20211529 Ver 1_Bridge 560353 Madison Environmental Documentation_20211123

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MINIMUM CRITERIA DETERMINATION CHECKLIST

TIP Project No.: N/A

State Project No.: 17BP.13.R.166

Project Location: Madison County, NC

Project Description: NCDOT Project No. 17BP.13.R.166 proposes to replace Bridge
No. 353 on S.R. 1155 (Anderson Branch Road) over Paw Paw Creek in Madison County,
North Carolina (refer to Figure 1). The project will remove the existing bridge and
replace it with a culvert crossing on new location just southeast of the existing bridge.
S.R. 1155 will be realigned to accommodate the new culvert and will tie into S.R. 1133
just east of the existing intersection. The culvert crossing will consist of two 10-foot
wide by 10-foot high reinforced concrete box culverts (refer to Figure 2). The culvert
sizes are based on preliminary design information and are set by hydraulic requirements.
The roadway grade of the new structure will be approximately the same as the existing
grade. The purpose of the project is to remove a structurally deficient bridge.

Project construction will extend approximately 64 feet from the south end of the new
culvert and 230 feet from the north end of the new culvert. The approaches will be
widened to provide two ten-foot lanes and three-foot grassed shoulders on both sides.
The roadway will be designed as a Rural Local route using Sub-Regional Tier Guidelines
with a 55 mile per hour design speed.

Traffic will be detoured onsite and will utilize the existing bridge during the construction
period. After project construction is complete, the pavement currently carrying S.R. 1155
will be removed (refer to Figure 2).

Anticipated Permit or Consultation Requirements: The United States Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE) holds the final discretion as to what Section 404 permit will be
required to authorize project construction. If a Section 404 permit is required, then a
Section 401 Water Quality Certification (WQC) from the North Carolina Division of
Water Resources (NCDWR) will be needed.

Special Project Information:

Purpose and Need: The purpose of the proposed project is to remove a structurally
deficient bridge. NCDOT Bridge Management Unit records indicate Bridge No. 353
currently has a sufficiency rating of 17.88 out of a possible 100 for a new structure. The
bridge is considered structurally deficient due to a substructure condition appraisal of 4
out of 9 according to Federal Highway Administration standards. The bridge also meets
the criteria for functionally obsolete due to a structural evaluation and deck geometry
appraisal of 3 and 2 out of 9, respectively.

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Estimated Traffic:
Current Year (2011) 420 vehicles per day (vpd)

Alternatives Evaluation:
No Build – The no build alternative would result in eventually closing the road, which is
unacceptable given the volume of traffic served by S.R. 1155.

Rehabilitation – The bridge was constructed in 1963 and is reaching the end of its useful
life. Rehabilitation would only provide a temporary solution to the structural deficiency
of the bridge.

Replace Bridge No. 353 In-Place with Culverts and Onsite Detour (Recommended)-
The project will remove the existing bridge and replace it with two 10-foot wide by 10-
foot high reinforced concrete box culverts just southeast of the existing bridge (refer to
Figure 2). S.R. 1155 will be realigned to accommodate the new culvert and will tie into
S.R. 1133 just east of the existing intersection. Traffic will be detoured onsite and will
utilize the existing bridge during the construction period. After project construction is
complete, the pavement currently carrying S.R. 1155 will be removed. The culvert sizes
are based on preliminary design information and are set by hydraulic requirements.

Offsite Detour - An offsite detour was not evaluated due to the presence of an acceptable
onsite detour.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodations: This portion of S.R. 1155 (Anderson
Branch Road) is not part of a designated bicycle route nor is it listed in the State
Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) as a bicycle project. Sidewalks do not exist
on the existing bridge. Neither permanent nor temporary bicycle or pedestrian
accommodations are required or recommended for this project.

Design Exceptions: There are no anticipated design exceptions.

Public Involvement:
Landowner notification letters were sent to property owners. No comments have been
received to date.

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PART A: MINIMUM CRITERIA

YES NO
1. Is the proposed project listed as a type and class of activity allowed under
the Minimum Criteria Rule in which environmental documentation is not
required?

If the answer to number 1 is “no”, then the project does not qualify as a
minimum criteria project. A state environmental assessment is required.

If yes, under which category? 9
If either category #8, #12(i) or #15 is used complete Part D of this checklist.

PART B: MINIMUM CRITERIA EXCEPTIONS

YES NO
2. Could the proposed activity cause significant changes in land use
concentrations that would be expected to create adverse air quality
impacts?

3. Will the proposed activity have secondary impacts or cumulative
impacts that may result in a significant adverse impact to human health
or the environment?

4. Is the proposed activity of such an unusual nature or does the proposed
activity have such widespread implications, that an uncommon concern
for its environmental effects has been expressed to the Department?

5. Does the proposed activity have a significant adverse effect on wetlands;
surface waters such as rivers, streams, and estuaries; parklands; prime or
unique agricultural lands; or areas of recognized scenic, recreational,
archaeological, or historical value?

6. Will the proposed activity endanger the existence of a species on the
Department of Interior's threatened and endangered species list?

7. Could the proposed activity cause significant changes in land use
concentrations that would be expected to create adverse water quality or
ground water impacts?

8. Is the proposed activity expected to have a significant adverse effect on
long-term recreational benefits or shellfish, finfish, wildlife, or their
natural habitats

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PART C: COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS

YES NO
9. Is a federally protected threatened or endangered species, or its
habitat, likely to be impacted by the proposed action?

10. Does the action require the placement of temporary or permanent
fill in waters of the United States?

11. Does the project require the placement of a significant amount of
fill in high quality or relatively rare wetland ecosystems, such as
mountain bogs or pine savannahs?

12. Is the proposed action located in an Area of Environmental
Concern, as defined in the coastal Area Management Act?

13. Does the project require stream relocation or channel changes?

Cultural Resources
14. Will the project have an “effect” on a property or site listed on the
National Register of Historic Places?

15. Will the proposed action require acquisition of additional right of
way from publicly owned parkland or recreational areas?

Response to Question 9 –
Habitat for the Northern long-eared bat (NLEB) and the Gray bat exists within the project
study area. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will act as the lead agency for
issues related to the NLEB. The USACE has developed a Standard Local Operating
Procedure for Endangered Species (SLOPES) to address NLEB when they are the lead
agency, which NCDOT will follow for this project. This procedure applies to projects in
NCDOT Divisions 9-14. The requirements of the SLOPES for NLEB will be completed
prior to Let and will be submitted to USACE. Survey information for this species will be
provided by NCDOT –Biological Surveys Group (BSG). Final design, tree clearing, and
percussive activities information will be provided in the permit application.

Response to Question 10 – Replacing the existing bridge with two 10-foot wide by 10-
foot high reinforced concrete box culverts is considered permanent fill in the stream,
including any temporary fill/impacts from diverting the stream during culvert placement.
Permanent and temporary impacts to the stream will be determined during final design.

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PART D:( To be completed when either category #8, 12(i) or #15 of the rules are
used.)

16. Project length:

17. Right of Way width:

18. Project completion date:

19. Total acres of newly disturbed ground
surface:

20. Total acres of wetland impacts:

21. Total linear feet of stream impacts:

22. Project purpose:

Prepared by: Date:
Jackie Obediente, PE
Three Oaks Engineering

Approved by:

Date:

Mike Calloway
Division Bridge Program Manager, Division 13
North Carolina Department of Transportation

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Project Commitments

Madison County
Replace Bridge No. 353
on S.R. 1155 (Anderson Branch Road)
over Paw Paw Creek
Project No. 17BP.13.R.166

Northern long-eared bat and Grey bat (NCDOT Division 13)
• After completion of the project, the contract administrator for construction must
submit the actual amount of tree clearing reported in tenths of acres. This
information should be submitted to Chris Manley ([e-mail]).
• Please contact Chris Manley @ [e-mail], Environmental Analysis
Unit – Biological Surveys Group with any questions.
17BP.13.R.166– Minimum Criteria Determination Checklist Page 1 of 1
July 2019
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County:
WBS:
Date:
Div:STIP#NORTH CAROLINADEPARTMENTOF TRANSPORTATIONDIVISION OF HIGHWAYS
Figure1
Marshall
MADISON COUNTYNORTH CAROLINA
VICINITY MAPREPLACE BRIDGE NO. 353ON SR 1155 (ANDERSON BRANCH RD)OVER PAW PAW CREEK
´
0 0.5 1
Miles
MADISON
13 N/A
17BP.13.R.166
NOVEMBER 2018
Project Location
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Figure2
SR 1155
(Anderson Branch Rd)SR 1133 (Paw Paw Rd)SR 1133 (Paw Paw Rd)
P
a
w
p
a
w

C
r
e
e
k
0 100 20050
Feet
Legend
BR-166 S tudy Area
Existing Jurisdictional Strea m
Existing Right of Way Line
Propo se d Right of Way Line
Propo se d Co nstruction Easement
Propo se d Edg e of Travel
Propo se d Ro adway Culvert
Propo se d SS C ut Line
Propo se d SS Fill L ine
Propo se d SS Transition Line
Propo se d Pavem ent R emoval
County:
WBS:
Date:
Div:STIP#
MADISON COUNTYNORTH CAROLINA
MADISON
13 N/A
17BP.13.R.166
JULY 2019
NORTH C AROLINADEPARTMENTOF TRANSPORTATIONDIVISION OF HIGH WAYS
´
PROJECT DESIGN MAPREPLACE BR IDGE NO. 353ON SR 1155 (ANDERSON BRANCH RD)OVER PAW PAW CREEK
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Project Tracking No.
16-02-0038 (2019)
“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED FORM
This form only pertains to ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES for this project. It is not
valid for Historic Architecture and Landscapes. You must consult separately with the
Historic Architecture and Landscapes Group.

PROJECT INFORMATION
Project No: County: Madison
WBS No: 17BP.13.R.166 Document: State Minimum Criteria Checklist
Federal Aid No: Funding: State Federal
Federal Permit Required? Yes No Permit Type: USACE
Project Description:
Replace Bridge 353 on SR 1155 (Anderson Branch Rd.) over Paw Paw Creek in Madison
County. The Area of Potential Effects (A.P.E.) measures approximately 4,728 acres. It includes
approximately 211 meters (693 ft.) along SR 1155, and 120 meters (395 ft.) along SR 1133 (Paw
Paw Rd.). No design plans were provided.

NOTE: This is a re-evaluation of a project with a smaller A.P.E. that was reviewed in 2016. The
A.P.E. for that project measured approximately 3,347 acres, and included land along the bridge
and SR 1155, only. A No Archaeological Survey Required form was submitted on 7/7/2016.
SUMMARY OF CULTURAL RESOURCES REVIEW
Brief description of review activities, results of review, and conclusions:
The review included an examination of a topographic map, an aerial photograph, and listings of
previously recorded sites, previous archaeological surveys, and previous environmental reviews at
the Office of State Archaeology (O.S.A.). The bridge is oriented northeast-southwest, but is
considered east-west for this review. SR 1155 crosses the bridge and runs approximately east-
west, while SR 1133 intersects with SR 1155 along the west side of the bridge and runs
approximately north-south.

The topographic map (Marshall, N.C.) shows the bridge is located in a narrow creek valley. The
landforms include narrow strips of floodplain along the creek, ridge toes, and sloped ridge sides.
A seasonal tributary joins Paw Paw Creek to the east of the bridge. The landforms within the
A.P.E. appear to have a low potential for archaeological sites.

The aerial photograph shows the A.P.E. is mostly wooded. There is a small structure located at
the east end of SR 1155.

A review of information at the O.S.A. shows there are no previously recorded archaeological sites
within or adjacent to the A.P.E. The A.P.E. has not been previously surveyed for archaeological
sites. The A.P.E. is not located within any projects that have been reviewed by the State Historic
Preservation Office (HPO).
DocuSign Envelope ID: 835D4AD4-6E35-4413-B086-725C341A6AE8
Project Tracking No.
16-02-0038 (2019)
“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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Brief Explanation of why the available information provides a reliable basis for reasonably
predicting that there are no unidentified historic properties in the APE:
The landforms in the A.P.E. have a low potential for archaeological sites.

SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION
See attached: Map(s) Previous Survey Info Photos Correspondence
Photocopy of County Survey Notes Other:
FINDING BY NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST
NO ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED
Caleb Smith 3/25/2019
NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST II Date

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