20060413 Ver 1_Approval Letter_20131204

DEN
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Resources
Water Quality Programs
Pat McCrory Thomas A. Reeder John E. Skvarla, III
Governor Director Secretary
December 4, 2013
DWR Project # 2006 -0413
Ms. Heather Smith
N.C. Ecosystem Enhancement Program
1652 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699 -1652
Re: Approval of NCEEP Stallings Buffer Mitigation Plan
Jones County
Dear Ms. Smith,
On August 23, 2013, the Division of Water Resources (DWR) received the Stallings Buffer
Restoration Mitigation Plan from the North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program
(NCEEP) for review and approval for riparian buffer mitigation. The plan was prepared by
Stantec Consulting Services, Inc on behalf of NCEEP. This site is located in Dover off Webb
Farm Road in Jones County, North Carolina and is located within the 8 -digit Hydrologic Unit
Code 03020204. On May 24, 2011, Chris Pullinger, with DWR, issued a Neuse Riparian Buffer
determination letter noting that three surface water features on the site were subject to the Neuse
River Riparian Buffer Protection Rules.
On September 16, 2013, Katie Merritt, with DWR, requested additional information as part of
the review of the subject mitigation plan. Most of the comments and recommendations provided
to NCEEP were incorporated into the mitigation plan and submitted to Ms. Merritt on September
17, 2013. It was agreed upon, that the remaining comments will be incorporated in an As -Built
Report at a later date. Based on the information above, DWR hereby approves the subject
mitigation plan.
Riparian Buffer mitigation generated at this site may be provided for buffer impacts within the
Neuse River Basin according to 15A NCAC 02B .0242.
401 and Buffer Permitting Unit
1650 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699 -1650
Location: 512 N. Salisbury St. Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
Phone: 919 - 807 -63001 FAX: 919 - 807 -6494
Internet: www.ncwaterquality.org
An Equal Opportunity 1 Affirmative Action Employer

Stallings Mitigation .Plan
December 4, 2013
Page 2 of 2
Upon completion of the Stallings Buffer Restoration project, please submit an as -built report for
review and approval.
For any questions regarding this correspondence, please contact Katie Merritt at (919) 807 -6371
or katie.merrittLa)nedenr.gov.
Sincerely,
Karen Higgins, Supervis r
401 and Buffer Permitting Unit
KAH /km
Attachments: DWR & NCEEP Email Correspondence
Cc: File Copy (Katie Merritt)

),UDW- 04 1 �)
Merritt, Katie
From:
Merritt, Katie
Sent:
Monday, September 16, 2013 4:03 PM
To:
Smith, Heather
Cc:
Baumgartner, Tim
Subject:
RE: Stallings Riparian Buffer Project
Heather,
Per our conversation, all comments /recommendations provided in the email from me below can be incorporated into
the As -Built Report and submitted to DWR for review rather than editing the mitigation plan. As agreed upon, DWR and
EEP feel that this is the best way to move forward on this project. Please make sure that the streams identified in the
On -Site Determination letter submitted by Chris Pullinger, are the only streams that EEP is mitigating for Neuse Riparian
Buffer credits. Chris's letter states that 3 streams (Stream A, Stream B, and Stream C) are subject to the Neuse Buffer
Rule. However, there is a forth stream (labeled Stream D) shown on the EEP Asset Map as being proposed for Neuse
Riparian Buffer mitigation credits. If there are any questions regarding the letter submitted by Chris on May 24, 2011,
please contact Anthony Scarbraugh with the DWR Washington Regional Office.
Thanks,
Katie
From: Merritt, Katie
Sent: Monday, September 16, 2013 3:33 PM
To: Smith, Heather
Subject: RE: Stallings Riparian Buffer Project
Hi Heather,
Per your request to have DWR input on the EEP Stallings Buffer Restoration Project Mitigation Plan, I have provided
some comments for your consideration. Please see the cornrrner-rts /recommendations below:
• Modify the Mitigation Plan to exclude all mitigation types, credits determinations, and mitigation efforts that are
not intended as part of this mitigation plan. If EEP does not expect to use this site as Wetland or Nutrient Offset
mitigation, please remove this information from all asset maps and text that describe the mitigation work and
the assets that will result from the mitigation work.
• According to the mitigation plan, the site is located in the Neuse. However, Section 8.0 cites the Tar - Pamlico
Buffer Rules. Please correct where applicable.
• On page "i" at the bottom, the mitigation plan references the Federal Rule and the EEP In -Lieu Fee instrument.
neither of these documents apply to EEP & DWR or the DWR riparian buffer rules. Please remove from the
mitigation plan.
• Please remove all references to the USACE and IRT and replace with Division of Water Resources (example:
Section 10.0 states IRT will close out the project).
Riparian Buffer Mitigation credits throughout mit plan state there are 40 acres. However, the letter from you in
August states there are only 32.5 acres of riparian buffer. Please correct throughout.
® Is the Jones County Flat Swamp cite also an EEP site? If so, please provide clarity in Section 2.2 and 2.2.3
® has the conservation easement boundary changed from what was originally recorded? if so, please provide that
information
® Figure 2.6 ( do not change) — I like this map because it shows what is Existing.
When the comments above have been incorporated, please resubmit the Mitigation Plan to DWR for record keeping. If
DWR will be performing the close out of this site at the end of monitoring, we will need to have annual monitoring
reports submitted to us for review /tracking. Please send all hard copies (along with a CD) of future documents regarding
this site to my attention at the following address with the DWR Project # 2006 -0413:

Division of Water Resources
Attn: Katie Merritt
1650 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699
Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding this correspondence.
Thanks,
Katie
From: Smith, Heather
Seat: Monday, Septf —Imbei 16, 700 12; t9 PM
To: Merritt, Katie; Kulz, Eric
Subject: RE: Stallings Riparian Buffer Project
There is no more nutrient offset or wetland enhancement. There is only 32.5 acres of riparian buffer planting.
Sincerely,
Heather Smith
Eastern Project Manager
Ecosystem Enhancement Program
919 - 707 -8496
heather. c.smith9ncdenr.gov
Physical Address:
217 West Jones St., 3rd Floor, Suite 3000A, Raleigh, N.C. 27603
Mailing address:
1652 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699 -1652.
Parking and visitor access information is available on the EEP website.
Email correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records law and may be
disclosed to third parties.
From: Merritt, Katie
Sent: Monday, September 16, 2013 11:38 AM
To: Kulz, Eric
Cc: Smith, Heather
Subject. RE: Stallings Riparian Buffer Project
Eric,
Thanks for sending me this. I'll take a look at the Mitigation Plan for the nutrient offset and riparian buffer mitigation.
When I'm done, I'll hand it over to you for the wetland mitigation portion.
Thanks,
Katie
Katie Merritt
Nutrient Offset Banking Coordinator
z