20201511 Ver 1_B5642_Compliance_FollowUpLtr_20211029

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

Mailing Address:
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS
5501 BARBADOS BOULEVARD
CASTLE HAYNE, NC 28429-5647
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Customer Service: 1-877-368-4968

Website: ncdot.gov
Location:
5501 BARBADOS BOULEVARD
CASTLE HAYNE, NC 28429-5647

October 29, 2021

Hannah Sprinkle
Environmental Specialist II
N.C. Division of Water Resources
127 Cardinal Drive Ext.
Wilmington, NC 28405

Subject: Compliance for Relocation of Utilities by Others

Dear Ms. Sprinkle,

As a response to the compliance incident resulting from the AT&T fiber optic line relocation for B-
5642, Division 3 Construction and Environmental units met Tuesday, Oct 26, 2021, to discuss
improvements to our oversight process for relocations of utilities by others happening prior to the
let of TIP projects and how to specifically address the non-compliance incident with AT&T.

Our Resident Engineer’s Office will write a formal notice to AT&T addressing their failure to
schedule a pre-construction meeting and follow environmental permits, rules, and regulations as
required by their Utility Authorization. In this letter, we will communicate that any future
compliance incident of a same or similar nature will warrant the services of a third-party inspector
for future relocation work with AT&T bearing the cost of the services.

In addition to encouraging compliance with Utility Authorizations, our Resident Engineers we will
ensure that staff from the Division 3 Environmental Unit are involved in the pre-construction
meeting for future relocations of utilities by others. Division 3 is also considering options for
bidding on-call contracts for Construction and Engineering Inspection (CEI) services to have better
oversight of relocations of utilities by others. In addition, we are considering options for bidding
on-call contracts for installation of erosion and sediment control (E & SC) for relocation of utilities
by others instead of relying solely on the utility companies to meet our E & SC standards.

We are committed to preventing future non-compliance from relocations of utilities by others and
we welcome any input with understanding that NCDWR may have worked through related
challenges in other divisions. We appreciate your time and attention in addressing this matter.

Sincerely,

Chad Kimes, P.E.
Division Engineer