip rap pad, and then
allowed to sheet flow over vegetation. The existing bridge is composed of vertical wooden
abutments, which will be removed, and the exposed banks will be sloped 1.5:1 and rip rapped for
permanent stabilization. This will result in 37’ of new rip rap. The construction of the new bridge
will not impact any jurisdictional resources.

Site 2 - the other jurisdictional impact on this project will include the replacement of a 72” x 49’
CMP. The CMP carries a 2’ wide UT that enters Little River on the north side of the project area,
downstream of the bridge. This pipe is currently in poor shape, and perched, resulting in limited
aquatic passage. The new pipe will be an oval pipe measuring 87” wide and 63” tall, and will be
buried 1’ to improve aquatic passage. The new pipe will be 54’ in length, resulting in 5’ new feet
of permanent impacts. The pipe replacement will be done in the dry, by pumping water from an
upstream dike past the pipe replacement area, and discharging it back into the UT. This will result
in 79’ of temporary impacts from dewatering. All water entering the pipe replacement area will
be pumped through a silt bag and allowed to discharge back into the UT downstream of the
project. All erosion control measures will include designed standards for sensitive watersheds.

USFWS IPaC indicated three Federally listed species near the project
Bog Turtle: The southern population of the bog turtle is listed as Threatened due to Similarity of
Appearance to the northern population. A review of the NCNHP records, updated July 2021,
indicates the historical occurrence of this species approximately 0.7 miles to the northwest.
However, the last individual observed at this site was in 1993, and more recent surveys have not

found bog turtles. Regardless, there are no wetlands within the project footprint. While a
biological conclusion is not required, the lack of habitat and occurrences suggest that the project
will have NO EFFECT on this species.

Gray Bat and Northern Long-eared Bat (NLEB): NCDOT staff surveyed the bridge during the
winter and summer of 2021, and no indication of bat usage was observed on either occasion. A
review of the NCNHP records, updated July 2021, indicates no known occurrences of this species
within 1.0 mile of the project study area. Additional information related to potential effects on
bats include:
- no caves in the area and the closest mine is a surface mine 1.5 miles to the northeast
- the project will involve 0.06 acres of tree clearing (trees > 3” DBH.)
- there are no plans to use artificial lighting or work at night
- no blasting or percussion activities will occur
- the project area is not situated in or near a “Red HUC” where NLEB hibernacula or maternity

Section 106 Information
This project was reviewed by NCDOT’s Human Environment Unit in 2021 for potential effects to
archaeological resources. Following a survey, no archaeological sites were identified, and it was
determined that no further archaeological investigations were warranted. The project was also
reviewed for Historic Architecture, and no survey was required. All four of the appropriate tribes
were contacted in September of 2021 and given 30 days to respond. At this time, no responses
have been received.

Impacts to Waters of the United States
Little River will receive 37’ of permeant impacts due to rip rap where the old bridge abutments
were located (Site 1). In addition, the UT to Little River will receive 5’ of new permanent impact
due to the replacement of a 72” x 49’ CMP with a 87” x 83” x 54’ CMP (Site 2). The UT will be
dewatered during the pipe replacement, resulting in 79’ of temporary impacts.

Permits Requested
NCDOT hereby requests authorization under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act to proceed with
the construction project outlined above. The project area is within a designated trout watershed,
and NCWRC has already indicated that a trout moratorium is needed. NCDOT also requests
authorization for the project under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act from the North Carolina
Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Resources (DWR). Please contact me at
[phone] if you have any questions or need additional information to evaluate this request.

Sincerely,

Kevin Hining
Division 11 Environmental Officer
828-386-7202
[e-mail]

Enclosures
cc: Amy Chapman, Division of Water Resources
Dave Wanucha, Division of Water Resources
Joe Laws, PE, Division Bridge Program Manager
Mark Johnson, Division Bridge Program Technician
Todd Hiatt, Roadside Environmental Field Operations Supervisor