20210224 Ver 1_Public Notice Comments_20211028 (29)

Public Notice Comment Form
ID#*
20210224
Project Name*
Westpoint
First Name
Amanda
Affiliation (if applicable)
Phone Number
Version*
1
Number only.
Last Name
Greene
Email*
[e-mail]
***The intent for collecting an email address is to allow us send you a receipt for submittal of this comment.
Please pick the response below that represents your stance on the above mentioned project? *
Yes - I agree with the project. No - I do not agree with the project.

Comment
The reasons stated below cause enough concern that the permit type the Westpoint developer applied for needs
review from the US Army Corps of Engineers, along with additional oversight and impact assessments. There
should be a public hearing from the Division of Water Resources per code: 15A NCAC .02H .0503
- The application omits how the development has negative impacts on water quality, specifically Durham's
drinking water.
- The application ignores public safety concerns about direct human contact with water/runoff from the
development.
- The application contains incomplete, conflicting, and/or incorrect information.
- The application omits how the development negatively impacts threatened and endangered species and their
habitat.
- The application does not account for how the development negatively impacts historic sites.
- Wrong Permit type - based on impacts, public Interest, and appreciable opposition.
Additionally, the US Fish and Wildlife stated to the Westpoint developer, "There are no Critical Habitats Within
Your Project Area Under Jurisdiction (a)(2) of the ESA." But this is not entirely true. Considering the US Army
Corps of Engineers permit/wetland disturbance and "action area" work would be directly followed by the
Westpoint developer doing the following:
- Clear-cutting 61 acres of trees and remove all vegetation.
- Blasting and grading the land in a watershed.
- Doing road construction over the waterway that flows directly into a Critical habitat for multiple species.
- Planting grass for a new Housing development.
- Creating 70% impervious surface over the 61 acres.
The Cumulative Effects of these actions, as they relate to the Endangered Species Act Critical Habitat, must be
noted as they pertain to downstream impacts. Based on species notes, inadequate surveying done thus far, and
the impacts to critical habitat, it is requested that the Corps formally ask the US Fish and Wildlife Services to
reconsider their initial opinion of "no effect" and require a more thorough survey. The survey should incorporate
not only the Jurisdictional Determination on the Westpoint development property, but per the Critical Habitat
Mandate and related "action area" defined in the ESA, should include assessment of the immediate downstream
Critical Habitat being affected.
These are a few, but not all, the concerns surrounding the impact of the Westpoint project on water resources,
wildlife, public safety, and environmental preservation. However, there are enough concerns raised to consider a
'pause' in approving this project until further studies and evaluations can be completed to address the concerns
raised in the above comments.
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