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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20071307 Ver 1_Information Letter_20050819x'1.1 ~ Michael F. Easley, Governor William G. Ross Jr., Secretary ~~North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources D~ aR~4c, ~ ~gT~Re ~4/. Mr. Ken Burleson, PE TGS Engineers 975 Walnut Street, Suite 141 Cary, NC 27511 Alan W. Klimek, P.E. Director Division of Water Quality August 19, 2005 SUBJECT: Scoping Review of NCDOT's Proposed Bridge Replacement Bridge No. 75 on Broadway Street in the City of Lenoir, Caldwell County TIP No. B-3933 In reply to your correspondence dated June 16, 2005 in which you requested comments for the above referenced project, the NC Division of Water Quality offers the following comments: I. Project-Specific Comments Spainhour Creek is a Class C Waters of the State. DWQ has no specific comments regarding this project. II. General Comments Regarding Bridge Replacement Projects If corrugated metal pipe arches, reinforced concrete pipes, or concrete box culverts are used to replace the bridge, then DWQ recommends the use of Nationwide Permit No. 14 rather than Nationwide Permit 23. 2. If the old bridge is removed, no discharge of bridge material into surface waters is preferred. Strict adherence the Corps of Engineers guidelines for bridge demolition will be a condition of the 401 Water Quality Certification. 3. DWQ prefers spanning structures. Spanning structures usually do not require work within the stream and do not require stream channel realignment. The horizontal and vertical clearances provided by bridges allows for human and wildlife passage beneath the structure, does not block fish passage, and does not block navigation by canoeists and boaters. 4. Bridge deck drains should not discharge directly into the stream. Stormwater should be directed across the bridge and pre-treated through site-appropriate means (grassed swales, pre-formed scour holes, vegetated buffers, etc.) before entering the stream. Please refer to NCDOT Best Management Practices for the Protection of Surface Waters 5. Live concrete should not be allowed to contact the water in or entering into the stream. Concrete is mostly made up of lime (calcium carbonate) and when in a dry or wet state (not hardened) calcium carbonate is very soluble in water and has a pH of approximately 12. In an unhardened state concrete or cement will change the pH of fresh water to very basic and will cause fish and other macroinvertebrate kills. 6. If possible, bridge supports (bents) should not be placed in the stream. ne No Carolina Jl~a~ura!!y North Carolina Division of Water Quality 585 Waughtown Street Phone (336) 771-4600 Customer Service Internet: h2o.enr.state.nc.us Winston-Salem, NC 27107 FAX (336) 771-4630 1-877-623-6748 An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer - 50% Recycled110% Post Consumer Paper TGS Engineers TIP No. B-3933 7. If temporary access roads or detours are constructed, they should be removed back to original ground elevations immediately upon the completion of the project. Disturbed areas should be seeded or mulched to stabilize the soil and native tree species should be planted with a spacing of not more than 10'x10'. If possible, when using temporary structures the area should be cleared but not grubbed. Clearing the area with chain saws, mowers, bush-hogs, or other mechanized equipment and leaving the stumps and root mat intact, allows the area to re- vegetate naturally and minimizes disturbed soil. 8. A clear bank (rip rap-free) area of at least 10 feet should remain on each side of the stream underneath the bridge. 9. Sedimentation and erosion control measures sufficient to protect water resources must be implemented prior to any ground disturbing activities. Structures should be maintained regularly, especially following rainfall events. 10. Bare soil should be stabilized through vegetation or other means as quickly as feasible to prevent sedimentation of water resources. 11. All work in or adjacent to stream waters should be conducted in a dry work area. Sandbags, rock berms, cofferdams, or other diversion structures should be used where possible to prevent excavation in flowing water. 12. Heavy equipment should be operated from the bank rather than in stream channels in order to minimize sedimentation and reduce the likelihood of introducing other pollutants into streams. This equipment should be inspected daily and maintained to prevent contamination of surface waters from leaking fuels, lubricants, hydraulic fluids, or other toxic materials. In most cases, we prefer the replacement of the existing structure at the same location with road closure. If road closure is not feasible, a temporary detour should be designed and located to avoid wetland impacts, minimize the need for clearing and to avoid destabilizing stream banks. If the structure will be on a new alignment, the old structure should be removed and the approach fills removed from the 100-year floodplain. Approach fills should be removed down to the natural ground elevation. The area should be stabilized with grass and planted with native tree species. Tall fescue should not be used in riparian areas. If the area that is reclaimed was previously wetlands, NCDOT should restore the area to wetlands. If successful, the site maybe used as wetland mitigation for the subject project or other projects in the watershed. Thank you for requesting our input at this time. The DOT is reminded that issuance of a 401 Water Quality Certification requires that appropriate measures be instituted to ensure that water quality standards are met and designated uses are not degraded or lost. If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact me at 336-771-4600 extension 287. Sincerely, Sue Homewood cc: John Thomas, USACE Raleigh Field Office NCDOT -Project Development and Environmental Analysis DWQ Wetlands Transportation Unit File Copy DWQ Winston-Salem Regional Office File Copy